The Gili Islands are a group of three small islands in Indonesia. Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air are located off the northwest coast of Lombok. These islands are known for their beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, and especially excellent diving and snorkeling spots. We have compiled the most comprehensive guide to diving in the Gili Islands, including information on how to get there and a list of the best dive sites.

Which island is right for you?

Each of the three Gili Islands offers a completely different experience, so to help you decide where to spend your Gili vacation, here is a brief overview of each one:

Gili Trawangan: The largest and most popular of the three islands, Gili Trawangan (also known as Gili T) is known for its lively nightlife and wide selection of restaurants and bars. Gili T is most popular among young backpackers and partygoers.

Gili Meno: The smallest and quietest of the three islands, it is ideal for a relaxing vacation. Many honeymooners head to Gili Meno for its romantic atmosphere, good restaurants, and peaceful surroundings.

Gili Air: a mix of the other two islands, with a less crowded and more relaxed atmosphere than Gili Trawangan, but with slightly more nightlife than Gili Meno.

How to get to the Gili Islands

To get to the Gili Islands, you can take a speedboat from Bali or Lombok. Once you arrive on the islands, there are no cars or motorcycles, so the best ways to get around are by bicycle, on foot, or by horse-drawn carriage.

There are many diving spots around the Gili Islands, so no matter where you decide to stay, you will have plenty of opportunities to go scuba diving. Here is a summary of our favorite diving spots around each island.

Gili Meno

• 1.Meno Wall: A drift dive east of Gili Meno that takes divers along a sheer wall with coral formations, colorful fish, and the occasional passing shark or turtle. Considered one of the best night diving spots in the Gili Islands, Meno Wall is also home to a variety of crustaceans that like to wake up at night, including lobsters, shrimp, and crabs.
• Bounty Wreck: On the southwest side of Gili Meno, a ship sank and is now home to various marine species such as moray eels, lionfish, and scorpionfish. The maximum depth of the wreck is 20 m/65 ft, and the top is only 5 m/16 ft, making it suitable for both beginners and more advanced divers, as well as snorkelers and freedivers.
• Simon’s Reef: A shallow, sheltered reef north of Gili Meno that boasts excellent visibility and an abundance of macro life such as starfish, crabs, and shrimp. Simon’s Reef has a healthy mix of soft and hard corals, and if you look closely, you may spot a dwarf seahorse and (if you’re lucky) an eagle ray swimming by.
• Turtle Paradise: A spot northeast of Gili Meno where green turtles can be found year-round, feeding and resting among the corals and sponges. You’d have to be very unlucky not to spot turtles at this aptly named dive site. The depth ranges from 10 m/33 ft to 30 m/98 ft, making it suitable for divers of all levels. Among the marine life (besides turtles), you can encounter moray eels, nudibranchs, and whole schools of damselfish.