Scuba Diving in the Gili Islands: Reefs, Turtles and Sharks

Divers come from all over the world to the Gili Islands for warm, clear water, easy boat rides and an extraordinary density of marine life. Whether you are trying scuba for the first time or adding to a long logbook, the dive centres of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air offer everything from introductory dives to advanced and technical courses.

Most dive sites are only minutes from the beach. Expect gentle coral slopes, pinnacles, drift dives along the reef and a wreck for more experienced divers. Turtles are the stars, seen on almost every dive, alongside reef sharks, moray eels, schools of jacks and batfish, octopus, and countless colourful reef fish. With luck, a manta ray may glide past at the right time of year.

Currents are part of the experience here, carrying you effortlessly along the reef, so it is worth choosing a well-run dive centre and following your guide's briefing. Visibility is usually good, and the water stays warm all year.

Diving here also helps protect the reefs. Most dive centres collect a small eco-contribution for the Gili Eco Trust, the local organisation behind Biorock reef restoration, mooring buoys and waste programmes. Divers who want to see the small stuff can also join muck dives on the nearby Lombok coast.

Between dives, The Gili Beach Resort offers a quiet base on the north beach, with your own private pool and Halik Reef right in front of the villa for an evening snorkel.