The High Dive Gili Gede — PADI 5 Star Dive Resort in the Secret Gilis

The High Dive is a laid-back beachfront dive resort on Gili Gede, one of the "Secret Gilis" off the Sekotong peninsula in southwest Lombok. It is a PADI 5 Star dive resort with beachfront and garden-view villas, a two-bedroom Loft for groups of up to five, and an open-air restaurant whose Western, Asian and vegetarian cooking gets as much praise from guests as the diving. Dive & Stay packages are available for certified divers and for those taking a course.

The centre teaches PADI Discover Scuba Diving, Open Water, Advanced, Rescue Diver with Emergency First Response, and a range of specialties, and runs scuba refreshers. Fun dives are guided by a certified Divemaster with a maximum of four divers, and dive equipment rental, a towel and surface-interval snacks are included. Night dives run in the early evening for divers with the right certification.

More than 18 sites lie 15 to 20 minutes away by boat, with an average water temperature of around 27°C. Highlights include Gili Gede Wall, Shark House and Sunken Island on the submerged island of Gili Anyaran (whitetip reef sharks, turtles and blue-spotted stingrays), the soft corals of Batu Putih, and macro sites such as Lazy Wave, Rengit West and The Canyon, where pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, frogfish and nudibranchs are regular finds. The reefs are healthy and see very few other divers.

At the time of writing a two-dive morning trip costs Rp1,200,000 and a night dive Rp800,000, with discounts for multiple dives and groups. Contact the resort by email or WhatsApp to book.