Gili Air is the easiest of the three Gili Islands to organise a dive trip around: car-free, walkable end to end, and reachable in an afternoon from Bali. This guide covers the four things worth planning — how to get there, when to come, how long to stay and what to budget — so the only surprise is how relaxed it all is.
Getting there
From Bali, a fast boat crosses in roughly 2–3 hours from Padang Bai, Sanur or Serangan straight to Gili Air’s jetty. From Lombok, it is about a 20–30 minute local boat from Bangsal harbour, itself a short drive from Lombok International Airport. There are no cars or scooters on the island — you walk, cycle or take a cidomo (pony cart). Our centre is a short stroll along the west coast. Full step-by-step directions are in our guide on getting to Gili Air from Bali.
When to come
The water is 28°C year-round, so there is no bad time to dive. The dry season (April–October) brings the calmest seas and the best visibility; the wet season (November–March) is greener above water but brings the best odds of mantas, mola mola and the occasional whale shark. For the sweet spot — good weather, fewer crowds — aim for May–June or September–October. See our full best time to dive guide.
How many days
- 2–3 days — a relaxed batch of fun dives, or a Basic Diver try dive.
- A week — an Open Water course (3 days) plus fun dives, with rest days between.
- 10+ days — Open Water → Advanced → a specialty or Rescue.
Whatever you plan, keep your last day dive-free: you need 18 hours on the surface before flying.
What to budget
Fun dives start at 650,000 IDR (cheaper in packs), a full Open Water is 6,900,000 IDR, plus a one-off 100,000 IDR marine-park fee. Full breakdown in how much diving costs.
Ready to line it up? Read our overview of diving on Gili Air, pick from the best dive sites, and message us your dates — we dive in small groups, max 4 per guide.