Pokémon Platinum Dive Balls: How They Work + All Locations

Dive Ball Acquisition Methods
#	Location	Repeatable?
1	Solaceon Town—Given to you as a reward for bringing a requested Pokémon to the Pokémon News Press reporter	Yes
2	Route 223—Found inside a Poké Ball in a patch of shallow water to the north (requires Surf)	Yes

The only repeatable way to collect Dive Balls is to bring a requested Pokémon to the reporter at Solaceon Town Pokémon News Press, who will reward you with a Heart Scale and three Poké Balls of a random type. This can be repeated once per day.

There is also a single Dive Ball on northern Route 223 that you can pick up off of a small island.

What Are Dive Balls?

The in-game description of the Dive Ball.

Dive Balls are rare Poké Balls that excel at catching Pokémon that you find while fishing or Surfing.

When used on water-dwelling Pokémon, a Dive Ball’s catch rate will be 3.5 times that of a standard Poké Ball; otherwise, Dive Balls and Poké Balls will have the same catching strength.

You can use the following table to compare the catch rates of different Poké Balls:

Type of Poké Ball	Catch Rate Modifier
Poké Ball	1x
Great Ball	1.5x
Ultra Ball	2x
Dive Ball (while fishing and Surfing)	3.5x
Dive Ball (all other encounters)	1x

Acquiring Dive Balls

Dive Balls are some of the rarest Poké Balls in the game.

Unlike many of the other “special” Poké Balls, like Dusk Balls or Heal Balls, Dive Balls can’t be found in any store.

Below we’ll cover the only ways to get Dive Balls in Pokémon Platinum.

Method 1: Pokémon News Press (Repeatable)

The easiest way (as well as the only repeatable way) to get Dive Balls is to bring specific types of Pokémon to the Pokémon News Press reporter in Solaceon Town as he requests them.

To start, Fly to Solaceon Town and enter the News Press building next door to the Pokémon Center.

Entering the Pokémon News Press building in Solaceon Town.

You’ll find two men inside; the one on the left is who you’ll be speaking to.

Note: Save your game before talking to the man.

Identifying the Pokémon News Press reporter.

The man will introduce himself as a reporter for the Pokémon News Press.

He needs help writing an article, and he will task you with showing him a certain species of Pokémon that he can report on.

The Pokémon he asks for will always be a random species of Pokémon that you have owned at some point (any of the “Obtained” Pokémon in your Pokédex).

The Pokémon News Press reporter asking you to show him a Shellos.

The Pokémon that the reporter asks to see isn’t necessarily one that you currently own—for instance, he may ask for a Pokémon you once owned but that has since evolved or been traded. But saving the game before speaking to him allows you to reset and try for an easier request.

When you get a request you can complete, go out and place that Pokémon in your party.

Taking a Shellos out of a PC Box.

Note: Again, save your game before speaking to the reporter.

Return to the reporter and speak to him. When he sees you have fulfilled his request, he will experience what appears to be a moment of sublime inspiration.

The reporter becoming weirdly excited at seeing one of the most common Pokémon in the game.

As a reward for bringing him the Pokémon, the reporter will hand you a Heart Scale and three Poké Balls of a specific model.

The type of Poké Balls he gives you is random, but this is why saving your game beforehand is useful: it allows you to reset and try again until you receive the Poké Balls you want.

Do this until the reporter gives you the Dive Balls.

Receiving three Dive Balls from the Pokémon News Press reporter.

The Pokémon News Press request can be repeated once per day.

While it is a slow method of obtaining Dive Balls, it’s the only repeatable way of getting them in Pokémon Platinum without transferring them from another game.

Method 2: Route 223 (Step-by-Step)

There is one Dive Ball lying out in the oceanic expanse of Route 223, which stretches from Sunyshore City to Victory Road. You’ll need a Pokémon with Surf to reach it.

When you’re ready, Fly to Sunyshore City and head north along the main street.

Heading northward from the Sunyshore City Pokémon Center.

Wind around the buildings as you head north, passing the Sunyshore Market.

Passing the Sunyshore Market and heading to the outskirts of town.

Continue north until you reach the coastline, where Jasmine is hanging out.

Then use Surf to resume your northward expedition.

Passing Jasmine and Surfing to the north.

Pass all of the Swimmer trainers as you keep a rigid course northward.

Continuing north through the throng of Swimmers.

At a certain point you will come to a rocky area where the water becomes shallow enough to walk across. Step onto the ground here and turn left.

Taking a left turn at the shallow water.

Circle around to the north until you reach more deep water, then continue Surfing northward.

Walking around to the north and using Surf again.

Just past Swimmer Gabrielle is an islet with a Poké Ball item on it.

Approaching the Poké Ball on the islet to the north of Swimmer Gabrielle.

Pick up this Poké Ball to add a Dive Ball to your Bag.

Obtaining the Dive Ball on Route 223.

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Chris Haygood

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Chris is an American freelance writer and lifelong gamer. RPGs have been his genre of choice ever since he got Pokémon Blue in 1867, but if he finds a good rhythm game, he will prioritize playing it over both eating and breathing.

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