Dive turns the water in Pokémon Pokopia from a barrier into a whole new place to explore and build. Once Ditto learns it, you can sink beneath lakes and coastlines, decorate the seabed, and reach spaces that were sealed off before, all without draining a single drop of water first.
Quick answer: Install the free version 2.0.0 update, then complete the “Raise the environment level!” request at Bleak Beach (Environment Level 5) while already knowing Jump and Surf. Talk to Professor Tangrowth, travel to the new island, and bring Manaphy five bunches of Seaweed to learn Dive.
Requirements to unlock Dive
Dive arrived as part of the free August 2026 software update, so it is available to every owner of Pokémon Pokopia, not just Expansion Pass buyers. Installing the update alone does not hand you the move, though. You need to clear a few story milestones first, and the game will refuse to teach Dive on an older version.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Version 2.0.0 update | Download the free update and confirm the game is fully patched. |
| Jump | Ditto must already be able to jump. |
| Surf | Learn the Surf transformation move. |
| Bleak Beach request | Complete “Raise the environment level!” by reaching Environment Level 5 at Bleak Beach. |
Manaphy, the Pokémon who actually teaches Dive, only appears after you have finished the Bleak Beach story and rebuilt the Pokémon Center. If you have been developing Bleak Beach and the surrounding areas, most of this list is probably already checked off.
How to learn Dive from Manaphy
Confirm Dive works and clear the cave
You will know Dive is active the moment you jump into a deep body of water. Instead of floating on the surface, Ditto gains a bubble that lets it breathe and sink, and the move activates automatically the next time you enter deep water.
Follow Manaphy’s suggestion and explore the nearby cave. Dive kicks in as soon as you drop into the water, and at the far end you will find a Poké Ball holding a single decorative Poké Ball. Bring it back to Manaphy, and she will set off to find a new home.
Underwater controls after learning Dive
Movement underwater uses a mix of held and tapped inputs. Floating in place is especially useful when you want to line up furniture and decorations on the seabed.
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Hold B | Swim |
| Hold ZL | Float in place (ideal for building) |
| L | Dive down |
| R | Float up |
| Spin left analog stick | Sink to the seabed |
Note: Jump still works underwater, so you are not stuck moving in one plane once you are submerged.
If Dive won’t unlock
If the move is not available, work back through the checklist. Dive cannot be learned on an older build, and Manaphy will not appear until the earlier steps are done.
- Confirm Pokémon Pokopia is updated to version 2.0.0.
- Finish “Raise the environment level!” at Bleak Beach and reach Environment Level 5.
- Make sure Ditto can Jump and has learned Surf.
- Complete the Bleak Beach story and rebuild the Pokémon Center so Manaphy appears.
Dive is free for everyone, but it is also the key to the paid content. If you own the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass, learning Dive lets you enter Bubbly Basin, the underwater town in the first part of the DLC. Free-update players keep full access to underwater exploration and building either way.
