Around the three Gili Island in the
north-west of Lombok (Gili Air, Gili Meno, Gili Trawangan), are more
then 15 different dive spots and there are new reefs being explored
all the time.
Shark Point &
Volkers' Golf Course
Shark Point, to the east of Gili
Trawangan, is a popular dive spot in the mornings. This dive site
consists of different levels (24m, 20m, 18m). It starts with a slope
of hard and soft corals, the "native territory" of Green and
Hawksbill Turtles.
The different levels are sandy areas with
small coral locks - the variety of underwater life is large,
starting with schools of Trevally Napoleon Fish to White-tip Reef
Sharks and Rays in the sandy areas, ending up with Ribbon Eels, Leaf
Fish and even Mantas.
Volkers' Golf Course is about 500 m east
of Shark Point and starts at a depth of about 20m. It looks green
like a golf course and is the best site to see Sharks, Schools of
Mackerel and Doctor Fish.
Because of its depth and the sometimes
very strong currents, it is a dive for advanced divers.
Meno Wall
Meno wall, off the west coast of Gili
Meno, goes down to depths of 18m. It offers a lot of small coral
fish like Lionfish, Soldier Fish, Gobies, crabs, as well as Wart
Slugs and Nudibranches coming out of hiding. It is also called
"Turtle Heaven" because of the many resident Hawksbill and Green
Turtles.
Air Wall
Air Wall, to the west of Gili Air, is a
very beautiful wall that, due to the soft coral cover, shines
yellow-orange depending on the position of the sun. The highlight of
this wall is a coral block at 22m in which Leaf Fish (Scorpion Fish)
make their "home", surrounded by shrimps, Pipe Fish, White-banded
Cleaner Shrimps and thousands of Glass Fish. Look into the deeper
parts for White-tip Reef Sharks.
Coral Fan
Garden & Basket Coral Garden
 |
Also popular for
morning dives are the two dive spots in the north of Gili
Trawangan: Coral Fun Garden and Basket Coral Garden. In the
first few metres you have the feeling of being in an aquarium
- schools of colored Fairy Basslets, Fusiliers, Banner Fish
live here. Deeper, around the big coral and stone blocks,
Groupers, Batfish, Trumpet Fish, hiding Octopus and Bearded
Scorpion Fish. Look out to the blue: sometimes Eagle Rays,
Mantas or Reef Sharks can be seen. |
Manta Point
In the rainy season, when the water is
rich with plankton, this dive site in the south of Gili Trawangan
gives you the best chance to see Manta Rays. But even without the
Mantas, you still have a good chance to see Reef Sharks and Turtles.
