Two islands, one team
We run two centres in the Gili Islands of Lombok, Indonesia: Gili Air Divers on the west coast of Gili Air, and Gili Meno Divers at Kontiki Cottages on the quieter sister island. One team, one ethos, two flavours of paradise depending on which crowd you’re in the mood for.
Why small groups
Most dive centres in the region run boats with 8 to 12 divers per guide. We run a maximum of four. It’s a deliberate choice — the difference in attentiveness, in how often you actually see what your divemaster is pointing at, in how relaxed you feel at depth, is enormous. We charge slightly more and dive much better.
The team
We’re multilingual: every dive briefing happens in English, but courses run in French, Spanish and Bahasa Indonesia when our students need them. Our instructors hold both PADI and SSI ratings — we now certify with SSI, but the underlying training standards are interchangeable and most of the team has taught both for years. Decades of Indonesia diving experience — most of us have been here longer than the GoPros we started with.
Several of our staff specialise in underwater photography and videography, with backgrounds in commercial production. If your dive trip is also a photo trip, talk to us before booking — we’ll match you with the right guide and the right sites.
What we believe
- The ocean owes us nothing — we owe it everything.
- A nervous diver is not a problem to push through. A nervous diver is the most important person on the boat.
- A dive school is judged by how its divers feel on the surface five years later, not by how many certifications it printed last month.
- Reef cleanups, plastic bans, and respectful interactions with marine life are not branding exercises. They are the cost of admission to this place.
Visitor information
- Gili Air Divers — west coast of Gili Air. Open daily 08:00 – 20:00.
- Gili Meno Divers — Kontiki Cottages, Gili Meno. Open daily 09:00 – 17:00.
- Phone & WhatsApp: +62 812-3989-0591
- Email: info@giliairdivers.com (general) · freedivegiliair@gmail.com (freediving inquiries)
We’re a five-minute walk from Gili Air’s main harbour, where the public boats from Bangsal (Lombok) and Padangbai (Bali) arrive several times a day.
The three Gili Islands
There are three little islands off the northwest coast of Lombok: Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan. No cars, no scooters — just bicycles, horse-carts (cidomo), and walking. White sand, turquoise water, the reef close enough to wade to.
Gili Air is closest to the mainland and the most easily reached of the three. It has the largest local population — and merges genuine island charm with quick access to Lombok’s people and culture. Excellent snorkelling starts a few metres from the dive centre; the south coast occasionally serves up a small surf break.
Gili Meno is the smallest of the three, sitting in the middle. It has the lowest population and remains the least developed — slower pace, the laid-back charm of a castaway tropical island, mostly unpopulated beaches, and evenings quiet enough to hear the surf from any cottage.
Gili Trawangan is the largest and furthest from the mainland — the most developed and busiest of the three, with a party reputation that attracts visitors from all over the world.
Getting to the Gili Islands & Lombok by boat
Traveling between Bali, Lombok, Bangsal Harbor, and the Gili Islands is easier than ever thanks to the many daily sea connections available. Depending on your budget, comfort expectations, schedule, and travel style, you can choose between fast boats, public ferries, local speedboats, and inter-island services.
Flying into Lombok
Praya (LOP) is the international airport for Lombok and handles visa-on-arrival. Air Asia flies daily from Kuala Lumpur, Silk Air three times a week from Singapore, and Garuda Indonesia from Kuala Lumpur via Jakarta daily. Domestically, Lombok is well-connected to Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya and the eastern islands via Garuda, Lion Air and several smaller carriers.
Bali to Lombok by air
Flight time is roughly 25 minutes. Garuda runs evening 737 services, with Wings Air and Trans Nusa Air running additional daily flights. Tickets can be bought directly at either domestic airport or through any travel agent.
Fast boats from Bali to the Gili Islands
Daily fast boat departures from several ports in Bali — mainly Padang Bai (East Bali), Serangan (South Bali), and Sanur. The most common routes are Bali → Gili Trawangan, Bali → Gili Air, and Bali → Lombok (Bangsal Harbor).
Travel time. From Padang Bai: approximately 1h30 to 2h30 depending on sea conditions and stops. From Serangan or Sanur: approximately 2h30 to 4h.
Typical prices, one way — Bali to Gili Islands:
- Budget / promotional tickets: from IDR 250,000 to 400,000
- Standard prices: around IDR 450,000 to 700,000
- Premium or flexible tickets: up to IDR 900,000+
Bali to Lombok (Bangsal Harbor): usually between IDR 350,000 and 650,000.
Prices vary depending on season, weather, boat company, pickup location in Bali, and last-minute availability. Many operators also include hotel pickup and drop-off for an additional fee.
The slow ferry: Padang Bai ↔ Lembar
For travelers on a tighter budget, transporting scooters or cars, or simply looking for a more local Indonesian experience, the public slow ferry between Padang Bai (Bali) and Lembar Harbor (Southwest Lombok) remains an option.
Unlike the fast boats heading directly to the Gili Islands, the slow ferry only connects Bali with mainland Lombok. From Lembar, you still need to continue by road to Bangsal Harbor (approximately 1.5 to 2 hours) before taking a local boat to the Gilis.
Travel time. Official crossing time is around 4 to 5 hours, but delays are common — sea conditions, port traffic, loading operations, weather. In practice, total travel time can often exceed 6 hours. Ferries operate 24 hours a day.
Prices. Foot passenger: approximately IDR 70,000–100,000. Scooters / motorbikes carry an additional fee. Cars and larger vehicles: variable pricing. Tickets are usually purchased directly at the harbor.
Onboard facilities. Indoor seating, open-air decks, small food stalls, toilets. Air conditioning is limited — many travelers prefer sitting outside on the upper deck during the crossing.
Bangsal Harbor to the Gili Islands
Bangsal Harbor is the main gateway between Lombok and the Gili Islands.
Traditional public boat. Approximately IDR 20,000 to 35,000 per person. Travel time: Gili Air around 15–20 minutes, Gili Meno around 25 minutes, Gili Trawangan around 35–45 minutes. Boats usually leave once enough passengers are onboard.
Hourly public speedboat service. A modern shared speedboat service runs approximately every hour between 09:00 and 17:00, connecting Bangsal Harbor with all three Gilis. Around IDR 85,000 per person. Travel time: Bangsal → Gili Air around 5 minutes, Bangsal → Gili Meno around 10–15 minutes, Bangsal → Gili Trawangan around 25–30 minutes. The boats continuously rotate between Lombok and all three islands throughout the day, making travel much more flexible than in the past.
Inter-island “island hopping” boats
Scheduled island-hopping boats run daily between Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan. Around IDR 40,000 to 45,000 per person. Routes: Gili Air ↔ Gili Meno, Gili Meno ↔ Gili Trawangan, Gili Air ↔ Gili Trawangan. Typically 2 to 3 scheduled departures per day; schedules vary slightly with season and sea conditions.
Private speedboat transfers
For more flexibility, comfort, or late arrivals, private speedboat transfers can be arranged between Lombok and any of the three Gilis. Prices vary depending on time of departure, weather, number of passengers, and boat size. Especially useful for families, groups, divers carrying equipment, late arrivals at Lombok airport, and guests wanting direct transfers without waiting.
Important travel tips
- Prices may increase during high season, weekends, and Indonesian holidays.
- Sea conditions can affect schedules, especially during windy periods.
- Morning departures are generally more reliable.
- Book with reputable operators; avoid unofficial ticket sellers around the harbors.
- During rough weather, fast boat schedules may be delayed or cancelled.
- Always allow extra flexibility when connecting with flights.
Once you arrive on Gili Air, the dive centre is a five-minute walk along the beach. See where to stay on Gili Air for our shortlist of partner properties near the dive centre.
What we put back
We dive these reefs every day, so the state they’re in matters more than anything else we do. Our team takes part in local clean-ups, runs reef-conscious briefings, and works alongside conservation initiatives in the region.
In particular, both dive centres have historically partnered with the Gili Eco Trust (established 2000 — coral regeneration, beach erosion control, waste management, animal welfare, and scientific reef research on the three Gilis) and supported the Global FinPrint initiative (a Paul G. Allen research program launched in 2015 surveying sharks and rays on coral reefs worldwide).
