You’re probably here because that Giant Squid just slapped the oxygen right out of your tank, or maybe you’re staring at the Sea People village wondering why on earth you need to catch runaway seahorses to save the world. Dave the Diver is a weird one. One minute it's a "cozy" fishing sim, and the next you're basically playing a 2D Dark Souls with a harpoon.
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make in their Dave the Diver walkthrough is rushing. The game looks like it wants you to hurry—Cobra is always yelling, and Bancho needs fish—but there is no actual "fail" state for time. If you miss a VIP customer or a seasonal party, they just cycle back around. You’ve got all the time in the world.
Stop Trying to Max Everything Early
Early on, you'll feel this frantic need to upgrade your harpoon. Don't. Well, do it, but don't make it your whole personality. The real MVP of any successful run is the Small Net Gun and the Tranquilizer Rifle.
Why? Because a dead 1-star fish is worth pennies compared to a 3-star live capture.
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The Weapon Tier List (In My Opinion)
- Tranquilizer Rifle: This is the game-changer. It puts sharks to sleep. Once they're zapped, you call in the salvage drone (unlocked in Chapter 2) and haul the whole beast away. It’s the easiest way to stock up on high-end shark meat for Bancho’s.
- Triple Axel: Great for crowd control when those pesky small aggressive fish swarm you.
- Sniper Rifle: Save this specifically for the bosses. The range is your best friend when a giant hermit crab is trying to turn you into a pancake.
Navigating the Sea People Village
This is where the game's pace slows down to a crawl. You’ll hit Chapter 3 and suddenly you're an errand boy for a group of underwater royals. You need to build "Trust." Basically, just do the chores.
One quest that trips people up is the Runaway Seahorses. They’re tiny. Look near the portals and inside the shops. You need the Bug Net (from the Maki questline) to grab them. If you don't have the net yet, stop trying to find them; you literally can't pick them up.
The Glacier Passage Puzzles
By the time you reach the Glacial Area in Chapter 6, the game turns into a bit of a platformer. You’ll encounter the Gadon, these big, creepy blind things.
- Pro tip: Don't swim. Hide behind the statues.
- Wait for their light to pass.
- If you get spotted, you're basically dead unless you have a high-level dash.
The mural puzzle in the Abandoned Cave (Chapter 4) is the other big brain-teaser. You have to stack rocks to match a drawing on the wall. It’s simple once you realize the symbols represent the number of rocks or the specific shape. Left spot gets the circle, middle gets the square on top of two blanks, and right gets the 'X' on a blank.
Managing Bancho Sushi Like a Pro
If you're struggling for cash, you're probably ignoring your staff. El Nino and Raptor are the dream team for the main branch. El Nino is a cleaning god, and Raptor handles the drinks so you don't have to play that annoying pouring mini-game every five seconds.
Don't just put random fish on the menu. Focus on Enhancing one or two high-value dishes. The Tropical Fish Sushi Set is an absolute gold mine that can carry you through the mid-game. Once you get to the Glacial Area, start hoarding Pelican Eel and Narwhal meat.
The Staffing "Cheat Sheet"
- Kitchen: Maki and Yone. They cook fast, and their flavors are top-tier.
- Dining Room: El Nino (for cleaning) and Itsuki (for high tips).
- Dispatch: Send guys like Davina out for Soy Sauce and Salt. You will always run out of Soy Sauce. Always.
Beating the Final Boss (The Yawie)
The finale in the Control Room (Chapter 7) is a gauntlet. You’ll face the Yawie, which is basically a giant mutated prehistoric thing.
The fight happens in phases. In the first part, just focus on dodging the lasers. In the second part, you get access to a Missile Launcher. Here’s the trick: don’t just spam it. Wait for the Yawie to open its mouth or prepare a big attack, then fire the missile to interrupt it. If you time it right, you can stun-lock the boss for half the fight.
After you win, don't panic when the credits roll—you can keep playing. The "Post-game" is actually where a lot of the best content is, like the Dredge DLC or finding the rare Mjolnir hammer hidden in the ice.
Actionable Next Steps
- Go to the Workshop: Check if you can upgrade your Oxygen Tank immediately. In the late game, O2 is your health bar.
- Hire El Nino: If he’s in your applicant pool, spend the gold. He’s worth every penny.
- Check the Weather: If it’s stormy, go diving at night. That’s the only way to find the Great White Shark Klaus, who drops some of the best loot in the game.
- Focus on the Farm: Once you unlock the fish farm, put your breeding pairs in there (especially the sharks) so you never have to risk your life for meat again.
The Blue Hole changes every time you dive, but these strategies don't. Keep your harpoon sharp and your wasabi topped off.