Endeavor: Deep Sea · Board game rules
Does spending a Dive token count as a Phase 2 activation?
Quick answer
No, spending a Dive token does not count as a Phase 2 activation; you may spend tokens in addition to activating a Specialist. [p.11 — Dive Tokens]
Details
Spending Dive tokens is explicitly a separate action from activating a Specialist. The rulebook states: "You may spend a Dive token in place of activating a Specialist," which means tokens offer an alternative to activation, not a form of activation itself. [p.11 — Dive Tokens]
You may spend tokens before and/or after activating your Specialist, or even between its actions if it has multiple actions. You may also spend tokens on the same turn you draw them. [p.11 — Dive Tokens]
Watch out: Spending a Dive token can replace your entire turn (instead of activating a Specialist), but it does not count as an activation. Either way, you still take only one turn per round in Phase 2, and then play passes to the next player.