Many humans jumped into the water after seeing the ships were being sabotaged. The ships were made out of wood, and it would be quite difficult for people with low Cultivation to destroy them. However, those with at least Stage 1 Cultivation would easily be able to sabotage them. And when the ships went down, they would also drag the people on them down as well.
Everyone had a Water Pearl; thus, even if they could not swim, they would not have to worry. After falling into the water, the Water Pearl on them would give off a faint light, and a membrane would appear around them. The membrane kept the water away from them and drew out oxygen from the water for them to breathe.
There were many people participating in this attack, and those at the front had already entered the water and were fighting with the Fish Scale people.