The Best Dive Sites Around the Gili Islands

(aka Turtle Paradise 🐢)

The Gili Islands, Trawangan, Air, and Meno, might be tiny specks off Lombok, but underwater they pack a serious punch. Coral gardens, sharks, macro critters, and, of course, turtles that show up uninvited in your photos. We go to almost all dive sites from all islands. They are all just a short boat ride away, so it doesn’t matter where you start, you can see all of the amazing underwater world around all islands.

If you have never dived before, the Gilis are the perfect place to try scuba diving or to get certified and if you are already certified the area has so many amazing places you can explore on fundives.

Here’s your guide to the best of the best dive sites, from beginner-friendly drifts to current-swept adventures for the thrill seekers.

Quick answer: The best dive sites around the Gili Islands include beginner-friendly classics like Halik, the Bounty Wreck, Meno Wall, Sunset Point and Turtle Heaven, advanced sites such as Deep Turbo, Deep Halik, Shark Point, Simon’s Reef and Secret Reef, and macro spots like Seahorse Bay, Hans Reef and the Biorocks. Turtles are seen on almost every dive, sharks gather at Shark Point and Halik, and Shark Point hides a shipwreck at around 30m. All sites are a short boat ride away, so it does not matter which island you start from.

First things first: Turtles. Everywhere.

Let’s clear this up right away: you don’t need a “special” site to find turtles here. They’re like the Gilis’ unofficial mascots, you’ll see them on nearly every dive, whether they’re napping, cruising by, or ignoring you completely while munching coral.

Beginner-Friendly Classics 🌊

These dives are chill, colorful, and perfect for beginners, with even the shallowest parts being incredibly beautiful.

• Halik – A Gili crowd favorite. Great visibility, coral gardens, baby reef sharks in the shallows, and tons of turtles.
• The Bounty Wreck – A sunken floating platform turned artificial reef. Now covered in coral and home to batfish, snapper, the occasional cuttlefish and of course: turtles.
• Meno Wall – A relaxed drift dive and turtle snooze zone. Keep an eye out for them piled up like they’re sharing bunk beds.
• Sunset Point – A little bit of everything: turtles, coral gardens, and schooling fish and macro. A crowd-pleaser.
• Turtle Heaven – Exactly what it sounds like: a coral-rich site where turtles seem to queue up for your selfies.

Advanced & Adventurous 🚀

These sites are where currents can pick up, but the reward is worth the ride. Recommended for advanced divers or confident intermediates with a sense of humor about losing a fin (kidding… mostly).

• Deep Turbo – Stunning topography, rolling ridges, and some of the best coral in the Gilis. Feels like swimming through an underwater canyon system.
• Deep Halik – Same area as Halik, but drop a little deeper for stronger currents, stingrays and more shark action.
• Shark Point (Deep) – The place for whitetip and blacktip reef sharks. And at around 30m, there’s even a shipwreck that adds a dash of mystery.
• Simon’s Reef – Coral gardens on steroids. Colorful, dramatic, and buzzing with marine life.
• Secret Reef – Aptly named and a top contender for the best coral in the Gilis. A technicolor dreamscape under the sea.

Sharky Business 🦈

If you want to see sharks these two are your best bet:

• Shark Point – Home to baby blacktip and whitetip reef sharks chilling the shallows and their parents swimming around in the deep around the ship wreck.
• Halik – More baby sharks, this time with a backdrop of beautiful reef.

Macro Heaven 🔍

For the critter nerds who’d rather find a 2cm nudibranch than a 2m shark, the Gilis have some serious macro magic, and these sites double as some of the best Gili dive spots for underwater photography.

• Seahorse Bay – The nighttime favorite. Seahorses, frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, nudibranchs, basically a weird little carnival.
• Hans Reef & Nudibranch City – Macro central, with ornate ghost pipefish, leaf scorpionfish, and endless nudis showing off.
• Biorocks – Artificial reef structures doubling as coral nurseries and hideouts for macro life. Like Poseidon’s art installation filled with critters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best dive site in the Gili Islands for beginners?

Halik is a top beginner-friendly site with great visibility, coral gardens, baby reef sharks in the shallows and plenty of turtles, alongside relaxed sites like Meno Wall and Sunset Point.

Where can I see sharks around the Gili Islands?

Shark Point and Halik are your best bets for sharks, with baby blacktip and whitetip reef sharks in the shallows and larger reef sharks in the deep around the shipwreck at Shark Point.

Are there turtles at every Gili dive site?

Pretty much, turtles are the unofficial mascots of the Gilis and you will see them on nearly every dive, with Meno Wall and Turtle Heaven being especially reliable spots.

Which Gili dive sites are best for macro life?

Seahorse Bay, Hans Reef and the Biorocks are the top macro sites, with seahorses, frogfish, cuttlefish, ghost pipefish and plenty of nudibranchs to find.

Ready to explore these sites? Book a fun dive or message us on WhatsApp and we’ll match you to the right dive for your level.