A Guide to Diving in Gili Islands, Indonesia.

This post contains affiliate links. If you book something through these links I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more about mydisclosure and affiliate policy here.
…

The Gili Islands are a favorite travel destination for many set between Bali and Lombok in Indonesia. Gili Trawangan attracts a party crowd, Gili Meno those seeking solitude, and Gili Air offers a good mix of both. In addition, turquoise warm water, white sandy beaches, and the stunning backdrop of the volcanos on Bali and Lombok. 

One of the things to do from all three islands is scuba diving in the Gili Islands. Why the Gili diving is so good, what to expect, and how to plan your trip in this article. 

The Ins & Outs to Diving in Gili Islands

What makes diving in Gili Islands so special?

Gili Islands diving is somewhat underrated in my opinion. Mind you, I wouldn’t consider it part of the best diving in Indonesia like Komodo or Raja Ampat but if you happen to be in the area I think they are worth a trip. After all, the Gilis are known as the turtle capital of the world thanks to plenty of Hawksbill and Green Turtles. You will also find a varied underwater landscape at the local dive sites and most importantly some amazing muck diving.

If you aren’t keen on turtles (who even are you?!) don’t worry because there are good chances for black and whitetip sharks, octopus, lionfish, and sometimes even for mantas! If you prefer elusive macro critters like frogfish, leaffish, nudibranchs, and pygmy seahorses you will also find your diving paradise here. Macro fans should ask their dive center to put a muck diving trip on the agenda – Kecinan bay and Lombok harbor are full of amazing critters but regular dive trips won’t take you there.

If you happen to get cold easily rest assured because the water temperatures tend to hover around a balmy 28°C – a bliss compared to Bali! In addition, there are plenty of well-outfitted dive centers around the islands and most dive sites can be reached with a short boat ride. Visibility is also very good unless you come during the rainy season and many dive sites are suitable for snorkelers as well.

Conditions on most of the 20-something dive sites are easy to moderate (though there can be stronger currents too) which makes the Gili Islands the perfect place for beginners without being boring for more experienced divers. If you are interested in getting certified there are plenty of dive centers on all three islands that offer both PADI and SSI courses, and more often than not will also throw in inexpensive accommodation.

How to get your Open Water Scuba Certification

And while the Gili Islands are not old-school charming like Lombok nor as pristine or picturesque as more remote islands in Raja Ampat, they offer a perfectly nice holiday destination altogether. It is easy to get around, there are some great places for a cold beer and decent food, and depending on which island you choose you will find tranquility or a good party after your dives. My favorite is Gili Air as a base for diving!

Best time for diving in the Gili Islands

The good news is that you can have good Gili Islands diving all year long. However, the best months to dive are May and June as well as October and November. During these months you will avoid huge crowds as it is off- and low season and the diving conditions are the best. If you can, avoid the rainy season that starts in November as it lowers the visibility, and be aware that the water is coldest in high season as strong winds can cool down the water temperature. But as I have mentioned before – cold water is relative in the Gili Islands.

How to find a good dive center in the Gili Islands

I recently went with Manta Dive Gili Air and was super happy with their service. I was on sidemount and had some very specific ideas of what I wanted to see and they were nothing but kind and helpful, and very accommodating. 

They have a location on Gili Air and one on Gili T and use big, very comfortable boats. You usually board right in front of the dive center or just a little bit up the road depending on the tides. 

They also have accommodation as part of their dive resorts. The rooms look lovely and they also have a pool onsite. In addition, they own the taco restaurant next door. While the tacos couldn’t quite compare to Tulum, they were pretty decent. The best part: they have a tripod cat named Panda who is just wonderful!

Book a room at Manta Dive Gili Air

Manta Dive Gili Air is located on the southeast side of the island, about a 10-minute walk from the pier. If you are planning to dive a lot during your Gili stay make sure to find a hotel not too far from your dive center. Manta Dive includes equipment in their prices alternatively you get a discount when you bring your own and can leave it at the dive shop over night. Still, you may not want to walk across the whole island after your dives.

Of course, there are plenty of other dive centers on Gili Air. While you can just pop in and look around, it is wise to pre-book if you are coming in high season. Especially if you want to do a course and/ or have limited time on the island. If you prefer to do your course in your native language you are in luck as many dive centers in the Gili Islands have instructors for German, French, or Spanish too. Many dive centers offer a selection of the most popular SSI and PADI courses which range from simple Open Water to specialty certifications. 

If you are planning on getting your OW certification, the Gilis are a great location as prices are moderate and it usually won’t take longer than 3 days. And there is plenty to see underwater, even in shallower depths!

How much does diving on Gili Air cost? 

Diving prices on Gili Air are pretty much standardized (unlike Amed…) but most dive centers will try to entice you with diving packages or dive & stay options. In addition, you should always check what is or isn’t included like equipment, marine park fees, etc. 

Manta Dive Gili Air currently charges Rp 600k for a boat dive including everything but the marine park fee which is Rp 100k as a one-off.  And Nitrox is an extra Rp 80k per tank. The more dives you book, the more discount you get. This also goes for returning customers, professionals (ie PADI instructors), or those who bring their own equipment. In total you could get 20 % off, making diving in Gili Air very affordable.  

Check beforehand how your dive center handles payment. Many charge an extra fee for credit card payment but will allow payments with Wise.

Dive sites in the Gili islands

Is diving in the Gilis still any good? Some may disagree with me but I think diving around the three Gili islands is fantastic. It may not compare to Raja Ampat, Komodo, or Tulamben when it comes to macro but there is plenty to see and corals seem in good shape. 

Also, I think the Gilis still rightfully deserved their title as “Turtle Capital of the World”. Look, there weren’t 60 on one dive as I saw in Sipadan but there were always a few on every single dive. 

There are around 25 dive sites in the Gili Islands offering something for each taste and certification level. Dive sites are chosen daily depending on the conditions and course planning (and sometimes special requests if you ask nicely). Usually, you can see a board in front of each dive center and check what is on the agenda for the next day.

Here are some of my favorite Gili dive sites:

Meno Bounty

There isn’t much wreck diving in the Gili Island but the Meno Bounty is a glorious exception. It is a floating dock that was sunk in 1999 and a beautiful artificial reef has emerged at a maximum depth of 18m. You can expect some medium current, shoals of various angelfish species, and if you have a good divemaster a few frogfish on the wreck itself.

Learn new skills during your Advanced Open Water

Mirko’s Reef

This reef is a favorite for many divers and a great spot even for advanced divers as it slopes down to 35 m. What is there to see? A better question is – what isn’t there to see? On a single dive, I saw a giant frogfish (can you tell I am slightly obsessed with frogfish?!), pygmy seahorses (yes, plural!), peacock mantis shrimp, orangutan crab, and a shoal of bump head parrotfish.

Deep Turbo

Deep Turbo is a sea mound and is usually only for advanced divers. It is located north of Gili T and requires you to drop into the blue, making it very possible to miss if the current is too strong. But if you make it, it offers a truly beautiful deep dive with stunning Gorgonian Sea Fans (and maybe a lucky pygmy sea horse) as well as batfish, green turtles, black and white tip reef sharks, and if you get really lucky bumphead parrotfish and eagle rays. 

Once we moved to the shallow part of Deep Turbo we found cuttlefish, octopus, leaf fish, and to my delight a juvenile Rockmover Wrasse. 

Han’s Reef

Han’s Reef is one of those perfect allrounder sites and is a patch reef going down to 22 m. It offers great training conditions for new divers, enough to spot for advanced divers, a cool coral forestation area, and the infamous Turtle Rock where you will definitely see a sleeping turtle or two in a barrel sponge.

In addition, a variety of reef fish and critters; Han’s Reef can also be combined with a dive at Secret Garden for some more macro stuff. 

Turtle Heaven

It is actually tricky not to see a turtle or two when diving around the Gili Islands but Turtle Heaven is very aptly named. Don’t worry about counting them and just enjoy the dive!

To be honest, as this is one of the most favorite dive spots in the Gili Islands it does get rather crowded here these days but for turtle lovers, it might still be worth it. Chat to your dive center as some may offer alternate diving times at Turtle Heaven to avoid the crowds. Otherwise, I recommend you skip it – as I said, you will almost always have a turtle guarantee when diving or even snorkeling in the Gili Islands, and is not worth the crowds in my opinion. 

Secret Garden

Secret Garden is not a muck diving site as such but great for macro life. It consists of a patch reef with a sandy/rubble slope and some bommies where you can go hunting. We saw countless nudis, crabs, and the prettiest flatworm (found by yours truly) as well as a beautiful frogfish. We came back after our third dive at Han’s Reef and had trouble finding it even though it was quite big. Eventually, we saw it – it had moved a few meters and found a home on another coral. Having never really seen a frogfish move much, I found this oddly fascinating. 

There is also a beautiful coral-covered smaller sea mound – check for turtles who like to sleep in its center.

Muck diving in the Gili Islands

And then there are the muck diving sites which are often neglected as the ugly ducklings in diving. A pity I say but then again it means you have those dive sites usually to yourself!

Muck diving is a bit like playing “Where is Waldo?” and you will need patience, perseverance, and preferably a really good local dive guide.

From my experience muck diving is not for the masses and usually dive centers in the Gili Islands don’t really advertise muck dive sites very often. However, I realized that most are more than happy to put it on the agenda if you ask for it and usually the entire staff tends to join – muck diving is special!

I have been to 2 muck dive sites in the area – one being Lombok harbor and another one called Kecinan Bay. Lombok harbor is quite ugly and covered in trash as well as black sand so good buoyancy is key. And while I was shocked at first upon seeing so much trash in the water, don’t fret because this trash has become a nursery for juvenile fish: tiny yellow boxfish, baby Nemos, and pink frogfish await.

Unlike Lombok harbor, Kecinan bay is a white sanded dive site with plenty of seagrasses. If you get lucky you can find Rhinopias, leaffish, garden eels, and ringed pipefish here.
In shallow depth, there is even a small coral plantation with metal structures and an old bicycle with plenty of sea life – a real underwater garden.

how to get to the Gili islands?

While many travelers refer to the islands as Gili Islands, Bali they are technically part of Lombok, Bali’s neighbor further east. The tiny archipelago consists of Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno, and looking at a map they seem to be little drops just off Lombok. You can reach them all either from Bali or from Lombok by boat.

From Bali, the fast boats usually leave from Padang Bai or from Serengan Pier. Depending on the route, the boat, and the weather the trip will take anywhere from 1,5 hours to 4 hours. 

Some companies include a free hotel pickup, for other areas (for example, I was coming from Amed) you can pay extra for a transfer. I have had mixed experiences with the boats from Bali to Gili and have seen quite a few scary videos, to be honest. Definitely do your own research and choose a reputable company as well as observe the weather. I went with Wahana during my last trip and was quite happy with the service.

Tickets cost $16-25 depending on the company for one-way Bali to Gili Air. You will also have to pay a harbor fee when you leave Bali and again when you leave Gili Air. Most boats will stop at all 3 islands. 

Check here to find the best way to get to the Gili Islands:

If you are coming from Lombok the ride only takes 15 minutes and you can take the same boat company.

Find boats from Lombok to Gili Air:

Where to stay in the Gili islands

Many dive centers also offer accommodation and will make great package deals if you book both. However, there are plenty of other options on where to stay in the Gili Islands depending on your wants and budget.

As it is, some accommodations still consider hot water a luxury. I recently booked one without as it wasn’t mentioned in the description. If hot water is important to you (as it is to me after a long day of diving), I recommend you double-check before you book. 

I have only ever stayed on Gili Air, my preferred island of the three, and can recommend the following:

Beranda Eco Lodge

If you can only afford a hostel in Gili Air but want a resort-feel this is the place. Beranda has simply little wooden houses with little more than a bed and a mosquito net as well as shared bathrooms but a huge pool, bar, and breakfast area. For someone like me who doesn’t like the idea of a dorm room, this was the perfect budget accommodation that still felt fancy and like being on holiday.

Check out bungalows at Beranda Lodge

Slow Gili Air

If you are not too worried about your budget or are coming for a romantic trip, check out the Slow. It is a beautiful sustainable, contemporary lodge on Gili Air that offers stylish villas. Best of all – there are only 10 of them and they all come with their very own pool. Once you are there definitely check out their beautiful spa (also open to outside guests!).

Check out rooms at Slow Gili Air

Elephant Guest House

I stayed in their open-air room in the middle of the property which admittedly doesn’t give much privacy but feels very outdoorsy in the best way possible. They also have regular rooms, a great pool, and an amazing breakfast.

Check out rooms at the Elephant House

General tips for your Gili Air trip

• There are 4 ATMs on Gili Air now. Still, it is smart to come prepared because they do run out from time to time. Many hotels and dive centers will charge 3-5% for credit card payments. 

• Power cuts are still somewhat frequent. Prepare by keeping your devices charged. 
• The Gilis are not actually part of Bali but Lombok. This means that the majority of people on the island are Muslim. You will hear the call to prayer (earplugs might be in order if you are a light sleeper) and should be mindful of your attire. While you don’t have to cover up on the beach or such, please don’t walk into a shop or on the streets in your bikini. 
• For those diving in Gili Air – all boats (should) carry oxygen as the next hyperbaric chamber is only in Mataram on Lombok. For all other issues, you can go to the Nusa Medica Clinic Gili Air which gets great reviews. Make sure you have proper travel health insurance as well as diving insurance like DAN. 

• There are plenty of restaurants on the island. For the best sunsets head to Mowie’s or Mama Pizza – they are both a bit more expensive but make really good food and cocktails. Mama Pizza really makes the best pizza on Gili Air. If you want something healthy head to Poke Gili Air. It is such a lovely place with great poke bowls and they also have the most decadent chocolate brownies. For a good egg and avo toast and matcha latte head to Barefoot Blondie right by the pier. They have a lovely open living-room-like seating area upstairs. 

• Unfortunately, there is no public transport on Gili Air. You can rent a bicycle or a funny little electric scooter, or simply walk. Hotels that need to transport luggage or dive centers that need to transport tanks use horse carriages. I don’t recommend them unless you absolutely have to. Those poor horses look anything than happy. I tend to just walk and make sure my hotel and dive center are not too far from the pier. Gili Air feels perfectly safe even as a solo female traveler and when walking at night. Just make sure to have your phone flashlight turned on, it can get rather dark in parts.  

• If you want to island hop and visit the other Gili Islands, you can take a local boat.

Want more diving in Indonesia? Check out these posts:

A GUIDE TO DIVING THE USAT LIBERTY WRECK, BALI.

THE BEST DIVING IN INDONESIA – WHERE TO GO & HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR A YOGA & DIVING RETREAT IN BALI.

Pin for Later!