Villa Almarik Resort, Gili Trawangan, Gili Islands

All three of the Gili Islands are ringed by sloping coral reefs turning to sand or rubble at around 25m+. Some sites also offer deeper channels separated by coral ridges and there are several isolated pinnacles further away from the islands. Rather than reefs with abundant fish life, it is the friendly turtles, large cuttlefish, and regular sighting of black and whitetip reef sharks that make the islands special for divers. There are also several Biorock artificial reefs dotted around the islands. Hawksbill and green turtles are the highlight of diving in the Gili Islands and can be seen on almost all dive sites. In fact, there are a few dive sites, such as Turtle Heaven, where sightings are more or less guaranteed.

The Gili Islands’ are certainly not muck diving destinations, but if you spend some time searching you’re sure to find a critter or two. Giant frogfish and nudibranchs are reasonably common, whilst ghost pipefish, leaf scorpionfish, blue-ringed octopuses, and even pygmy seahorses can occasionally be found. It is also just a 25-minute boat journey from The Gili Islands to the muck diving sites on Lombok including Mentigi Bay and Teluk Nara.

Open Water diving course in the Gili Islands

The Gili Islands provide the perfect conditions for taking a diving course. With warm seas, gentle currents, and short boat rides, learning to dive in the Gilis is a fun and relaxing experience. Diving courses also cost the same throughout the Gili Islands, so you can focus on finding the perfect dive centre without worrying about the price.