DAVE THE DIVER

Dive into the enchanting Blue Hole and build a sushi empire in DAVE THE DIVER! This dual-adventure RPG is taking the world by storm. Feeling overwhelmed by the deep sea and the dinner rush? This guide reveals 12 pro tips to master both diving and restaurant management, turning you into a legend. Ready to start your adventure? Discover how to conquer the depths and delight your customers, starting right now

Your First Steps to Becoming a Blue Hole Legend

Start strong by focusing on essential gear upgrades and mastering the capture mechanics early on to secure a steady income.

The early game can be unforgiving if you don’t manage your resources wisely. At GameApp4U, we know the thrill of that first dive, but we also know the frustration of running out of oxygen just inches from the surface. These initial tips are designed to build a solid foundation for your underwater exploits.

Tip 1: Prioritize Core Upgrades for Maximum Efficiency

Invest your first gold earnings into the Air Tank and Cargo Box via the iDiver app to extend dive times and maximize haul capacity.

Many beginners make the mistake of upgrading the Harpoon Gun first. While damage is important, DAVE THE DIVER is primarily a game about resource management. If you can’t stay underwater or carry your catch, you can’t make money.

At GameApp4U, we recommend the following upgrade order for the early game:

1. Air Tank (Oxygen): Your lifeline. More air means longer dives and more chances to find rare items.
2. Cargo Box (Weight): You will quickly hit the 9kg limit. Upgrading this allows you to carry more fish per trip, directly increasing your nightly profits.
3. Diving Suit (Depth): Essential for reaching the Blue Hole medium depths where better fish reside.
4. Harpoon Gun: Upgrade this only when you struggle to catch basic fish with one or two hits.

Pro Tip: Don’t over-upgrade the Harpoon early on. Instead, save gold for the Net Gun or Tranquilizer Gun, which are far superior for securing high-quality meat.

Tip 2: The Art of the Perfect Catch: How to Get 3-Star Fish Every Time

To consistently get 3-star fish, you must catch them alive using a Net Gun, Tranquilizer weapons, or the Hush Dart.

Killing a fish with a standard Harpoon or damaging it reduces its quality to 2 stars or even 1 star. 3-star quality fish provide more meat portions and are crucial for high-end recipes at Bancho Sushi.

• Small Fish: Use the Net Gun. It captures multiple fish at once without damaging them.
• Large Fish & Sharks: You cannot net them initially. Use a Tranquilizer Rifle, Hush Dart, or a Harpoon with a tranquilizer tip to put them to sleep. Once they are snoozing, you can use the Underwater Drone (unlocked later) to extract them.

Tip 3: Your Phone is Your Most Powerful Tool

Check your in-game smartphone apps frequently, especially the Todo list, iDiver store, and Cooksta rating, to track progress and unlock upgrades.

Your smartphone isn’t just for show; it’s the central hub for DAVE THE DIVER upgrades guide and progression. Ignoring it is a common pitfall.

• iDiver: The only place to upgrade your Diving suit, Oxygen tank, and Cargo box.
• Cooksta: This app tracks your restaurant’s fame. Ranking up in Cooksta unlocks new menu slots, wasabi upgrades, and allows you to hire more staff.
• Ecowatcher: Tracks collection challenges that reward you with points for special charms.
• Calendar: vital for tracking VIP customers and special events like the Jellyfish Party.

Tip 4: Always Open the Yellow Weapon Chests for a Decisive Edge

Scour the ocean floor for yellow chests to find weapon blueprints and temporary high-tier guns like the Sniper Rifle or Grenade Launcher.

You cannot craft new weapons until you find their blueprints. You need to find a specific weapon three times in these chests to unlock the ability to craft it permanently with Duff.

These chests often contain powerful gear like the Triple Axel, Sniper Rifle, or Sticky Bomb Gun. Even if you have a gun, picking up a new one from a chest refills your ammo instantly—a lifesaver during deep Blue Hole exploration.

From Diver to Sushi Tycoon: Mastering Bancho Sushi

Transform your nightly service into a goldmine by optimizing your menu, enhancing dishes, and automating tasks with skilled staff.

The restaurant simulation aspect is where you cash in on your hard work. Managing Bancho Sushi requires strategy, not just button mashing.

Tip 5: Strategic Menu Planning: The Best Recipes for Early Profit

Focus on serving high-price, multi-serving dishes like the Tropical Fish Sushi Set or Whole-Roasted Shark Head instead of basic single sushi.

Not all fish are created equal. In the early game, you want recipes that use easy-to-get ingredients but sell for a high price.

• Tropical Fish Sushi Set: Uses Titano Triggerfish, Harlequin Hind, and Coral Trout. These are common in the shallows but the dish sells for a premium.
• Whole-Roasted Shark Head: Bancho loves this one. It requires a Whitetip Reef Shark head (obtainable early) and Olive Oil. It feeds many customers and brings in massive gold.
• Jellyfish Sushi: Don’t ignore the jellyfish! Once you get the Net Gun, they are easy to farm and great for the early game menu.

DAVE THE DIVER best recipes often involve “trash” fish combined with seasonings like Salt or Turmeric, so loot every cooking pot you see underwater.

Tip 6: Enhance Dishes to Skyrocket Your Cooksta Ranking and Income

Sacrifice surplus fish to “Enhance” your best dishes, permanently increasing their price and Taste score for Cooksta ranking.

This is the single most important DAVE THE DIVER money making guide tip we can offer. Instead of selling 10 basic sushi plates for 10 gold each, use those fish to upgrade the dish. A Level 5 dish might sell for 85 gold per plate!

• Taste Ranking: To reach Gold or Platinum Cooksta rank, you need a high “Best Taste” score. Only enhanced dishes can achieve this.
• Resource Management: Don’t put every fish on the menu. Save some to enhance your core money-makers.

Tip 7: Master Restaurant Management: Auto-Supply, Wasabi, and Decor

Use the “Auto-Supply” feature for every menu item to prevent food waste and keep your Wasabi refilled manually until you hire staff.

• Auto-Supply: If you put 10 sushi on the menu but only 5 customers order it, you lose the other 5 ingredients at the end of the night. Selecting “Auto-Supply” ensures you only prep exactly what is ordered. Always use this.
• Wasabi: If Wasabi runs out, Bancho stops cooking. Keep an eye on the gauge.
• Decor: While fun, decor doesn’t impact stats directly. Spend your money on staff and equipment first.

Tip 8: Hire and Train the Right Staff to Automate Your Success

Hire staff with high Serving and Cooking stats, and prioritize training them to unlock skills like Drink Serving and Cleaning.

You can’t do it all alone. As Bancho Sushi gets popular, customers will get angry if they wait too long.

Best Staff to Hire:

• El Nino: The best server in the game. At level 20, he cleans and serves drinks like a machine.
• Maki: An incredible cook you get from a story quest. High cooking stats speed up Bancho.
• Billy: Great for tips and cleaning.
• Yone: Another top-tier cook.

Staff Management Strategy:
Train your staff immediately. At Level 3 and Level 7, they unlock special skills. Look for “Drink Serving Master” (automatically pours tea/beer) and “Cleaning Master” (cleans messy seats). This automates the most annoying parts of service, letting you focus on cocktails and wasabi.

Advanced Strategies for Deep Sea Dominance & Profit

Unlock sustainable farming, craft endgame weapons, and exploit special events to maximize your profits and conquer the Blue Hole.

Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to dive deeper and optimize your empire.

Tip 9: Choose the Right Tool for the Job: DAVE THE DIVER Best Weapons Guide

Craft the Steel Net Gun for general fishing and the Red Sniper Rifle or Modified Hush Dart for boss fights and large sharks.

Your Harpoon gun won’t cut it against giant squids or armored fish.

• Steel Net Gun: The ultimate tool for DAVE THE DIVER tips for beginners and pros alike. It can catch almost anything (except bosses) alive, guaranteeing 3-star drops.
• Red Sniper Rifle: High damage and range. Perfect for taking down bosses or annoying predators like the Thresher Shark from a distance.
• Modified Hush Dart: Put sharks to sleep instantly. Essential for farming shark meat for high-level roasts.
• Grenade Launcher: Good for splash damage against swarms, but destroys meat quality.

Tip 10: Unlock the Fish and Vegetable Farms for a Sustainable Empire

Complete Otto’s quests to unlock the Fish Farm and Vegetable Farm, allowing you to breed fish and grow rice/vegetables passively.

Why dive for 20 minutes for 3 fish when you can breed 50?

• Fish Farm: Unlocked after the “Moray Eel Curry” quest. Put two of the same fish in a tank, and they will breed. This is the best way to get a steady supply of 3-star quality fish meat without diving.
• Vegetable Farm: Grow Rice, Carrots, and Eggplants. These are required for high-profit vegetable sushi dishes.
• Seaweed Farm: Unlocked later in the Sea People Village. Essential for ingredients like Black Coral.

Tip 11: The Ultimate Money Making Guide: Targeting VIPs and Special Events

Stockpile specific ingredients for themed parties (Jellyfish, Tuna, Shark) to sell dishes at double the price during these events.

Every few days, you’ll get a notification for a “Party” (e.g., Jellyfish Party).

1. Preparation: Spend the days leading up to the party catching only that type of fish.
2. Menu: On party night, fill your menu with enhanced dishes featuring that fish.
3. Profit: Customers with the party icon will pay massive amounts. This is how you make thousands of gold in one night.

VIP Customers: Characters like Michael Lui or the Director will ask for specific rare dishes. Satisfying them often unlocks new game mechanics or massive Cooksta boosts.

Tip 12: Embrace the Night Dive for Rare Catches and Unique Resources

Use one-third of your restaurant’s operating time to dive at night, catching nocturnal fish like Moray Eels and Box Jellyfish.

Night diving is risky but rewarding.

• Risk: Aggressive fish are more common, and your restaurant opens late, reducing serving time.
• Reward: Exclusive nocturnal fish (Box Jellyfish, White Trevally, Moray Eels) that are ingredients for some of the best mid-game recipes.
• Strategy: Don’t night dive every night. Do it when you need specific ingredients or have a quest. Ensure your Diving suit and Oxygen tank are upgraded, as the ocean is more dangerous in the dark.

By mastering these 12 tips, you’ll seamlessly blend deep-sea hunting with savvy restaurant management. You’ll upgrade your gear efficiently, catch perfect 3-star fish, and run Bancho Sushi like a seasoned pro. The Blue Hole is full of secrets, and Bancho Sushi is waiting for its master. The rewarding loop of diving by day and serving by night is an unforgettable experience you won’t want to miss.

Ready to take the plunge? Download DAVE THE DIVER on Steam or the Nintendo Switch eShop today and start your own underwater adventure!