Mergulho Carioca

Mergulho Carioca is a PADI 5 Star Dive Center on the waterfront in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, where two PADI Instructors guide divers from their very first breaths underwater through to professional-level training. The focus here is continuous development, backed by the tools to match: the center runs its own dive boats, classroom, and indoor training pool.

Courses and who it suits

Complete beginners can start with the PADI Open Water Diver Course, roughly four days and priced from USD 460, before continuing through specialties and up to professional courses. That progression makes it a natural fit for anyone wanting a single home base for the whole journey — and with instruction offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, international visitors will feel at ease.

On-site facilities cover air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and parking, while services include air fills, nitrox, and equipment rental for adults and kids. The waters off Rio bring the chance to encounter sharks, whales, turtles, rays, eels, corals, and plenty of ocean fish.