Try Scuba Diving at Ilha das Cabras, Ilhabela: What Your First Dive Is Like
By MaresiasTur · · Updated on · 4 min read
Quick answer
Try scuba diving at Ilha das Cabras, in Ilhabela, is done with no prior course, with a PADI instructor by your side, at about 6 meters deep, for 30 to 50 minutes. The activity lasts about 3 hours, departs from Varadouro, in São Sebastião, at 9 am or 2 pm, and accepts participants ages 10 and up.
Breathing underwater for the first time is one of those feelings that's hard to explain. Try scuba diving at Ilha das Cabras, in Ilhabela, makes it possible without any prior course or certification: with a PADI instructor by your side the whole time, participants descend to an average depth of 6 meters and stay underwater for 30 to 50 minutes.
The full activity takes about three hours, including briefing and boat transport, and departs from the Varadouro neighborhood, in São Sebastião. Below: how it works, who can dive, what's included, and how it compares to the snorkeling on the boat tours.
How does the try-dive work?
- Location: Ilha das Cabras, in Ilhabela.
- Average depth: 6 meters.
- Dive time: 30 to 50 minutes.
- Total duration: about 3 hours, including briefing and travel.
- Schedules: 9 am and 2 pm, every day of the week, with up to 8 participants per time slot.
- Departure: Rua Benedito Ramos dos Santos, 98, Varadouro neighborhood, São Sebastião.
Before getting in the water, the instructor explains the equipment, communication signals, and how to equalize your ears. Then, the boat takes the group to the dive spot, the Ilha das Cabras DivePoint.
Do you need to know how to swim or have taken a course?
No course is needed: the try-dive exists precisely as an introduction for anyone who wants to experience scuba diving with a tank. The instructor stays with the participant throughout the whole dive. Anyone who feels unsure in the water should mention it during the briefing, to get extra attention, and follow the instructor's guidance from start to finish.
Who can dive, and what health precautions should be taken?
The minimum age is 10 years old, with parental or guardian consent. Before the activity, participants answer health questions. Heart or breathing problems, or a bad cold, can prevent someone from diving that day; when in doubt, the guidance is to consult a doctor before booking. The team can bar participation for anyone who would put their own safety or that of others at risk, so it's worth reporting any condition that might affect the dive.
Anyone flying afterward should follow the usual recreational diving recommendation: wait at least 12 hours after a single dive before flying. Ideally, don't schedule the activity on the day of your return flight.
What can you see underwater?
Photos from the activity itself show schools of silver fish and even a sea turtle by algae-covered rocks. Marine life, however, changes daily, and so does water visibility: there's no way to guarantee what each dive will show. Photographs are not included in the tour.
How much does it cost, and what's included?
The try-dive costs R$ 500 per person (reference price as of September 2026; the current price appears on the tour's page). Availability and the current price are on the Ilha das Cabras try-dive tour page.
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| PADI dive instructor | Transport to São Sebastião |
| Full diving equipment | Food |
| Boat transport to the dive spot | Drinks |
| Individual insurance | Photographs |
Try-dive or snorkeling: which to choose?
Snorkeling is done on the surface, with a mask and snorkel, and is part of the boat tours along the South Coast, which stop at Ilha das Couves, described in the route as a natural pool ideal for snorkeling, at Ilha dos Gatos, a free-diving spot with schools of fish, and at As Ilhas. The try-dive takes participants underwater, with a tank and an instructor by their side. Anyone who wants a lighter first contact can start with the shared As 3 Ilhas da Costa Sul boat; tips on where and how are in snorkeling in São Sebastião.
How to get to Varadouro and who the tour is for
Transport to São Sebastião is not included, and apps like Uber and 99 don't work in the city; anyone in Maresias should plan the trip in advance, as explained in the guide how to get to Maresias and get around. The agency recommends arriving 30 minutes before the scheduled time. If weather or maritime safety prevents the departure, the participant chooses between rescheduling at no cost or receiving a full refund, per the cancellation policy.
The try-dive is for anyone who has always wondered what diving feels like, and for families with children ages 10 and up looking for a new experience together. Anyone who wants to explore more of Ilhabela can go by boat on the route from Maresias to Ilhabela.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a course to try scuba diving?
- No. The try-dive is done without a course, accompanied by a PADI instructor throughout the whole activity.
- What's the minimum age for the try-dive at Ilha das Cabras?
- 10 years old, with parental or guardian consent.
- How much does the try-dive in Ilhabela cost?
- R$ 500 per person, including instructor, full equipment, boat transport, and insurance (reference price as of September 2026; the current price appears on the tour's page).
- How long do I stay underwater during the try-dive?
- The dive lasts 30 to 50 minutes, at an average depth of 6 meters.
- What are the try-dive schedules?
- There are departures at 9 am and 2 pm, every day, with up to 8 participants per time slot.
- Where does the try-dive depart from?
- From Rua Benedito Ramos dos Santos, 98, Varadouro neighborhood, in São Sebastião.