sci-fi space story

im looking for a book that i read a long time ago and basically all that I remember about it is part of the beginning where a guy and his friend go to a rich movie actors house to see the dudes daughter which he likes, and there is like a wizard of oz path to the beach and later in the book but not a lot later, they save her from a sinking yacht and to help save her the dad of the girl gives him a blue liquid which allows him to hold his breath longer and have more strength. that's pretty much all I remember :/