Dive Masters (also known as South Pacific, Diver Down, Deep in Thought, Octopus' Garden, Holy Diver, Crossroads, Coming Up for Air, Water Sports, Turtle Head, and The Deep) is a recurring challenge that originated in Survivor: Vanuatu and has since reappeared in Micronesia, Philippines, Cagayan, Millennials vs. Gen X, Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, Ghost Island, Survivor 41, Survivor 43, and Survivor 46.
Rules[]
Each tribe must retrieve items attached to an underwater rope, with each progressive item being deeper than the one before it. The first tribe to retrieve all their items and finish a final task wins the challenge.
History[]
United States[]
The challenge debuted as the first Reward Challenge after the tribe switch in Vanuatu. The contestants had to pull themselves along a vertical underwater rope, retrieving markers along the way. After ten minutes, the tribe with the most markers won Pringles, beer, and a trip to the waterfalls of Vanuatu. Although the challenge was closely fought by both tribes, and even though Chris Daugherty dropped a marker at some point, Lopevi ultimately collected the most markers, winning the challenge and reward.
In Cook Islands, the challenge was used as the final tribal Immunity Challenge. Prior to the challenge, the tribes were given a map of the South Pacific to study. At the challenge, the tribe members would swim to floating pontoons, dive down, and unclip a bundle of placards before swimming back; each subsequent person would swim to a pontoon closer to shore. Once all the placards have been retrieved, the tribe members will head to an answer table showing a map of the southern half of the Pacific Ocean and attempt to identify the ten Pacific Islands. Aitutaki won the challenge, sending Rarotonga back to Tribal Council with a mystery bottle.
In Micronesia, four members of each tribe had to dive down to a 9.1 m long steel cage that contained coconuts painted in tribe colors and bearing letters. Once all the coconuts had been retrieved and put in a floating bin, the bin had to be pulled back to shore. The four remaining castaways would unscramble a word puzzle using the letters on the coconuts. Malakal defeated Airai after Malakal's strongest swimmer, Ozzy Lusth, took his time to move all the coconuts to the end of the steel cage for easier retrieval to win a reward of chickens.
The challenge reappeared in Philippines, as an Immunity Challenge. One by one, the castaways, had to dive down and retrieve eight wheel-shaped puzzle pieces clipped to an underwater rope. Once all were collected, they used the puzzle pieces to identify a mystery eight-letter word ("treasure"). Kalabaw solved the puzzle first, and was soon followed by Tandang, sending Matsing to Tribal Council for the third straight time. In addition to immunity, Kalabaw and Tandang also got fishing gear, while Kalabaw, who finished first, also earned a canoe.
In Cagayan, the challenge was once again used as an Immunity Challenge. One member from each tribe would dive to retrieve a buoy in the water. Once all five buoys had been brought back to the platform, one tribe member had to shoot the buoys into a basket out in the ocean. Solana easily cruised to victory, with the challenge coming down between Aparri and Luzon. Though most of Aparri was trying to throw the challenge, several members of Luzon, most notably J'Tia Taylor, struggled. This allowed Aparri target Cliff Robinson to unknowingly save himself, sending Luzon to Tribal Council again.
In Millennials vs. Gen X, the challenge was the first Immunity Challenge following the tribe expansion. All members of each tribe had to dive to retrieve a buoy in the water, then swim to a platform. Once all five buoys were on the platform, one tribe member had to shoot the buoys into a basket out in the ocean. The tribes were given the possibility to attempt to hook the basket closer to the platform, making the shooting easier. Vanua quickly fell behind due to CeCe Taylor and David Wright both taking a lot of time to bring their buoys to the platform, allowing Ikabula and Takali to win immunity before Vanua could toss a single buoy into their basket.
In Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, three members of each tribe had to swim out to a floating net ring. They would then have to dive down and maneuver sets of puzzle pieces and bring them to the remaining two members. The two remaining members then would then use the pieces solve a signpost puzzle featuring several previous Survivor locations. Soko came from behind to take first place, followed by Levu, sending Yawa to their first Tribal Council.
In Ghost Island, two pairs from each tribe had to race through a series of obstacles in the water. They then had to dive to release two sets of buoys. Another member then need to gather up all of the marked buoys to the finish, where the last four members needed to shoot all eight in a basket. Malolo fell behind after James Lim struggled to release the second set of buoys 8 feet below before a reluctant Donathan Hurley managed to do so. This gave Naviti time to get all of their buoys in easily, sending Malolo back to Tribal Council.
In Survivor 41, one member of each tribe had to swim out directly to a buoy to retrieve a key underwater before swimming to a platform. Two other members would then traverse an obstacle course in the water to make their way to the same platform. Once all three were across, the final two members had to use the key to unlock a set of puzzle pieces they would need to solve a turtle puzzle. All three tribes started out neck-and-neck before Tiffany Seely struggled to get across the balance beam, putting Yase in last. This gave Luvu and Ua time to solve their puzzles first to win fishing gear and immunity, sending Yase back to Tribal Council.
In Survivor 43, each tribe leapt off a platform into the water, one member at a time. They will climb a stack of crates and dive back into the water to retrieve a key attached to a buoy. Once they reach the last platform with the key, the next person goes. Once all three keys are collected, the two remaining tribe members will unlock and solve a sea turtle puzzle. The first two tribes to solve the puzzle win. Baka pulled away to win immunity; meanwhile, Nneka Ejere struggled on the puzzle, extinguishing Vesi's lead and allowing Coco to catch up and win the challenge, sending Vesi to their second Tribal Council.
A modified version of the Cagayan variant appeared as an Immunity Challenge in Survivor 46. Each tribe member had to swim to and climb up a rope ladder to a tower, which they will jump off. After a short swim to the next platform, they will climb a stack of crates and jump off into the water, where the first two tribe members will unclamp a basket of buoys. Once both baskets have been collected and all four members have reached the final platform, they will find the three buoys bearing the tribe insignia and attempt to land the buoys inside three baskets out at sea. The tribes were evenly matched until Bhanu Gopal's error in not jumping off the crates cost the Yanu tribe valuable time. As Nami sailed to a familiar first-place finish, Bhanu's continued errors with rebounding the missed buoys set Yanu further back, allowing Tim Spicer to win immunity for Siga.
Australia[]
France[]
New Zealand[]
Quebec[]
South Africa[]
In Panama, the challenge appeared as the sixth Immunity Challenge of the season. Gareth Tjasink helped to secure Rana an early lead in the challenge that they never relinquished, allowing them to break their losing streak to win their third Immunity Challenge.
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Vanuatu "Earthquakes and Shake-Ups!" |
Tribal Reward |       Lopevi |
| Cook Islands "People That You Like Want to See You Suffer" |
Tribal Immunity |     Aitutaki |
| Micronesia "That's Baked, Barbecued and Fried!" |
Tribal Reward |         Malakal |
| Philippines "This Isn't a 'We' Game" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |       Kalabaw |
      Tandang | ||
| Cagayan "Our Time to Shine" |
Tribal Immunity |      Solana |
      Aparri | ||
| Millennials vs. Gen X "Idol Search Party" |
Tribal Immunity |       Ikabula |
     Takali | ||
| Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers "I'm a Wild Banshee" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |       Soko |
     Levu | ||
| Ghost Island "Can You Reverse the Curse?" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |           Naviti |
| Survivor 41 "Juggling Chainsaws" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |       Luvu |
     Ua | ||
| Survivor 43 "I'll Sign the Divorce Papers" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |      Baka |
      Coco | ||
| Survivor 46 "Don't Touch the Oven" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |      Nami |
      Siga |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Champions v Contenders (2018) Episode 2 |
Tribal Immunity |            Contenders (2018) |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanuatu Episode 4 |
Tribal Immunity |        Mosso | |
| Palawan Episode 4 |
Tribal Immunity |       Guntao | |
| Caramoan Episode 5 |
Tribal Immunity |        Tayak | |
| Palau Episode 4 |
Tribal Reward |        Koror (Koh-Lanta) | |
| Le Choc des Héros Episode 2 |
Tribal Immunity |        Tiac | |
| Malaisie Episode 2 |
Tribal Immunity |           Sungaï | |
| Cambodge Episode 2 |
Tribal Immunity |        Bokor | |
      Takéo | |||
| Fidji Episode 2 |
Tribal Immunity |          Makawa | |
| La Légende Episode 3 |
Tribal Immunity |         Korok (La Légende) | |
| Les Chasseurs d'Immunité Episode 3 |
Tribal Immunity |           Matukad | |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor Québec (2023) Episode 25 |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |       Kalooban |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Jonathan Penner has competed in this challenge three times, winning twice.
- Denise Stapley is the only Sole Survivor to compete in this challenge and not win.
- This is the only Immunity Challenge won by the Ua tribe.
References[]