How to Survive the First 10 Days

Survive your first 10 days in DIVE or DIE with this day-by-day survival guide for the demo and early campaign.

Days 1–3: Foundation

Days one through three focus on learning movement, oxygen management, and basic resource collection in The Shallows. Craft the Diving Knife immediately after finding its Blueprint. Collect Iron Ore and Planks for the Altar and Infirmary reconstruction objectives.

Do not engage Rain-Touched enemies without a Nailgun. Return early rather than dying — diver death is permanent and wastes a countdown day.

Days 4–6: Settlement Setup

Complete remaining building constructions. Assign one survivor per building. Begin daily Worship at the Altar with Nutrition sacrifices. Recruit only if you need a second dedicated diver.

Extract your first Map fragments and upload them to the Library. Plan your next dives using revealed areas rather than random exploration.

Days 7–10: First Idol and Tier Upgrades

Locate the first Eldritch Idol in the eastern Shallows using heartbeat audio. Begin Diving Deck and Workshop Tier 2 upgrades. Craft a Nailgun and improved oxygen tank before pushing into mid-Shallows hazards.

By day ten, your settlement should have all buildings manned, two divers, daily Worship active, and one Idol recovered. This mirrors the demo completion state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the demo end at day 10?
The demo covers the tutorial and first ten days as a complete experience. Full game continues to the 40-day campaign.
What is the biggest day 10 mistake?
Skipping building assignments and over-recruiting survivors, causing Nutrition deficit by day 8.