Dive Locations Guide
We operate across three unique dive destinations in Lombok and the Gili Islands, each offering its own atmosphere, underwater landscapes, and diving experiences.
Together, Gili Trawangan, Gili Gede, and Kuta Lombok form a connected Lombok & Gili Islands dive network, giving guests a seamless journey with variety, flexibility, and unforgettable underwater experiences across all locations.
Signature Scuba Group Lombok
Complete guide to dive conditions, marine life, site profiles, and practical tips
✨ Why Each Destination Stands Out
🇮🇩 Gili Trawangan
Vibrant & Social Turtle Capital Drift Diving
Perfect for beginner to intermediate divers. Crystal clear water, easy drift dives, and the highest chance to see green and hawksbill turtles. The island's lively atmosphere makes it ideal for divers who want to combine underwater adventure with nightlife. Also home to several artificial reefs and submerged statues.
🌿 Gili Gede
Pristine & Quiet Macro Heaven Muck Diving
Offers untouched reefs and almost private dive sites. Renowned for exceptional macro life including pygmy seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, and rare nudibranchs. Best for experienced divers and underwater photographers seeking tranquility. Night dives reveal flamboyant cuttlefish and Spanish dancers.
⛰️ Kuta Lombok
Adventure & Exploration Off‑the‑beaten‑path Big Pelagics
Emerging dive destination with dramatic underwater topography, deeper walls, and fewer crowds. Great for advanced divers looking for exploration dives and combination trips with surfing and land adventures. The southern coastline offers exposed reefs with strong currents – home to dogtooth tuna and giant trevally.
🐠 Marine Life You Can Expect
Gili Trawangan
- Green & hawksbill turtles (daily sightings, nesting sites nearby)
- Blacktip reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks
- Large schools of tropical fish, bumphead parrotfish
- Occasional eagle rays, cuttlefish, and blue-spotted stingrays
- Seasonal: manta rays at Manta Point (June–October)
Gili Gede
- Pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti and denise)
- Ornate ghost pipefish, robust ghost pipefish
- Dozens of nudibranch species (Chromodoris, Hypselodoris)
- Frogfish (clown, giant, painted), mantis shrimp
- Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus (rare)
Kuta Lombok
- Larger pelagics: dogtooth tuna, giant trevally, barracuda
- Reef sharks (grey reef, silvertip), napoleon wrasse
- Unique coral formations: massive gorgonian sea fans, table corals
- Hidden critters: leaf scorpionfish, ornate lobster
- Rare sightings: mola mola (ocean sunfish) in deep southern sites
🌊 Dive Conditions & Best Time to Visit
| Location | Water Temp | Visibility | Current | Best Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gili Trawangan | 26-30°C | 15-25m | Mild to moderate (drift) | April – November |
| Gili Gede | 27-29°C | 15-25m | Gentle to moderate | May – October |
| Kuta Lombok | 26-28°C | 12-20m | Moderate to strong on outer reefs | May – November |
✅ Year-round diving is possible, but the dry season (April–November) offers the best conditions with lower rainfall and calmer seas. December to March: rainy season, but diving is still possible – sometimes better for macro due to nutrient-rich water.
📅 Monthly Breakdown
- June–August: Cooler temperatures (26°C), best visibility, busiest months.
- September–November: Warmest water (29-30°C), still good visibility, fewer crowds.
- December–February: Rainy season, some sites may have reduced vis, but still diveable.
- March–May: Transition months, excellent marine life activity.
🗺️ Detailed Dive Site Profiles
🐢 Gili Trawangan
- Shark Point – blacktip & whitetip sharks, turtles, deep drop‑off (12-30m)
- Manta Point – seasonal manta ray cleaning station, drift dive, 15-25m
- Deep Turbo – strong currents, large gorgonians, barracuda, max depth 35m
- Halik Reef – beginner‑friendly (5-18m), abundant reef fish, turtles
- Bounty Wreck – artificial wreck, macro life, schooling fish, 18-22m
- Menjangan Wall – soft corals, occasional eagle rays, 10-30m
🌿 Gili Gede
- Paradise Reef – macro heaven, pygmy seahorses, soft corals, 5-25m
- Secret Bay – muck diving, ghost pipefish, frogfish, max 18m
- Gede Pinnacle – schooling jacks, batfish, occasional eagle rays, 12-28m
- Lombok Strait Drift – deep wall with gorgonians, rare nudibranchs, current sensitive
- Nest Reef – protected bay, perfect for night dives, cuttlefish, Spanish dancers
- Two Sisters – twin pinnacles, huge sea fans, leaf scorpionfish
⛰️ Kuta Lombok
- Teluk Awang – lesser‑known reef, large table corals, reef sharks, 14-28m
- Mawi Reef – deeper profiles (20-35m), potential for dogtooth tuna
- Grupuk Wall – drift dive with overhangs, sea fans, 18-30m
- Ekas Bay – calm bay (5-15m), ideal for training and macro critters
- Belongas Bay – advanced only (15-40m), strong currents, hammerhead sharks (seasonal)
- Tanjung Aan – shallow reef, good for snorkeling, beginner dives
💡 Practical Tips for Divers
3mm full wetsuit works year‑round. Bring hood or vest for deeper dives in cooler months (July–August).
Fly to Lombok International Airport (LOP). Fast boat to Gili Trawangan from Bangsal or Teluk Kodek. Gili Gede accessible from Tembowong harbor. Kuta Lombok is a 30-min drive from LOP.
Combine Kuta Lombok + Gili Trawangan + Gili Gede easily via our network. Ask for inter‑island transfer packages with fast boat and private car.
Open Water for most Gili Trawangan sites; Advanced recommended for Kuta Lombok and deeper Gili Gede pinnacles. Some southern sites require Deep or Drift specialty.
Gili Gede macro is excellent year‑round; night dives reveal flamboyant cuttlefish, Spanish dancers, and bobtail squid.
Book directly with Signature Scuba — accommodation, transfers, and dives included. Save up to 20% compared to booking separately.
Gili Gede is best for macro (60-100mm lens). Gili Trawangan for wide-angle (turtles, schools). Kuta Lombok for over/under split shots.
Always dive with a reputable operator. Currents can be strong on outer reefs. Listen to briefings and carry a DSMB (surface marker buoy) for drift dives.
📊 Destination Comparison: Choose Your Perfect Dive
| Feature | Gili Trawangan | Gili Gede | Kuta Lombok |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill level | Beginner → Advanced | Beginner → Advanced | Intermediate → Advanced → Experienced |
| Marine highlight | Turtles, reef sharks, schools | Pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, ghost pipefish | Pelagics, unique coral formations, hammerheads* |
| Currents | Mild to moderate (drift) | Gentle to moderate | Moderate to strong (advanced) |
| Visibility avg | 18-25m | 15-22m | 12-18m |
| Density of divers | Busy during high season | Very quiet, exclusive | Low, unexplored |
| Top recommended for | Courses, fun divers, nightlife lovers | Macro photographers, serenity seekers | Adventurers, repeat visitors, surf+dive combo |
| Night diving | Available, moderate marine life | Excellent macro night dives | Limited, but possible in calm bays |
| Dive price (approx) | IDR 590,000 / dive | IDR 550,000 / dive | IDR 1,100,000 / dive |
| Surcharge for gear | Included | Included | Included (full set) |
* Hammerhead sharks occasionally seen at Belongas Bay (Kuta area) from July to September. Advanced booking required.
🚤 Travel & Logistics Between Dive Centers
Airport & First Stop
📌 Lombok International Airport (LOP) is your entry point. From there:
- Kuta Lombok: 30 minutes by car (taxi ~IDR 150k)
- Gili Trawangan: 1.5h car to Bangsal + 30min fast boat
- Gili Gede: 1h car to Tembowong + 15min local boat
Inter-Island Transfers
Signature Scuba offers seamless packages:
- Kuta → Gili Trawangan: Private car + fast boat (3h total)
- Gili Trawangan → Gili Gede: Fast boat via Bangsal + local boat (2h)
- Gili Gede → Kuta: Boat to Tembowong + car (1.5h)
Recommended Dive & Stay Itineraries
- 7 days: 2 days Kuta + 3 days Gili Trawangan + 2 days Gili Gede
- 10 days: add Belongas Bay excursion and more macro dives in Gede
- 14 days +: PADI courses across multiple centers, combo with surfing
🛡️ Safety & Responsible Diving
Always ask about tides and currents. Some sites (Deep Turbo, Belongas) require experienced guides and drift diving skills.
No gloves, no touching. We practice reef‑friendly sunscreen only. Help us protect the coral and marine life.
All Signature Scuba centers provide regularly serviced gear. Double‑check your BCD, regulator, and computer before every dive.
DAN Europe recommended. Each boat has oxygen, first aid kit, and satellite phone for remote sites.
🐢 Marine Life We Protect
🌊 Reef Resilience
We support coral nursery projects in Gili Gede. Over 500 fragments transplanted last year. Eco‑dive briefings include reef etiquette.
🦈 Shark & Ray ID
Guest photos contribute to a local shark identification database. Encouraging responsible shark diving without baiting.
🗑️ Zero Waste to Ocean
All our dive boats carry reusable water bottles, no single‑use plastics. Monthly beach clean‑ups with guests.
📋 Our Green Standards
| Practice | Standard | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Reef‑safe sunscreen | Mandatory (we provide eco samples) | No coral bleaching chemicals |
| Mooring buoys | 100% of sites | Zero anchor damage |
| Marine debris collection | Every dive bag has mesh collection sack | Remove plastic from ocean |
| Carbon offset program | Optional guest contribution | Tree planting in Lombok |
💚 Eco‑Tips for Your Dive Holiday
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Lombok Diving Adventure
Whether you choose the social reefs of Gili Trawangan, the macro secrets of Gili Gede, or the wild frontiers of Kuta Lombok — our team ensures safe, unforgettable dives.
Ready to explore? Contact Signature Scuba Group to build your multi‑location dive itinerary.
📧 signaturescubagroup@gmail.com | 🌐 www.signaturescubagroup.com | 📞 +65 8851 5520
📍 Follow us: @signaturescubagiligede (Instagram)