My suggestion is to change a fix underwater ego perspective, while not moving into a floating animation seen from first person viewport. As if the character goes with the water current. Could be a multidirectional (xyz-axis) animation.
Building under water probably is a pain because one would have to balance out the current-implied movement. Unless the floating deflection radius is not too intense.
It doesn’t feel like you’re swimming. It feels like you are in a small submersible. You drift like you have inertia and the drag stops you from making quick turns in water. I’ll admit, the Oortians are a bit more muscular than most humans, but they are not boats. But that’s what they move like.
The rising and diving rate is reasonable. Really think the movement on the horizontal axis needs adjusted.
For underwater exploring, I would like to see a snorkel, or other breathing device.