Diving in Lombok & Gili Islands
Why dive here
Lombok & Gili Islands offers some of Indonesia's richest diving, with 246+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue-spotted stingrays, bull sharks, grey reef sharks, manta rays and mobula rays (devil rays). Water ranges 28-30°C, warmest April, November, December.
Lombok and the Gilis, for us, offer a really satisfying mix. You’ve got the easygoing Gili vibe, where Green Sea turtles practically queue up to pose for photos, then the wilder south coast of Lombok, with its proper currents and bigger fish. We really love the contrast. The Gili Islands, especially around Gili Trawangan and Meno, are a fantastic place to just switch off and glide. You’ll drift past schools of Blue-lined Surgeonfish, watch juvenile reef sharks cruise the coral heads, and spot Olive Ridleys munching away. It's relaxed, generally clear, and perfect for a few consecutive dives. Head south to Lombok, though, and it's a different game. The currents pick up, the topography gets more dramatic, and suddenly you’re looking for pelagics. We’ve had some truly exhilarating drift dives there, eyes peeled for Silvertip sharks and even a fleeting glimpse of a Silky. Keep an eye out for the more unusual stuff too - Crescent Grunters under ledges, tiny Seastar Shrimp on their namesake hosts. The variety keeps us coming back.
Lombok & Gili Islands Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Lombok & Gili Islands
Lombok & Gili Islands Dive Sites
277 dive sites in Lombok & Gili Islands
AB29
AB29, a motor vessel wreck off Lombok, offers a surprisingly accessible dive. We usually drop onto the superstructure, which starts around 18 metres, then work our way down the hull to the sand at 30 metres. What we really love here is how the currents, usually moderate, have sculpted the wreck, giving it a ghost ship feel. Look for the schools of batfish hanging in the open holds and the resident lionfish tucked into crevices. It's a site that suits divers who appreciate wrecks as artificial reefs, not just historical artefacts.
Abwonderdive House Reef
We’ve spent a lot of time on Lombok, and the Abwonderdive House Reef is one of those spots we keep coming back to. It’s a cracker of a shore dive, really. You drop in right off the beach, and it’s straight into a coral garden that starts shallow, maybe 3 metres, with a nice mix of soft and hard corals. What we really love here is the progression. You can potter around in the shallows looking for nudibranchs – we’ve found Sargassum nudibranchs and even Cobb’s winged murphydoris in the past – or you can head a bit deeper. Around 15 to 18 metres, you hit the artificial reef structures. These things are buzzing with life; we’ve seen blotchfin scorpionfish hunkered down and plenty of glassy cardinalfish flitting about. Keep an eye out for slender snake eels poking out of the sand. The current is usually pretty gentle, which makes it a relaxed dive, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to take their time. Visibility averages about 15 metres, which is decent enough for spotting those smaller critters. If you’re into macro, this place is gold. We always feel like we find something new here, even after multiple dives. It’s a great option for a relaxed afternoon dive or a night dive if you’re staying nearby.
Abwonderdive House Reef
Castle Rock, for us, is one of Komodo’s essential dives. You’re dropping into open water here, so be ready for that initial blue. We like to get down quickly and tuck ourselves into the lee of the pinnacle, out of the main push. From there, you just watch. The current funnels around the rock, bringing with it a consistent parade of pelagics. We’ve seen grey reef sharks patrolling the edges and, on a good day, blacktips and whitetips making quick passes through the fusilier schools that gather so thick they almost blot out the light. Giant trevallies and bluefin trevallies smash through them too. It’s a proper action dive, definitely not for the uninitiated, but if you’re comfortable with current and fancy some adrenaline, this is our pick.
Ada Reef
Jamaica Spit gives you classic Bahamian wall diving without the crowds. The reef here drops off dramatically, starting around 15 metres and disappearing into the blue. We've often seen Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the edge, and the corals are healthy, with plenty of schooling snapper and grunts. It’s a solid pick for divers looking for dramatic topography and bigger pelagic encounters.
Air Wall
We usually head to Caye Caulker Marine Reserve when we want a relaxed dive with plenty to look at without having to work for it. It’s a shallow spot, topping out around 17 meters, which makes for long bottom times and great natural light. Sunlight filters through the water column, hitting big formations of great star coral and grooved brain coral, making them glow. We’ve had incredible luck with juvenile fish here – tiny blue doctorfish darting amongst the polyps, little hogfish hovering near the sand. It’s not a place for huge pelagics, though we did once spot a very curious barracuda following us for a good ten minutes. What you’ll find are healthy reefscapes, some impressive elkhorn, and a steady stream of Caribbean regulars like parrotfish and small groupers. We’d suggest this site for anyone looking for an easy, pleasant dive, maybe even a nice second dive after something deeper. Visibility is usually consistent, around 17 meters, which is plenty to soak in the details.
Air Wall
Air Wall, off the Gilis, offers a comfortable wall dive. We often find ourselves drifting gently along, keeping an eye out for the small giant clams tucked into the reef. You’ll definitely see lots of staghorn coral, and if you’re lucky, a whitetip reef shark might cruise by in the blue. It’s a pretty relaxed dive, good for shaking off the rust or just enjoying a calm afternoon.
Air Wall
Air Wall, off Gili Air, offers a real sense of scale. It’s not just a drop, it’s a proper vertical face. We start shallow, drifting over a sandy slope where we’ve often spotted Blue-spotted Stingrays nestled in the sand. Keep an eye out for those big Bumphead Parrotfish near the bommies; they’re regular residents here. The wall itself drops to a reported 19 metres, though it feels deeper sometimes with the way it just keeps going. What we love about Air Wall is the sheer density of hard corals. We’re talking Staghorn and Table corals, especially in the shallower sections, providing excellent hiding spots for smaller reef fish. Visibility averages around 17 metres, which is decent enough to appreciate the full extent of the wall. We’ve had some fantastic encounters with Whitetip Reef Sharks cruising along the base, and once, a fleeting glimpse of a Dusky Shark further out. This site is great for divers who appreciate dramatic topography and a reliable chance of seeing some larger pelagics in the blue.
Alamanda
Cayo Norte always leaves us smiling. We love dropping in here, especially when the light hits just right, illuminating that shallow coral garden. It’s not about huge pelagics, though a barracuda might cruise past, more about the intricate details. Keep an eye out for those peculiar Bastard Eels wriggling through the sand patches, or a well-camouflaged Dark-spotted Snake Eel. The coral formations, including big heads of Thin Leaf Lettuce Coral, are a genuine highlight and surprisingly healthy. We often spend a fair bit of time just hovering, watching the French Grunts and Barred Grunts schooling, their stripes shimmering. The site has a maximum depth of 26 meters, but honestly, some of the best diving is shallower, around 10-15 meters, where the light is better and the coral thrives. Visibility averages 11 meters, but on a good day, it can easily push 20, making those schools of fish seem even more expansive. It's a great spot for newer divers, but also perfect for photographers who appreciate a macro hunt or just want to capture the vibrant coral scenery. You’ll spot plenty of Two-spined sea stars, and if you’re patient, maybe even a Hind or Porgy darting between the coral heads.
Alamanda
Alamanda on Lombok’s west coast really gets us excited. It’s one of those spots we love for its sheer simplicity and unexpected finds. You jump from a local *jukung* right onto the reef crest, and the coral starts pretty much immediately. We usually drop to about 18-20 metres, hugging the wall as it curves, looking into every nook. Our favourite part is the hunt for the little things. This wall is perfect for macro fanatics. We’ve spent entire dives here just hovering, eyes peeled for Shimada's pygmy gobies tucked into crevices, or the delicate frills of a Gardiner's headshield slug inching across a coral branch. Keep an eye out for Indian seahares too, they often blend in perfectly with the algae. The table corals are impressive, sometimes hosting a blotchfin scorpionfish waiting in ambush. Visibility averages around 17 metres, which is decent, but it’s the lack of strong current that makes it so enjoyable for photography. It's a relaxed drift, often with almost no current at all, making it a fantastic site for those who prefer to take their time and really explore. The shallower parts, around 5-10 metres, are lovely for a safety stop, bathed in sunlight, with plenty of smaller wrasse darting about.
Alam Batu Housreef
Alam Batu Housreef offers a gentle dive experience right off the coast. The shallow coral reef provides a good spot for newer divers or those looking for a relaxed afternoon. We’ve seen plenty of reef fish flitting through the corals here, along with the occasional turtle gliding past. It's a convenient option for a quick, easy dive.
Amed
Amed, on the quieter side of the Gilis, offers a good dive without the crowds of some neighbours. Descending into the shallow bay of Cemeluk, we found dense staghorn corals, thick with cardinalfish. It’s a good spot for spotting striped convict tangs and the vivid orange-lined triggerfish darting among the corals. Further out, the reef drops into a steep wall, draped in hydroids and sea fans, a decent drift past tuna and black and white snappers. It’s a solid pick for those looking for a relaxed dive with consistent visibility, less frantic than the Gili Trawangan sites.
Angel Reef
Angel Reef, just south of Panjang, offers a good mix for a morning dive. We usually drop into the shallows first, where the hard corals are genuinely healthy, a pleasant surprise given some of the local history. Then, the real draw: a vertical wall that just drops away, easily past forty metres. Down along that edge, we often find ourselves swimming through proper schools of redtooth triggerfish, those long-fin bannerfish swaying about, and sometimes the big rounded batfish just hanging in the blue. The wall itself has some nice soft tree corals, lots of colour there, and a few resilient sheet corals holding on. It’s a solid dive for anyone who enjoys a bit of depth and the drama of a good wall.
Lombok & Gili Islands Dive Centres
214 dive shops and operators in Lombok & Gili Islands
Ocean Wildlife in Lombok & Gili Islands
246 species recorded in Lombok & Gili Islands
Lombok & Gili Islands Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Lombok & Gili Islands, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
06:24
Sunset
18:17
Daylight
11h 53m
Golden Hour
17:49
First light (dawn) at 06:02 · Last light (dusk) at 18:38
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:10 | 18:43 | 12h 34m |
| Feb | 06:21 | 18:43 | 12h 22m |
| Mar | 06:22 | 18:31 | 12h 9m |
| Apr | 06:20 | 18:15 | 11h 55m |
| May | 06:22 | 18:06 | 11h 44m |
| JunShortest | 06:29 | 18:07 | 11h 38m |
| Jul | 06:33 | 18:13 | 11h 40m |
| AugNow | 06:27 | 18:17 | 11h 50m |
| Sep | 06:12 | 18:15 | 12h 3m |
| Oct | 05:55 | 18:12 | 12h 17m |
| Nov | 05:47 | 18:17 | 12h 30m |
| DecLongest | 05:54 | 18:31 | 12h 37m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Lombok & Gili Islands.
Where to Stay near Lombok & Gili Islands
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Marine Protected Areas near Lombok & Gili Islands
21 protected areas near Lombok & Gili Islands - please respect local regulations when diving
PKK-001 Sumenep
PKK-019 TP Penyu Tatar Sepang - Lunyuk
KKP-04 Kuta Selatan Badung
KK Gita Nada
KK Nusa Penida
KK Buleleng
kk Pulau Medang
KK Gili Sulat dan Gili Lawang
Pulau Moyo
PKK-001 Teluk Bumbang Kuta
KK Gili Balu
KK Karangasem
Showing 12 largest of 21
Getting to Lombok & Gili Islands
Mataram (Pujut, Lombok Tengah)
Kuta, Badung
Surabaya
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