Going into water when in combat

Why can I not take out my weapons in water!? I was fighting this guy, about to get myself some decent armour and weapons and then he goes into the river and just waits … goes under water and I lost him. Nothing to do! Its like water is a safe zone when your getting destroyed in a fight. please answer if this is like some sort of bug or just the game. and if its just the game you should really change it.

carry a jav, JUMP in the water and the jav should be able to attck still, least i could on a private server withg a friend

I can’t attack in water either but I can shoot arrows at someone in water.lol