LOMBOK ISLAND SCUBA DIVE INFORMATION
Lombok has so many beaches and small islands, Lombok offer
a myriad of diving and snorkelling opportunities. The best known
locations are arround the Gili islands Gili Air, Gili Meno, Gili
Trawangan and some Dive sites at south Lombok.
The underwater world around Indonesia is a diver’s
paradise. Nearly a quarter of the world’s reefs are found in here and
there are over 3,500 species living on them. The clarity of the water
combined with the rich marine life makes this a photographer’s heaven,
especially for those who enjoy taking macro shots. Common destinations
to visit for diving are, amongst others, Bali, Lombok and Sulawesi.
Lombok offer scuba diving at all levels of diver are catered for, from the absolute beginner to the most adventurous. The main diving area arround the Gili island lie in the north west coast of Lombok.
There are more than 15 dive sites around
the islands and more reefs are being explored all of the time. Most
sites are suitable for beginners, but there are some that are more
challenging for advanced divers. Some of the dive sites are shore dives,
others have to be reached by boat. Snorkelling is also good around the
three islands.
If you have a plan to have scuba dive holiday on Lombok and Gili island please take a look at our
Dive holiday packages wich is includes accommodation on Gili island and Lombok.
Lombok and Gili Island Diving Features:
Water temperature: This depends on your dive location
because there are many cold currents and up wellings. However, expect a
temperature range of about 23°C (73°F) to 29°C (84°F)
Suit: 3mm shortie to 5mm wetsuit, dependent on the region you dive
Visibility: 10 - 40 meters (30 - 120 feet)
Type of diving: Reef slopes, drop offs, plateaus, caves and wrecks
Marine life: Sharks, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, morays,
cuttlefish, octopus, scorpion fish, pipefish, leaf fish, angelfish etc.
Over 3,500 species live in Indonesian waters, compared with 1,500 on
the Great Barrier Reef and 600 in the Red Sea
When to go: Avoid December and January because the heavy rainfall during these months will reduce visibility
Lombok and Beyond Dive Sites
North Coast Gili ilsand Dive Sites
Shark Point & Volker’s Golf course
Shark Point 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 out of hard and soft corals, the "native
country" of green and hawksbill turtles. The different levels are sandy
areas with small coral blocks – a wide variety of marine life starting
with schools of trivially, napoleon fish over white tip reef sharks and
rays in the sandy areas….
ending up with ribbon eels, leaf fishes and even mantas.
“Volker’s' Golf course” is about 500m east of Shark point and starts at a
depth of about 30m. It looks like the greens of a golf course and is
the best site to see sharks, schools of mackerels and doctor fishes.
Because of its depth and the sometimes very strong currents, it is a
dive for advanced divers.
Meno Wall
Meno Wall in the West of Gili Meno goes down to 18m. You
can see a lot of small coral fish like lionfish, soldier fish, gobies,
crabs and a lot of wart slugs and nudi branches coming out of hiding.
It is also called “Turtle Heaven” because of the many resident hawksbill
and green turtles.
Air Wall
Air Wall in 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 fishes (scorpion fish) found their "home", surrounded by
shrimps, pipefish, white-banded cleaner shrimps and thousands of glass
fishes... Look out 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 Fan Garden and Basket Coral Garden. The
first few meters you will have the feeling of being in an aquarium -
schools of colored fairy bass lets, fusiliers, banner fishes… and
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.
Frog Fish Point
One of our favorite dive spots is Frog Fish Point in the
East of Gili Air, famous for small things and rarities. A huge coral
block from 5m-18m welcomes you. There are a lot of sandy areas, where
the garden eels let off steam and coral is overgrown with anemones and
their clownfish. You can find ghost pipefish, frogfish and a lot of
scorpion fish. Have a manicure there by one of the many cleaner
shrimps.
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
mantas, you still have a good chance to see reef sharks and turtles.
Malang Reef Underwater canyons create the landscape here with a plateau
starting at 10m and dropping down to 40m. Here you can see “everything”.
Mantas, blue spotted stingrays, scorpion fish, lionfish, and white tips
have been encountered here as well as spiny lobsters.
South Coast Lombok Dive Sites
Hammerhead sharks
Dive with us at our recently discovered dive sites in the
South. Schools of barracudas, tunas, mackerels and different kind of
sharks (also hammerheads!), manta rays, eagle rays…. And all the coral
is in 100% pristine condition. Real world-class diving!
The Magnet
A pinnacle in the open sea, rising up to the surface from a
depth of around 80m. Big, big fish action. Everywhere schools of
mackerel, rainbow runner, tuna and barracuda. Here you can see white
tips, black tips, grey reef sharks and with a little luck schooling
hammerhead sharks. For advanced divers only.
The Skull
This pinnacle rises up from a depth of around 40m and is
completely covered with soft corals. Here too, big fish action. White
tips, black tips, and mackerels, grey reef sharks, many stingrays and
schooling tunas.
The Cathedral
Another pinnacle going down to around 50m. Here many sharks,
tunas, mackerels and barracudas can be found. We have seen a school of
eagle rays here. At around 40m there is a big cave. For advanced
divers only.
Soft Coral Garden
A chain of small pinnacles beginning in a depth of around
25m. All pinnacles are covered completely with soft coral. It is
normally more a spot for small fishes and coral, but even here we have
encountered manta rays.
Boulder City Starting
At a vertical wall you descend to about 30 meters. There are a
lot of big rocks forming hundreds of swim-troughs. Sharks, napoleons
and many, many sweet lips and angelfishes have been seen here.
Dive Sites Around Senggigi
Senggigi Dive is a spectacular slope reaching down to 60m.
Between 10m and 25m, there is an array of wonderful coral. A lot of
different reef fishes and with a bit of luck you can see turtles and
white tip reef sharks. Hidden between the coral many different kinds of
shrimp and crab can be found.
Nipah Slope
A spectacular slope reaching down to 60m. Between 10m and
25m, there is an array of wonderful corals. A lot of different reef
fishes and with a bit of luck you can see turtles and white tip reef
sharks. Hidden between the corals many different kinds of shrimp and
crab can be found.
Malimbu Cave
A slope going down from 10m to 15m with big sandy patches
and rocks covered in corals. Here you can find a lot of sting rays, a
big amount of reef fishes and often turtles. In the shallower part are
caves that can only be dived when conditions are calm. But be careful,
we’ve heard a dragon lives there…
Malimbu Slope
A long, stretched slope that goes down to 30m. The bottom is
sandy with a lot of little coral reefs. Sharks, blue spotted rays,
eagle rays, barracudas, leaf fish – there’s just so much to see.
Shark Point
A big plateau that starts at 10m and goes down to 30m or
40m. Most of the time, you can see sharks, turtles and a big variety of
reef fish. On the north side, big gorgonians and sponges can be found.
Alang-Alang Wall
A wall that begins at 16m and reaches down to 35m. Down there,
after a small plateau begins another wall that goes down to 60m. Both
of them are over grown with wonderful corals. You have sharks, turtles
and a huge variety of reef fish. It’s a perfect spot for night dives.
