What's the upgrade priority?

Oxygen tank (dive time), then harpoon (damage), then secondary weapons like the Red Sniper, then knives and nets. Oxygen and damage expand both the depth you can reach and the fish you can capture. Concentrate on these two during your opening days.

Any tips for deep-water dives?

Oxygen drains faster the deeper you go, and dangerous large fish appear in greater numbers. Going deep before your gear is ready is essentially suicide. Build up in the mid layers first, then push deep once your oxygen, firepower, and armor are stacked. The deep-dive mantra is grab-and-go.

Which weapons should I aim for?

Upgrade the standard harpoon early. From the midgame, the **Red Sniper Rifle** (long range, high damage) becomes the go-to for large fish and bosses. Net weapons are excellent for catching schools of small fish efficiently, and stun guns shine in specific situations.

How do I manage weight?

Going over-weight tanks your mobility, which dramatically raises your oxygen-out risk. After landing a large fish, prioritize heading back to the surface. Trying to grab small fish on top often gets you killed, so accept "this is enough for now" and surface. Weight cap upgrades are also worth investing in.

Dave the Diver Diving and Weapons｜Oxygen Tank, Harpoon, and the Depths

Three Things to Manage Underwater

Efficient diving comes down to three resources — oxygen, firepower, and weight. Improving all three in balance is what makes your dives consistently profitable.

Resource	Impact	How to Improve
Oxygen Tank	Dive duration and reachable depth	Tank upgrades raise capacity
Weapons (harpoon, etc.)	Range of fish you can hunt and danger handling	Upgrades and new weapon unlocks
Weight Cap	Carrying capacity and mobility	Cap upgrades raise the maximum

Upgrade Priority

Oxygen Tank The foundation of every dive. Top priority Harpoon Damage Expands the fish you can capture and grows revenue

Secondary Weapons (Red Sniper, etc.) Trump cards for large and boss-tier fish Weight Cap Upgrades Maximizes the value of each dive

Deep-Dive Steps

1

Build experience in mid layers

Gather materials in shallow and mid layers, and upgrade weapons and gear.
2

Only go deep once your loadout is ready

Wait until oxygen, firepower, and armor are stacked. Going under-prepared ends badly.
3

Grab and go

Deep dives are high-risk. Identify your target and recover it without lingering.
4

Surface as soon as weight is high

Once you have a big haul, head back up. Going over-weight is a death sentence.

Lingering too long in the depths causes oxygen-out deaths, and you can lose your entire haul. The "just one more" instinct will kill you — train yourself to surface earlier. Patience is the fastest path forward.

Handling Dangerous Large Fish

Sharks and manta-type large fish are tough but manageable with the Red Sniper or stun-style weapons. Learn their patterns, keep distance, and chip them down. When you're under-equipped, retreating to the surface is a valid choice — wait until your gear is ready and come back.

Pairs With Restaurant Management

The fish you catch flow straight into the restaurant. For sushi service and revenue strategies, see the Sushi Restaurant Guide, and for the daily cycle and early-game roadmap see the Beginner Guide.

★Honest Take — The Hardest Skill Is Knowing When to Surface

Honestly, the hardest part of diving in this game is the discipline to head back. "One more fish, just a bit deeper" is what kills beginners and wipes their haul. Push upgrades hard, but make every single dive end in a controlled surface — the slow, safe approach is the fastest way to actually get stronger.