Explore Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan, located in the West Nusa Tenggara region close to Lombok, is a tropical playground for tourists. The busiest of the Gili Islands, Gili Trawangan’s main strip is bustling with lounge bars, amibitious restaurants and a number of dive centres and dive resorts. Those who are looking for some calm, can head deeper into the heart of the island or explore its incredible underwater world.

With easy access to the dive sites on Gili Meno and Gili Air as well as Trawangan there are 20+ sites for divers to explore. Ranging from calm dive sites perfect for novice divers, deep dives and swift currents for the more adventurous and wrecks as well as night dives - Gili Trawangan diving has a dive site for every diver. The islands crystal clear waters are home to a great number of sea turtles, both hawksbill and green, as well as reef sharks and eagle rays. Macro dive sites host a range of weird and wonderful creatures while, when the season is right, visitors have the chance to glide alongside manta rays or spot a whale shark passing by in the blue!

Located on Gili Trawangan are a number of dive centres and dive resorts all a short boat ride away from awe-inspiring dive sites. The calm sites make scuba diving in Gili Trawangan perfect for dive courses, with thousands flocking here to extend their knowledge and training. With easy access to Bali and Lombok by ferry, after diving the Gili Islands, the wonderful dive sites at Padang Bai, Belongas Bay and Seketong are awaiting your arrival. If all the travel seems like too much hassle, liveaboards are available to explore Gili Trawangan as well as many other astounding Indonesian dive locations.

Dive Activity

Diving in Gili Trawangan

In shallow waters, divers can enjoy the bright colours of the thriving reefs located on sandy bottoms, vertical walls or gentle slopes. These sites are also best for dive courses, where students can get used to being underwater in the calm, like at the Secret Reef. For more experienced divers, there are also deep plateaus and walls at Deep Turbo and Takat Tunang. While drifting in the current, you can spot pelagics and admire manta ray gliding effortlessly. At Haan’s Reef you can search the sandy seabed for macro creatures while Bounty Wreck is a great novice wreck dive. There is even the Bio Rock dive site where interested divers can witness corals regrowing at the largest Bio Rock conservation effort in the world - with the creatures here appearing mostly at night.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Gili Trawangan

Scuba diving in Gili Trawangan is possible all year round but it is best to avoid December and January, when rainfall is at its heaviest. During this time, rainfall can cause surface run-off which reduces the visibility in sites close to the shore. Peak season for Gili Trawangan diving is from May to September but to see manta rays you’ll need to dip into the water from December through to March. While manta rays appear in the greatest numbers around these months, it is also your best chance to spot a whale shark from January through to March.

To Wildlife Sightings in Gili Trawangan

While scuba diving in Gili Trawangan’s dive sites you will often encouter sleeping black-tip and white-tip reef sharks while green and hawksbill turtle glide through the water in search of their next perch. Locations with current often see schooling trevally, barracuda and bat fish while there is a possibility of observing eagle rays and manta ray enjoying the nutrient-rich water. Every full moon, shoals of parrotfish appear, flashing their multi-hued scales and there is even the occasional whale shark moving effortlessly through the water.

At muck and macro dive sites, there’s the chance to see many of the oceans elusive critters. Frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, flying gurnard, mantis shrimp, nudibranch, pygmy seahorse, robust ghost pipefish and the tiny blue ringed octopus all decorate the sea floor. Make sure to bring your cameras.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

12k Sightings
J
634
F
618
M
767
A
982
M
1.2k
J
1.2k
J
1.2k
A
1.3k
S
1.2k
O
1.1k
N
708
D
729

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

6k Sightings
J
450
F
408
M
474
A
649
M
606
J
537
J
451
A
536
S
502
O
520
N
408
D
452
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

4.1k Sightings
J
190
F
191
M
210
A
322
M
450
J
408
J
469
A
550
S
479
O
371
N
237
D
192

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

3k Sightings
J
206
F
243
M
291
A
328
M
297
J
269
J
220
A
317
S
232
O
269
N
178
D
196

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

963 Sightings
J
24
F
0
M
29
A
97
M
163
J
147
J
158
A
120
S
96
O
70
N
44
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

670 Sightings
J
38
F
58
M
59
A
63
M
67
J
56
J
70
A
74
S
68
O
51
N
19
D
47
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

9.1k Sightings
J
518
F
584
M
749
A
847
M
1k
J
957
J
855
A
993
S
819
O
694
N
493
D
569

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

8.1k Sightings
J
520
F
454
M
630
A
774
M
885
J
818
J
782
A
810
S
736
O
653
N
476
D
542

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

5.9k Sightings
J
372
F
305
M
426
A
570
M
641
J
628
J
580
A
593
S
568
O
518
N
337
D
358

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

5.3k Sightings
J
301
F
271
M
352
A
533
M
639
J
580
J
491
A
576
S
505
O
422
N
291
D
293

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

4.6k Sightings
J
345
F
323
M
402
A
432
M
451
J
377
J
389
A
425
S
398
O
374
N
311
D
323

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

4.5k Sightings
J
306
F
263
M
344
A
382
M
448
J
475
J
462
A
500
S
435
O
395
N
237
D
268

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

4.4k Sightings
J
264
F
216
M
321
A
398
M
447
J
449
J
472
A
473
S
447
O
405
N
246
D
265

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

4.3k Sightings
J
286
F
248
M
327
A
376
M
414
J
445
J
447
A
464
S
451
O
379
N
233
D
270

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

4.2k Sightings
J
260
F
220
M
310
A
414
M
434
J
435
J
424
A
428
S
441
O
340
N
226
D
235

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

4k Sightings
J
251
F
222
M
293
A
366
M
406
J
368
J
370
A
461
S
430
O
385
N
215
D
250

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

2.9k Sightings
J
186
F
165
M
216
A
262
M
294
J
267
J
317
A
339
S
287
O
252
N
166
D
172

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

2.7k Sightings
J
181
F
170
M
214
A
261
M
292
J
261
J
223
A
262
S
278
O
242
N
181
D
184

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

2.1k Sightings
J
136
F
126
M
168
A
181
M
204
J
157
J
210
A
237
S
217
O
189
N
105
D
120

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

1.9k Sightings
J
200
F
312
M
345
A
271
M
138
J
162
J
76
A
160
S
75
O
46
N
28
D
107

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

1.8k Sightings
J
134
F
125
M
144
A
157
M
137
J
176
J
191
A
216
S
180
O
184
N
71
D
107

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

1.8k Sightings
J
97
F
100
M
130
A
156
M
186
J
181
J
211
A
200
S
181
O
152
N
75
D
111

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

1.7k Sightings
J
151
F
113
M
147
A
171
M
191
J
195
J
149
A
140
S
91
O
138
N
122
D
122

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

1.7k Sightings
J
149
F
121
M
160
A
181
M
185
J
168
J
108
A
119
S
114
O
137
N
126
D
130

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

1.7k Sightings
J
96
F
113
M
115
A
152
M
187
J
163
J
167
A
147
S
164
O
131
N
95
D
123
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

1.6k Sightings
J
108
F
111
M
126
A
69
M
114
J
148
J
178
A
193
S
203
O
124
N
68
D
112

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

1.4k Sightings
J
119
F
100
M
104
A
135
M
129
J
156
J
87
A
139
S
145
O
96
N
134
D
95

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

1.2k Sightings
J
48
F
54
M
92
A
121
M
174
J
136
J
120
A
102
S
118
O
79
N
55
D
60

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

1.2k Sightings
J
66
F
66
M
93
A
103
M
119
J
111
J
111
A
139
S
128
O
105
N
58
D
51

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

1k Sightings
J
71
F
56
M
90
A
89
M
91
J
91
J
106
A
149
S
115
O
92
N
36
D
38
Ribbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)

Ribbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)

880 Sightings
J
50
F
40
M
56
A
95
M
93
J
93
J
51
A
68
S
51
O
108
N
102
D
73

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

726 Sightings
J
39
F
43
M
60
A
96
M
86
J
70
J
49
A
62
S
29
O
79
N
55
D
58

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

716 Sightings
J
59
F
54
M
42
A
49
M
53
J
71
J
93
A
74
S
67
O
65
N
31
D
58

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

617 Sightings
J
31
F
24
M
47
A
29
M
44
J
61
J
69
A
83
S
59
O
61
N
56
D
53

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

536 Sightings
J
24
F
23
M
26
A
65
M
42
J
59
J
74
A
77
S
54
O
38
N
33
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

506 Sightings
J
41
F
26
M
31
A
32
M
37
J
36
J
41
A
62
S
57
O
50
N
36
D
57

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

473 Sightings
J
37
F
20
M
17
A
33
M
58
J
47
J
38
A
54
S
52
O
55
N
43
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

462 Sightings
J
24
F
36
M
31
A
48
M
54
J
57
J
43
A
48
S
44
O
39
N
20
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

446 Sightings
J
43
F
26
M
43
A
50
M
59
J
48
J
23
A
25
S
25
O
31
N
27
D
46

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

396 Sightings
J
16
F
11
M
25
A
30
M
44
J
53
J
36
A
40
S
45
O
35
N
33
D
28

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

378 Sightings
J
20
F
31
M
16
A
31
M
43
J
34
J
39
A
48
S
33
O
43
N
16
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

307 Sightings
J
14
F
20
M
15
A
31
M
49
J
28
J
21
A
41
S
27
O
24
N
11
D
26