You’re certified, you have a few days, you want to dive. We run three boat trips a day — sometimes four — to a rotation of more than twenty sites, every one of them within a 25-minute boat ride of the dive centre. We come back between every dive, which means maximum flexibility on your day: spend more time with the family, sneak in a yoga lesson, finish some online work, then jump on the trip that fits — or do all of them.
A typical day
Short answer
A typical Gili Air diving day is a sequence of 1-tank boat trips spaced through daylight — usually three departures (06:00, 09:00, 14:30) plus an optional 18:00 mandarin or night dive. Every site is under 25 minutes by boat in 28°C water, and the WWF Coral Triangle hosts 600+ reef-fish species.
06:00 — Early-morning boat. Sunrise over Mount Rinjani, a misty atmosphere on the first dive, predators just waking up, no other boats on the spot. The ocean is yours. Minimum 4 divers to run; meeting at 5:30am.
09:00 — Morning boat. The headline sites, usually around Gili Trawangan — Shark Point, Deep Halik, Deep Turbo, Simon’s Reef, Sunset Reef, Mirko’s Reef. Reef sharks, deeper wrecks, bigger marine life.
11:30 — Midday boat. Shallower reefs around Gili Meno or Gili Air. Relaxed, longer dives in bright light — intimate turtle encounters and time to hunt the rich macro life (nudibranchs, seahorses, frogfish).
14:30 — Afternoon boat. Quieter sites with far fewer divers around. The warm afternoon light works for either macro-dedicated dives on the three Gili reefs, or muck dives along the Lombok coast — frogfish, seahorses, ghost pipefish, mimic octopus.
18:00 — Mandarin Dive or Night Dive. For the adventurous and the curious: skip the sunset cocktail and join the mating dance of the mandarin fish, or stay on for the night dive — inspecting the reef for the weirdest, strangest creatures only the dark brings out.
Each trip is a one-dive run with a surface interval back at the centre between trips, so you can pick the slots that fit your week. Most fun-divers do two of the three; a few do all three on a calm day.
Group size
Short answer
A Gili Air Divers fun-dive group is capped at 4 certified divers per Divemaster, half the maximum of 8 set by the WRSTC Recreational Diver Training Standard. Beginners on Basic Diver or Open Water programs dive in even smaller groups with their personal instructor — usually 1:1 or 1:2.
- Maximum 4 certified divers per Divemaster. Usually fewer.
- Beginners (Basic Diver and Open Water students) dive in separate, even smaller groups with their personal instructor.
What you’ll see
Short answer
Gili fun dives are warm-water reef dives at the heart of the Coral Triangle — green and hawksbill turtles on most dives, white-tip reef sharks at Shark Point, plus octopus, mantis shrimp, frogfish and schooling jacks. Water is 28°C year-round and peak-season visibility runs 15–30 m.
The Gili reefs sit at the meeting of the Lombok Strait — warm Pacific water on one side, cooler Indian Ocean on the other. The result is unusual biodiversity for such accessible sites: schools of snappers at Shark Point, turtles at Turtle Heaven (where the name is accurate — a dozen on a single dive is normal), reef sharks at Shark Point, octopus and mantis shrimp on the macro sites, the occasional pelagic at the deeper drop-offs.
For a sense of what shows up on a normal week, have a look at the gallery — several hundred photos from our boats and guests’ cameras, sorted by underwater / marine life / divers / surface.
Optional add-ons
Short answer
Fun-dive add-ons extend the standard day-boat trip — early-morning departure (06:00) at no surcharge, Nitrox 32 fills at 100,000 IDR/dive (extends safe bottom time per DAN), guided night dives from 18:00, sunset mandarin dives, and discounted multi-day packages from 6 dives.
- Early-morning boat — the 06:00 departure (5:30 meet) for the quietest, sharpest hour underwater. Sunrise over Rinjani, predators still on the move, zero other boats on the site. Runs with a minimum of 4 divers; no surcharge — just say the word the night before.
- Nitrox-enriched air — extends your no-decompression bottom time, gives you longer dives at depth, and most divers report noticeably less fatigue at the end of a 3-dive day. We can certify you on the spot (Nitrox specialty — theory-only option available) or fill your tanks on a dive-by-dive basis if you’re already certified.
- Night dives — daily from 18:00 (minimum 2 divers). The reef transforms after dark.
- Mandarin dives — sunset slot to watch the mandarin-fish mating dance; often runs straight into the night dive.
- Multi-day packages — see the packages page for discounted bundles from 6 dives.
Frequently asked
What level of certification do I need?
Any agency Open Water or equivalent (SSI Open Water Diver, PADI Open Water, NAUI, CMAS) is welcome. Junior certifications are fine within their depth limits. If your last dive was over a year ago, take a half-day [Scuba Refresher](/en/courses/refresher/) first.
Do I need to bring my own gear?
No. All equipment is included in the dive price — mask, fins, BCD, regulator, wetsuit, weights, tank. If you'd rather use your own (especially mask + fins for a familiar fit), bring it; there's no discount but it doesn't cost extra either. Computers can be rented; we recommend one for any multi-dive day.
How does it work if I'm a couple or family with mixed certifications?
Common situation. We pair you with the same Divemaster on the same boat. If your certs go to different depths, the guide simply doesn't take the group below the shallower limit. Nobody gets left out.
What if the weather is bad?
We dive at sheltered sites on the other side of the islands. Genuine blow-outs are rare — once or twice a year. If we cancel, you get a full refund or a re-book; no questions asked.
Are there strong currents?
Some of the Gili Trawangan sites are drift dives in mild current — fine for any Open Water diver with a Divemaster guide. We pick the site based on the certification mix and conditions, not the other way around. Tell us if currents make you nervous and we'll keep you on the calmer reefs.
Can I do just one dive instead of a full trip?
Yes — book any one of the boats as a single dive. Multi-dive days are discounted; ask about the [packages page](/en/packages/) for 6/10/15-dive bundles.
