The Gili Islands are a must-visit destination for any traveller exploring Indonesia. Known for their stunning beaches and vibrant marine life, these islands offer some of the best dive spots in the region.
Gili Trawangan is the perfect starting point for beginner divers, due to its wide range of accessible dive sites and numerous dive operators along the beach front. Whether you’re taking your first dive or looking to expand your diving experience, Gili Trawangan has something for everyone.
In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about diving in Gili Trawangan—from the best time to dive, to helpful tips for making the most of your experience.
This is a beginner’s guide to diving in Gili Trawangan!
Best Time For Diving in Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan boasts good diving conditions all year round, making it the perfect location for beginner divers! However, the months of May and June are the best months for diving conditions.
October and November are also great months to dive in Gili Trawangan, but make sure you avoid the rainy season as this will considerably reduce visibility. The rainy season for Gili Trawangan typically starts in October and runs until approximately May.
I visited the island in April and the conditions were amazing. There was one day of rain where conditions were slightly worse, but visibility was still very good!
How Much Does Diving in Gili Trawangan Cost
Indonesia is one of the top destinations for earning a diving certification, thanks to its affordable prices.
You can expect to pay just over £300 (at the time of writing) for an Open Water course that leaves you certified to dive up to 18m.
An Open Water course typically includes 4 dives, equipment, practice dives, and obviously the certification itself. This course is incredibly high value for money and I couldn’t recommend it more!
To put it into perspective, an Open Water course in England can cost around £700 and you won’t be diving amidst the stunning marine life and warm waters of Indonesia. It will be a very different diving experience for over double the price!
Where To Get Your Diving Certification in Gili Trawangan
Diving in Gili Trawangan is perfect for many reasons, one being that there are so many diving operators to choose from! However, this can quickly become overwhelming for a beginner looking to get certified.
After some research, I chose to get my PADI certification with Trawangan Dive and I couldn’t recommend them more!
For a PADI Open Water certification, you are required to complete theory alongside practical exams before completing the award. The instructors at Trawangan Dive are amazing at incorporating theory into practice, so you are as confident in the water as possible.
The dive centre has two large pools for practicing your diving skills before heading into the sea. All the instructors make you feel at ease and confident in your diving abilities before having three dives in the sea.
Diving at a different dive site each time, the practical dives of the certification are incredible. You will see a vast array of marine life and be immersed in the underwater world.
Trawangan Dive also offers a free dive to those who pay for the Open Water course before arriving. This allows you to dive, having just completed your course!
Everyone is so welcoming, I could not recommend them more.
There are so many dive centres on the Island, so as long as you do your research you will be sure to find one that suits you.
Top Beginner Dive Sites Around The Gili Islands
With water temperatures most often around 30 degrees Celsius and visibility circa 25m, the Gili Islands are a great place for beginners to learn to dive.
If you are looking for a fun dive and are unsure of what dive sites would be best suited, here are my personal favourite dive sites around the Gili Islands!
Halik Reef, Gili Trawangan
This beginner-friendly dive site is perfect for your first experience! With the opportunity to see turtles, octopus, and a vast variety of fish, this dive amidst gorgeous corals will leave you speechless!
Shark Point, Gili Trawangan
As the name suggests, Shark Point is a great dive site for spotting sharks around the Gili Islands. While the white-tip reef shark is the most common, you may also encounter turtles, lionfish, and moray eels during your dive.
Bounty Wreck, Gili Meno
The Bounty Wreck dive site of Gili Meno features an incredible shipwreck! As a beginner diver, this site is a great introduction to exploring wrecks whilst seeing incredible marine life along the way.
Shallow Turbo, Gili Trawangan
Shallow Turbo is a beautiful dive site suitable for all levels. Typically a drift dive due to the strong current, you can relax as the water takes you along the vast corals and marine life.
Leave a Reply