Gili Islands

The Gili Islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air) sit off the northwest coast of Lombok and are one of Asia's best-known places to learn to dive. Green and hawksbill turtles turn up on almost every dive, reef sharks patrol Shark Point, and the underwater sculptures off Gili Meno have become a favourite with photographers. The first dive centre opened on Gili Trawangan in 1990, and today the islands host dozens of PADI and SSI schools, many of them offering professional training up to Instructor level. Most sites are a short boat ride away, conditions are generally gentle, and every diver pays a small Gili Matra Marine Park fee that funds reef protection. Gili Trawangan is the liveliest of the three, with the biggest choice of dive shops; Gili Air is quieter and more relaxed. Choose an island below to compare operators.