In Dave the Diver, success isn’t just about diving deep and catching rare fish. It’s also about managing the sushi bar smartly — and that means hiring the best staff. Whether you’re dealing with a sudden dinner rush or a picky VIP customer, the quality and specialization of your team can make or break your evening. With the right employees, you’ll boost customer satisfaction, reduce wait times, and increase profits, all while keeping the chaos under control.

How to Unlock and Recruit Staff in Dave the Diver

Staff members are unlocked through different methods: story progression, NPC quests, staff recruitment via the Hiring Board, or events. As your sushi business expands, new candidates will become available with better stats and unique skills. Always review a potential recruit’s abilities before hiring — sometimes a lower-level employee with focused skills can outperform a jack-of-all-trades.

Key stats to watch:

• Cooking – Determines how fast and efficiently a staff member can prepare dishes.
  
• Serving – Affects speed in delivering orders and cleaning tables.
  
• Procure – Helps gather ingredients automatically.
  
• Appeal – Increases customer satisfaction and tips.
  

Best Staff in Dave the Diver Ranked (2025 Tier List)

Here’s a 2025 updated tier list, based on performance, versatility, and late-game usefulness:

S-Tier Staff (Top Picks)

• Yone – Master of cooking and cleaning, incredibly fast during rush hours.
  
• El Nino – High appeal and serving stats; ideal for VIP events.
  
• Tenzhin – A cooking prodigy with unmatched efficiency.
  

A-Tier Staff

• Maki – Balanced stats with high serving; dependable all-rounder.
  
• Masayoshi – Great for wasabi refills and utility tasks.
  
• Dr. Bacon – Excellent for tech and utility-based support roles.
  

B-Tier Staff

• Kyoko – High appeal, though slower on cleaning duties.
  
• Hibari – Solid cooker but lacks versatility outside the kitchen.
  
• Duff – Good backup, especially if you’re low on higher-tier options.
  

Top Staff for Cooking (Speed & Quality)

Cooking is the backbone of your sushi empire. These characters will make sure no customer waits too long for their order.

• Tenzhin: Fast cooking speed, minimal prep delays, best for high-tier fish recipes.
  
• Hibari: Great in early to mid-game, with decent cooking growth when trained.
  
• Yone: Surprisingly strong at multi-tasking cooking and cleaning — a late-game gem.
  

Pro Tip: Assign only top-level cooking staff to avoid bottlenecks when multiple customers order premium dishes.

Top Staff for Serving & Cleaning Efficiency

An unserved guest is an unhappy guest — and dirty tables delay seating. These staffers shine in service flow:

• Maki: Lightning-fast server with high cleaning speed.
  
• Yone: Again, she stands out — ideal for chaotic late shifts.
  
• Kyoko: High appeal keeps tips flowing; good with front-of-house duties.
  

Best Staff for Wasabi Refill, Tea Brewing, and Utility Roles

Supporting roles are just as vital. A team member brewing tea or keeping the wasabi flowing can ease pressure on your main team.

• Masayoshi: The king of refill and background duties.
  
• Dr. Bacon: Versatile support staffer, also useful for tech tasks like controlling devices.
  
• El Nino: Though more appealing to guests, he handles utilities well if trained.
  

Balance is key — don’t overlook these “boring” jobs; they keep your bar efficient and customers happy.

Specialist Staff for VIP Events and Challenges

VIP guests expect five-star treatment. These staff members ensure everything goes smoothly:

• El Nino: High-appeal and fast service make him the go-to for special events.
  
• Kyoko: Boosts guest satisfaction, perfect when stars or celebrities show up.
  
• Tenzhin: Keeps food flowing so VIPs never wait long.
  

VIPs tip better and influence your bar rating — assigning your A-team for these nights is essential.

Tips for Training, Promoting, and Managing Staff Roles

• Train smart: Don’t just level up all stats — specialize. Boost cooking for chefs and serving for waitstaff.
  
• Use promotion wisely: Promoting staff unlocks new skills. Choose the best time (ideally mid-week, before a busy weekend).
  
• Rotate roles: Don’t burn out your best staff. Rotate utility tasks or assign off-nights to keep energy high.
  
• Check synergies: Some staff work better when paired. Yone and Maki, for example, dominate evening rushes together.
  

Final Thoughts

In Dave the Diver, managing your sushi bar becomes a rewarding challenge once you understand how staff dynamics work. Building the right team — not just with high stats, but with the right combinations of skills — can turn your chaotic restaurant into a perfectly oiled machine. Whether you’re prepping for a boss-level guest or just trying to make it through a Tuesday night rush, the staff you hire, train, and master will define your success. So choose wisely, experiment with roles, and keep evolving your team.