The bubble/oxygen bar appears when you are inside of a block. Lava isn't affected, however, regular blocks are, this is not an unintended behavior.
How to reproduce the issue: Suffocate yourself in any block.
Expected result: You should take damage because of suffocation and the oxygen bar should not appear.
Observed result: The oxygen bar appears and depletes as you suffocate.
Linked issues
is duplicated by 9
BDS-17061
Minecraft Boat screen shows bubbles when suffocating
Resolved
MCPE-34092
Players suffocate inside blocks like in water
Resolved
MCPE-34761
Riding Horse at 2 blocks high hole bug
Resolved
MCPE-49786
Gravel/Sand suffocation issue
Resolved
MCPE-49865
Suffocating in a block in Creative Mode shows the bubble meter
Resolved
relates to 2
Attachments
Comments 17
@ItsEmbezz This did not happen in earlier versions. First notice was around June 2018. I personally did not see it prior to then.
@Giye It's any block. My screenshot (attached above) is in a grass block while on a horse.
Thank you for your report!
After consideration, the issue is being closed as Working as Intended.
Please note, that mechanics of the game may change between updates.
Things such as graphics, sounds, world creation, biomes, redstone, villagers, and animals may not work the same in current versions.
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Still affects 1.6.0.1