If you’ve spent any time at all in the Giant Blue Hole, you’ve met Sato. He’s that slightly suspicious, Ash Ketchum-looking guy who shows up early on to obsess over Marinca, the in-game trading card app. Honestly, it starts as a side thought. You catch a fish, you get a card. Simple.
But then you realize some slots are empty. Very empty. The Dave the Diver Marinca quest isn't just one single mission you pick up from a board; it is a massive, game-long completionist journey that eventually leads to some of the rarest encounters in the game, including the elusive "hidden" cards and the legendary Lusca.
What Most People Get Wrong About Marinca
Most players think Marinca is just a digital pokedex. It’s more than that. It’s actually the gatekeeper for late-game content. You can’t just stumble upon everything. Some cards are locked behind specific weather patterns, night dives, or even "rare map" spawns that only appear once every dozen dives.
If you are trying to 100% your Marinca collection, you need to understand that card quality matters.
- 1-Star (Bronze): You killed it with a harpoon or gun.
- 2-Star (Silver): You caught it, but it took damage.
- 3-Star (Gold): You caught it alive and unharmed.
For the small fry, you’ll want the Steel Net Gun. For the big boys like sharks? You need to tranquilize them and call in the Salvage Drone. Without that drone, getting a 3-star Great White or Greenland Shark is basically impossible.
The Grind for the "Hidden" Marinca Cards
Once you think you've caught everything, Sato usually has one more trick up his sleeve. There is a specific trigger for the end-game Marinca content. Basically, once you've filled out the standard deck, you get notified about "Special" or "Hidden" cards.
📖 Related: Madden 26 DirectX Error: Why Your PC Keeps Crashing and How to Actually Fix It
One of the most famous (and frustrating) is the Lusca.
This isn't a fish you just find while wandering. You have to wait for a Stormy Night. On these specific nights, a vortex appears in the Blue Hole. It’s deep. It’s dangerous. And if you haven't prepared your oxygen tanks and upgraded your weapons, you're going to have a bad time.
Where to find the hardest cards
- The Glacial Area: You’ll find the Mjolnir (yes, Thor's hammer) hidden in a block of ice. Mining this gives you a special card.
- Hydrothermal Vents: Deep in the final boss area, there is a specific spot for a crab trap. You only get one shot at this. If you miss it, you're diving back down through fire-breathing vents all over again.
- The Seaweed Forest: Some fish, like the Sheepshead Wrasse, only appear when the map spawns with the tall kelp. If you don't see the long green strips in the foreground, just surface and try again.
Is the Reward Actually Worth It?
This is where it gets a bit polarizing in the community. For a long time, completing the Marinca quest gave you... well, nothing but bragging rights. Fans were a bit salty about it.
However, updates have changed things. If you manage to 100% the collection with all gold cards, you actually unlock a unique decoration for Bancho Sushi. It’s a gold octagonal trophy on a wooden base. It sits in your decor slot near the Hot Pepper Tuna poster. It doesn't give you a stat boost, but it tells every customer who walks in that you have mastered the Blue Hole.
👉 See also: Getting Every Hunter Mask in The Division 2 Without Losing Your Mind
Expert Tips for 3-Starring Everything
If you're serious about finishing this, stop using the Harpoon. Seriously.
- Upgrade the Hush Dart: The Modified Hush Dart is the king of Marinca hunting. It puts almost anything to sleep in two hits.
- Check your phone: If Sato isn't calling you, you probably missed a boss. Bosses give automatic 3-star cards, but you have to actually win the fight (obviously).
- Night Diving is Mandatory: You will never finish the Marinca collection if you only dive during the day. Moray Eels, certain sharks, and many small crustaceans only come out when the sun goes down.
Actionable Next Steps
To move your Marinca quest forward right now, don't just dive aimlessly. Check your Marinca app and identify the "missing" numbers.
- Check the Weather: If it’s raining or stormy, prioritize the Vortex.
- Upgrade your Drone: Make sure your Salvage Drone has at least 3 charges.
- Visit the Blacksmith: If you don't have the Steel Net Gun yet, prioritize those materials.
Start by clearing out the Blue Hole Shallows during a "Seaweed Day." Once those early slots are gold, the rest of the grind feels a lot more manageable.