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If you have dived in Gili Islands, Lombok before, please share your experiences: Dive spots you would recommend, which Dive Center you used, Fishes & Diving, Visibility, Currents, etc. Please post your comments in the section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next trip
Scuba diving around the Gili Islands is rather nice but nothing spectacular if you compare to other places in Indonesia like Komodo Island or Bunaken. However it is a very good place for beginner divers as the conditions are usually good. The current is generally very gentle and the visibility good around 20 meters.
Due to a conservation program, water around the Gilis are full of turtles! And you can see many during a single dive or even just snorkelling off the shore (ask the locals for good spots). During certain times of the year it is also possible to encounter reef sharks, Manta rays and even the rare Mola Mola if you’re lucky!
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/biaebruno/4509294099/
In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Gili Islands, Lombok.
Table of contents
Where to stay?
I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Gili Islands, Lombok as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.
Best time to dive in Gili Islands, Lombok
Scuba Diving in Gili Islands is possible all year round but try to avoid December and January. The heavy rainfall during these months will reduce visibility quite a bit. The best season runs from May to September.
Top liveaboards in Gili Islands, Lombok according to divers reviews
Dive courses
The Gilis are known in Indonesia for being a cheap place for taking courses. Many people get their Padi Open Water on Gili Trawangan. If you are already a diver it is a good place to get Padi Advanced Open Water or Rescue. Divemaster training is also available. There are SSI and CMAS Dive centres too.
Scuba Diving conditions
The water temperature varies from 26°C to 30°C so you won’t need anything more than a 3mm shorty to dive.
Unfortunately the coral around the three islands is in very bad shape above 15 meters due to extensive bomb fishing the past decade. Things seem to be improving but it will take time for the reef to fully recover.
The best spots are Shark Point and Deep Turbo for a more challenging dive!
Snorkelling in Gili Islands, Lombok
There are some nice sporkelling spots where you can observe and swim with Green Sea Turtles. It is possible to snorkel right from the beach but the best is to take a half day tour to visit the best snorkelling sites around Trawangan, Meno and Air.
Diving Safety
If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Gili Islands, Lombok, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Photos Gili Islands, Lombok
Travel Guide
Now that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our Gili Islands, Lombok Travel Review for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.
Diving Reviews for this region
Dive spots reviews in Gili Islands, Lombok
Liveaboard Reviews in Gili Islands, Lombok
Gili Islands are great for partying but not so much for diving as the coral is mostly dead. However there are many turtles!
I loved the Gili Islands! For those people going to the Gili Islands and want to know the difference between the three islands: Gili Trawangan is THE party island, Gili Meno has less tourists and is a bit more tranquil and then Gili Air is totally secluded with barely anyone there! So it depends what you are after (in any case, you can go between the three each day anyway!). We saw many turtles just snorkelling off the shore (you can hire a mask and tuba from the local people) but didn’t go diving there. I recommend!
Just for Information Only; GILI in Lombok means ISLAND — and not to confuse us, actualy so many Gilis (Islands) in Lombok and so many Diving Spot.
We did not go to the ‘famous’ three gilis – even tough we plan to go there sometimes in the future, but other gilis had much untouched Diving SPot with PADI assistance.
Enjoy
We are going to visit gili trawangang from 17th to 19th july. And we really want to do some snorkeling. Where is the besty place to book a half day trip including gear to all the best spots?
Thank for your advice !!!
Hello Idili. Sorry I can’t really help you as I did not go snorkelling there. Just ask to your hotel I am sure they will help you. Don’t forget to book your hotel in advance as it will be full in this season!
Dear Idli,
Even though it is too late to give you some tips, but perhaps it will help you for you and others if you have another plan to visit Lombok.
Gilli in Lombok meaning ‘Island” so when people talk about Gili means Island and so many Gilis in Lombok with beautiful Diving Spot. — best is visit Dive Zone Lombok and email George and Martine. They run a most wonderful private PADI Shop in Lombok. 7 of us just visited there and just had a great time with their professional assistance an most important their hospitality.
Hi,
I am planning a small short term dive course at gili islands in end september, early october.
Do you recomend this place for a begginer,
are there any precautions to take,
and do u recomend any perticular scuba diving resort/institute there?
Thanks
Sahil
Hi there, I am also spending some time in Bali from 14th November and hoping to book my boyfriend an intro scuba dive as it is his dream to swim/snorkel with turtles, so I was thinking it would be best to come over to Gili Islands to do this, can you recommend anywhere in particular for that time of year please? Comments appreciated, thanks!
I recommend Ocean’s 5 in gili Air,
They are very professional and have a various range of course.
I have done my refresher course there with my partner with the Instructor Jmal who is a local and speak very well English.
You can stay with them as well as they offer rooms/bungalows
Helo Scuba Buddy,
After our 12 M Dive Certivicate in Maldives recently, me and family and family’s friends went to LOMBOK Indonesia to complete our 18 M Certificate.
After carefully choosing so many PADI Shops available in Indonesia, we decided to choose Lombok as our destination.
DIve Zone Lombok runs by George and Martine is one of the best availabe. Since we have Michael Tomasoa as our 12 years old son who also get his certificate, we really paid attention not only for the beautiful Diving Spot but for SAFETY and yes, Geroge and Martine did a fantastic professional and most friendly DIve Owner we encounter same with Robyn Black and Abdulla in TAJ Maldives.
First day we had our ‘theory and quiz’ and the way George teach and assisted us; we did very well on the quiz. – then we did our diving ‘on the spot’ first with all the techincal things and here we go – we suddenly dive with wonderful colorful live corals and soo many fishes around us.
Our second day, we did our Final 18 Meters “exam” at Gili (Island) RInggit and such a beautiful Diving Spot. – Visibility is crystal clear and we all enjoy wonderful live corals and varieties of fish. Wonderful experience.
George made a diving plan so cleverly; so our 5 M Safety sop we did not even noticed because the area is a Pinnacle with fishes surrounded it. – you can relax on the safety stop and have a Happy Ending Dive.
We plan to come back soon!
Hi can you tell me what and where this dive shop is in Lombok, we are looking to stay on Lombok for a couple of days then over to Gilis, want to explore dive spots around both islands. Thanks Donna
The snorkelling trip we went on was very disjoin ting, we were taken to 4 spots and all had dead coral and rubbish everywhere. Surprised we are not sick.
Lots of turtles around here indeed. I also saw cuttlefish, loads of batfish, plenty of fish in general. Coral isn’t great but is recovering.
Please keep your eyes open on the ferry trip between Bali and Lombok AND GO UPSTAIRS ON THE DECK, I spotted dolphins on three different occasions, and different species as well. It’s a bumpy ride on the straits of Lombok with dolphins playing on the waves, pretty cool. Make sure you do enjoy this because you won’t see them diving, as they won’t come that close to shore, where most dive sites are
PS: I was there in JUly 2012
Hey guys
Just back from 4 months in Indonesia and make a stop on Gili ‘s. Such amazing for diving… even if you have dead coral… so much macro stuff to do..
I advise you to choose a small dive shop . I recommend you a lovely place own by a french and Indonesian amazing Instructor Hadi. I did my rescue and DM there and it s was a beautiful expeience.
for snorkelling I think on CFG north of Trawangan and turtle point meno wall on gili meno.
Gili T has a wrong reputation… and it s not the party island cause since 2004 the full moon party is only on Air… tell the truth on your comments… cheers
hey thanks everybody to give us this information
what the name please for the french & indo couple who running this nice diving school?
Wife and I did open water course with ‘Trawngan dive’. Very well set up compared to some of the many other dive operators (there is too many to count). We had a great time and an english speaking instructor.
The diving was good but like many have said, the coral is not great.
Avoid the island around ramadam (sorry if is not spelt right), it is hard to get food or service at this time.
I did my advanced Open Water all the way to my dive master on the Gili Islands. The dive centre I used was Oceans 5 Dive Resort on Gili Air. You can do upto 4/5 dives daily at dive sites all over the Gili Islands and Lombok. the team there is incredible. You cans see all sorts of ocean life including; black and white tip reef sharks, bump head parrotfish, frog fish, nudibranches, cuttlefish, stingrays, Pygmy sea horses, hundreds of turtles, eels all your regular reef fish and so much more. Due to dynamite fishing in previous years some of the coral is damaged, yes, but if you know the right dive sites, have a good guide and dive centre, you will see amazing coral daily. You can sometimes see manta rays or whale sharks if you’re lucky! The gilis are incredible!
Just dived in The Gilis,yesterday. The turtles’ population got me bored of them-’cause there were so many!
I dived around Gili Islands in July. I am a dive master and I am still shocked how they treat beginners, I hope it was just my experience. Actually they threw them in a very strong current and dragged them on a first dive on 18 meters?! Per one instructor they have a lot of totally no experienced divers and some of them finished a dive on the other boat.
I liked drift dive, It was great! Because of a strong current my opinion is that Gilis are not for beginners. Of course I dived with just few of diving centres and I hope there are diving schools which they have more healthy attitude.
can anybody tell me which are the best dive shops to goto on lombok as i dived with trawangan dive last year an found them very good an professional.an can anyone tell me which dive shops to avoid as i have heard alot of stories from divers about shops operating on false certifications
Hi there! I am looking at a good package in the first week of January to the Gili Islands. I am an advanced open water diver and just wanted your opinion on diving there during this period. From online feedback it is the worst time to dive so would appreciate your feedback.
Thanks!
hi alex i’m not sure about january i dive in october every year in fact i’ll be the in a week if you have or can do nitrox they have an awesome wreck dive i did it last year an for my camera so i am doing it agian this year i went with trawangan dive on gilli they are very good an helpful also do night dives if you can the place come alive you be amazed at the turtles an moray eels an other life prices are around $35 to start with no more than $50 if you have some of your own gear it is cheaper happy diving regards davin ps the water condition is very good 15 to 20 plus meters
So disappointing!! The coral is dead from dynamite fishing, there’s not much there but turtles and a wreck. Some soft corals and small hard corals on and around the wreck, but Turtle point was a debris of dead bits of coral…devastating! Even the soft corals have not formed there yet. Go toGili islands for the beaches (littered with rubbish) but not for the diving.
ZERO stars!!
Hello, I am looking for advice regarding a beginner dive in Bali and/or Lombok. I am traveling in late September/early October and will be staying in Ubud, Seminyak, Jimbaran, and Medana Beach/Bay in Lombok. From my research I have learned that the best beginner diving within an hour or so travel of these places is Padang Bai and the Gilis off the coast of Lombok (Air, Meno and Trawangan). Can anyone confirm that this is true, and if so, please also confirm which place offers the better scuba diving – either Padang Bai or the Gilis. Thanks!
Diving on the Gili Islands is definitely better! They have about 20 dive sites within 10 minutes of Gili Trawangan. Loads of turtles! Check out Aquaddiction Dive. We had instrutor Karen for our Open Water course and she was awesome =)
i loved diving the Gili Islands. I would disagree about the coral being mostly dead. We did our Open water course with Aquaddiction Dive on Gili Trawangan. They took us to Halik which had really beautiful corals plus turtles and octopus!