User blog comment:FairyRaven/Fairy Tail Chapter 396: Air, Review and Commentary/@comment-24784846-20140812160110/@comment-24066070-20140812165511

Gajeel and the others were right next to Torafusa, so they were immediately submerged.

Levy on the other hand was a short distance away when the water came rushing and this incoming wave carried Gajeel and the others. That's why she could hold her breath long enough to reach Gajeel, since she wasn't submerged as long as the others and they were basically delivered right in front of her.