While Gili Islands are an absolute paradise to relax and chill out, divers and snorkelers will not to be outdone!
Gili Islands are renowned to be the turtle’s world capital, so you’ll have the opportunity to meet plenty of them while diving or snorkeling, thanks to turtles protection centers across the islands. If you dream to swim with turtles, then you have to get there, even if just snorkeling!

Diving there all year round is possible; however it would be preferable not to go in December and January because of the rain which would lower your visibility. The best period for diving starts in May until September, when you have a perfect visibility (around 20 meters). Water temperature would not be a problem with an annual average of 28°C.

Here is a very diverse marine fauna and flora to be discovered :

• Lots of turtles
• Reef sharks (black and white ones)
• Leopard sharks
• Manta rays
• Scorpionfishes
• Frogfishes
• Leaffishes
• Stonefishes
• Lionfishes
• Seahorses
• Sea snakes
• Moray eels
• Wide range of hard and soft corals
• Wide range of crustaceans : crabs, lobsters, …

Those animals can be seen nearly everywhere in Gili Islands, however each place has its own uniqueness and local biodiversity. And if you’re lucky enough, you may also have the chance to meet a sunfish!

You can go snorkeling all around the three islands, however here are the best snorkeling spots of each islands: east coast of Gili Trawangan, west coast of Gili Meno, east coast of Gili Air.
We also prepared you a map with the best diving spots around the islands. Every local diving center will take you there (By the way the spots’ names are the names used by diving centers).

Photos © :

Ridho Nur Imansyah.