It is the womb of the past from which you are born. It represents the soil, the genetic material, and the background from which you have sprung. Therefore, digging into it will tend to uncover things-most often feelings-you have buried there from your past. Just as the physical earth is made up of past events-the trees and leaves, the plants and creatures that have lived and crumbled into the dust of the soil-so the earth of your dream represents the past on which your present depends and your future is built. The dream can also arise among adults who find themselves not only in a difficult new situation, but in a situation that does not allow them to express their own concerns. It should be seen as a reminder of your ability to survive tough circumstances, even when you feel out of your depth. This kind of dream tends to be outgrown by the time one reaches the age to leave home, but it can and does re-emerge if you are thrown into difficult, new or challenging situations in adult life. It shows that a sense of panic is not only natural but necessary to discover the ability to breathe (survive) in a new environment (underwater). The water theme suggests a sense of being overwhelmed and vulnerable to the situations that surround us. Like the dreams of flying, this dream is also about discovering abilities during times of crisis or when thrown into a particular situation.
Then, incredibly, just as they realize they are going to drown, they continue breathing and can breathe underwater in their dream. In this nightmare with a happy ending, a child may dream that they are drowning and unable to reach the surface to breathe.