Beginner's tips for Dave the Diver, including how to make money fast

Originally released for Windows and macOS in 2023, Dave the Diver eventually got a Nintendo Switch release and has now landed on PS4 and PS5, so there's nothing holding you back from donning that wetsuit and going hunting for treasure.

Although the game might seem simple on the surface, you'll quickly find there's more depth to it than the big Blue Hole itself. To help you out in Dave the Diver's early stages, I've put together some tips for successful expeditions and earning as much cash as possible.

1. Don't run out of oxygen

Diving down into the big blue might be relaxing at first, but it won't take long before your oxygen tank starts to run out or you come across a deadly fish that you aren't prepared to fight. Any creature that has a red mark above its head will chase and attack you, and any damage you take will chip away at your oxygen. 

Stick within your limits and wait until you're able to purchase upgrades for your Diving Suit and Air Tank before venturing too far. You will be rescued if you run out of oxygen, but you'll only be able to keep one item or fish that you've caught, which is very frustrating (trust me, I'm speaking from experience here).

2. Make note of high-value fish

It can be tempting to catch every fish you see when you dive down into the Blue Hole, but this isn't the wisest use of your time or inventory space. You can only carry a certain amount before you get too weighed down, so you'll want to focus on expensive fish. After every excursion, check your Dive Report and make a note of the most valuable catches. Then, you'll know what to focus on in your future dives!

3. ... but know when to give up

In the early stages of the game, there are going to be some fish that you simply aren't equipped to catch. This could be because your Harpoon Gun isn't strong enough, or because you don't have a powerful enough weapon to lower their health. I spent loads of time trying to catch a pufferfish during my first dive, only to eventually realise it wasn't going to happen - and by that point, I'd wasted half of my oxygen.

4. Upgrade your Harpoon Gun first

The iDiver app is a handy feature that you'll unlock around one hour into the game. It lets you upgrade your equipment to dive further into the sea and for longer, but I'd recommend focusing on your Harpoon Gun first. It might be the most expensive early upgrade at 300 Coins, but it's a significant improvement that will help you catch more valuable fish, and that means more money to purchase those other upgrades!

After this, I'd suggest upgrading your weight so you can carry more back to the surface. I know it's tempting to buy fancy new decorations for the Bancho Sushi restaurant, but that isn't the best use of your money in the early game.

5. Unlock a ranged weapon as soon as you can

An upgraded Harpoon Gun might help you catch rarer fish, but it won't be any good against armoured jellyfish or scary sharks! For those, you'll need a weapon, and while a knife or a baseball bat is good for a last resort option, you'll be much better off with some ranged firepower in your inventory. Complete the Weaponsmith Duff sub-mission as soon as you can to get your first gun - then find blueprints in the deep to unlock more.

6. Enhance those dishes

At first, I didn't bother enhancing my meals in Bancho Sushi as it seemed like a waste of ingredients that I could be serving up instead - but eventually, I realised this was a mistake. Once you've enhanced a dish, it stays enhanced for good, so it's a small upfront investment for a long-term payoff. Your customers will pay more for the dish and enjoy the taste of it more.

This also helps give you an idea of which fish to catch when diving, as you can focus on ingredients for your enhanced meals rather than casting a wide net and getting a mish-mash of different flavours.

Hopefully, those tips have given you a better idea of what to do in the early stages of Dave the Diver! As you progress through the game's chapters, the most important thing will be upgrading your equipment, so make sure you're catching plenty of fish and putting in good shifts at the sushi restaurant to earn plenty of cash.

For more guides like this one, visit our Dave the Diver homepage. We've covered all of the Operator codes so you can get yourself some free rewards, as well as how long it will take you to beat the game.