Indonesia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 292

SNORKELLING AND DIVING ON THE GILI ISLANDS
The snorkelling and diving around the Gili Islands is some of the best and most accessible
in Lombok, despite the havoc wreaked by an El Niño in 1998, which locals estimate has cut
down the visible marine life to around a fifth of what it was. Despite this, and a lot of visitors,
however, the reefs remain in reasonable condition. All the islands are fringed by coral reefs
and visibility is generally around 15m. The fish life includes white-tip and black-tip reef sharks,
sea turtles, manta rays, Napoleon wrasse and bumphead parrotfish.
There are good snorkelling spots just off all the islands' beaches. Snorkel gear is widely
available from around Rp25,000 per day, but the condition does vary. Dive companies take
snorkellers further afield for about $10-20, and half-day tours of the three islands in a
glass-bottomed boat (around Rp100,000 per person) are commonly advertised. The offshore
currents around the island are strong and can be seriously hazardous. Dive operators are
aware of this, but if you're snorkelling or swimming off the beach it's easy to get carried out
further than you intend and then be unable to get back to land. There have been drownings in
recent years.
The best dive sites involve short boat trips. There are plenty of dive operators on the
islands, and there's a price agreement, so they all charge the same. Prices include: $35 for a fun
dive (for qualified divers), $370 for a PADI Open Water, and $295 for a PADI Advanced Open
Water course.
All divers pay a one-off reef tax of Rp50,000 (snorkellers pay Rp25,000) to the Gili Eco Trust,
which works to protect the reefs around the islands.
The nearest hospital is in Mataram, where there is also a decompression chamber at Jl Adi
Sucipto 13B (24hr hotline T 0370 660 0333).
DIVE OPERATORS
Big Bubble (see p.291) Gili Trawangan T 0370 625020,
W bigbubblediving.com. Friendly place owned by two
British women. Groups are small so dives are planned
to suit guests and take advantage of quiet sites. Join
them for volleyball at the end of every afternoon on the
court in front of the dive shop.
Blue Marlin Gili Trawangan T 0370 632424; Gili
Meno T 0370 639980; Gili Air T 0370 634387, W blue
marlindive.com. British-owned, with an expertise in
technical diving and offering courses up to PADI IDC
(Instructor Development Courses) and IANTD (Inter-
national Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers)
Instructor Training Course level.
Dream Divers Gili Trawangan T 0370 603 4496;

4

Gili Air T 0370 634547, W dreamdivers.com. Courses
up to PADI IDC. Dive instruction offered in German and
English by friendly and exceptionally helpful staff.
Manta Dive Gili Trawangan T 0370 643649; Gili Air
T 0813 5305 0462, W manta-dive.com. British-owned
company with highly respected local dive guides.
Courses up to PADI Divemaster level are offered, as
well as trips to the more distant Tunang Wall which
has some excellent coral and is suitable for all levels.
Trawangan Dive North Gili Trawangan T 0370
649220, W trawangandive.com. At the quieter part of
Gili T, they pride themselves on taking good care of
divers (fruit, water and towels on boats). They also offer
technical diving and underwater photography courses.

from Rp40,000) such as home-made pasta, gnocchi and
ravioli, plus wood-fired pizzas and focaccia.
Chill Out Bar In the southeast corner of the island
W chilloutbargili.com. A great spot to hang out during the
day between forays into the water and to linger long into the
night sipping cold beers (around Rp20,000) and cocktails.
Frangipani Garden Restaurant At Coconut Cottages .
The most imaginative dining on the island with Western
and local cuisine and seafood (mains from Rp40,000). The
set menu is a feast of Sasak food and needs to be ordered
the day before.
Gili Air Santay East coast. This warung is a good, low-key
spot for Indonesian and Thai (or at least Thai-style) food
(from around Rp30,000).

Legend North coast. Expect hearty portions and reggae
music at Legend , which also hosts weekly parties on
Wednesdays during the high season and “Dark Moon”
parties in Feb and Aug - see posters around the island
for details.
★

Scallywags Southeast coast W scallywagsresort
.com. Scallywags has the island's best seafood barbecues
(from Rp60,000, including jacket potato/rice and salad
bar), plus great desserts and drinks. There's another branch
on Gili T (see p.292).
Zipp's Next to the Chill Out Bar , Zipp's has a similar vibe
and is a good place to hang out after dark. The food is
decent too - though make sure you order from (cheaper)
locals' menu.