Mergulho has  few different meanings, so it’s a useful Portuguese vocabulary word to know, especially when traveling.

1. Scuba Diving

This is the noun used for scuba in Brazilian Portuguese. Here’s an example:

Durante as férias, gosto de curtir a praia e fazer mergulho. During the holidays, I like to enjoy the beach and go scuba diving.

Check out this amazing mergulho in Fernando de Noronha!

2. Dive

This can mean to dive or jump into water, or to dive in the scuba diving sense. It can also mean to dive in the sense of entering something rapidly.

Me ensina mergulhar? Will you teach me how to dive?

Mergulho em uma paixão – the translation for the title of the film “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken,” which literally refers to diving into a passion

Os meninos estão mergulhando na piscina. The boys are diving into the pool.

Do not try this at home!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgF2uCHEfhU

3. Plunge / Tailspin

This refers to an object, like a plane, going into a rapid downward descent in the air. This can also refer to a person jumping in the air when skydiving, which in Portuguese is called paraquedismo.

O avião foi atingido por raio e mergulhou. The plane was hit by lightning and took a nosedive.

Tenho medo de fazer mergulho do avião. I’m afraid to jump out of a plane.