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CUHK doesn't appear to expound the semantic shift from wading in water to under water.

從「水」，「朁」聲，本義為涉水。《說文》：「涉水也。一曰：藏也。一曰：漢水爲潛。从水，朁聲。」《詩‧小雅‧正月》：「魚在于沼，亦匪克樂；潛雖伏矣，亦孔之炤。」

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Axel Schuessler, ABC Etymological Dictionary of Old Chinese (2007), p 425. But this redirects you to p 303.

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I don[t understand the red underline, which can't refer to dead humans, because dead humans who "lie at bottom of water", aren't normally construed to "be soaked (in pleasure)"...unless you're a sadist! Living humans can't lie at the bottom of water. When humans soak themselves in pleasure, they're usually floating or standing in water.

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  • Axel Schuessler, ABC Etymological Dictionary? Translation is always difficult in not losing the original meanings. You should check a reputable Chinese dictionary instead.
    – r13
    Oct 9, 2021 at 1:34

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My dictionary simply says 潛 - to submerge.

From "萌典"

  1. 入水，在水面下活動。如：「潛水」、「鳥飛魚潛」。
  • 《左傳·哀公十七年》：「越子以三軍潛涉，當吳中軍而鼓之。」
  1. 深藏、隱藏。如：「潛藏」、「潛伏」。

  • 唐·杜甫〈奉贈韋左丞丈二十二韻〉：「殘杯與冷炙，到處潛悲辛。」

  • 宋·范仲淹〈岳陽樓記〉：「日星隱曜，山岳潛形。」

As I addressed in my comment, the translation you have cited wasn't too good.

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