Narwhal Ilhabela

Located in Perequê, Narwhal Mergulho em Ilhabela is a cornerstone of the local diving community. Since its founding in 1984, the centre has grown into one of the largest diving schools in Brazil, having trained over 20,000 students ranging from those taking their first breaths underwater to professional instructors.

The centre operates as a dedicated PADI Dive Centre, providing a structured and professional environment for both recreational divers and those pursuing a career in the industry. Its location in Ilhabela allows for easy access to a variety of underwater environments, from shallow protected reefs to deep-water archipelagos and historic shipwrecks.

The team at Narwhal is composed of experienced, qualified instructors capable of guiding divers through a wide spectrum of abilities. They maintain a strict ratio of two divers per guide, ensuring close supervision and personalized attention during every dive.

Instruction is conducted in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, making the centre accessible to an international community of divers. Whether you are completing a checkout dive or working towards a professional certification, the emphasis remains on safety and technical proficiency.

Narwhal offers a complete curriculum of PADI courses designed to take a diver from their first experience to professional levels. Beginners can start with the Open Water Diver course, progressing through Advanced Open Water Diver, and the Rescue Diver certification.

For those looking to specialise, the centre provides training in Nitrox, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Night Diver, and Peak Performance Buoyancy. They also offer Sidemount and Shark Diver Conservation courses. Professional divers can pursue the Divemaster and Instructor Development Course (IDC) pathways, alongside EFR – Emergency First Response and Equipment Specialist training.

The centre operates several vessels to suit different group sizes and dive requirements. For smaller groups or weekday trips, the Bote Rápido provides efficient transit to local sites.

On weekends and public holidays, the Barco Enphase serves as the primary vessel for larger groups. For more traditional outings, the Escuna Una is also available. For longer excursions to the Alcatrazes archipelago, the boats provide snacks, fruit, non-alcoholic drinks, sandwiches, and a churrasco for those on the full-day trips.

The centre provides a full range of rental equipment, including masks, snorkels, fins, and wetsuits. For those requiring a more complete setup, full kit hire is available on-site.

Shore-based facilities include showers, toilets, and a dedicated area for rinsing kit. The centre also offers free parking for divers arriving by car.

The marine life in the Ilhabela region is exceptionally diverse. On the reefs and rocky outcrops, you will regularly encounter colourful fish, sea turtles, and rays. The protected waters around Ilha das Cabras are particularly known for their abundance of marine life, including groupers and various reef fish.

Macro life is a highlight for many divers, with numerous species of nudibranchs, anemones, crabs, shrimp, and sea urchins inhabiting the crevices and coral structures. The reefs, especially around the Jardim de Corais site, feature significant covers of brain coral.

In the deeper waters and during transits to the archipelagos, larger pelagic species are often present. It is common to observe dolphins and various species of whales, including Bryde's whales and humpback whales, depending on the time of year.

Divers should be aware that currents can be quite strong in specific areas, notably at Ilha das Cabras Face Norte, Parcel da Coroa, Coroa, Parcel da Ponta Oeste, Saco da Coruja, Parcel da Sumítica, and Parcel das 5 milhas.

At the Alcatrazes archipelago, the Parcel das 5 milhas site is subject to heavy currents and is only operational when sea conditions are calm, with swells below 1 metre. Thermoclines can also occur occasionally in early summer, bringing sudden drops in water temperature through certain layers of the water column.