From the famous turtle-filled waters of the Gili Islands to the hammerhead shark territory of Belongas Bay, Lombok offers world-class diving for every level. Find PADI-certified dive shops with verified pricing and safety records.
Gili T's most established PADI 5-star dive center
Gili Air's most professional PADI dive center with eco focus
Gili Air's top dive center with purpose-built pool and resort
Eco-conscious PADI center with marine conservation programs
Dive the Secret Gilis' pristine reefs with the only local operator
The only dive shop serving Belongas Bay and South Lombok's pelagic sites
Small-group diving with personal attention and expert guides
Family-run PADI center with Divemaster internship program
Friendly Gili Air dive shop with excellent instructor-to-student ratios
Veteran Gili T dive shop with 20+ years of reef expertise
Intimate dive shop on the quietest Gili island
Professional PADI center with divemaster internship programs
Budget-friendly PADI center with Korean and Japanese staff
Lombok sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the global epicenter of marine biodiversity, and it shows. The waters surrounding this volcanic island harbor over 3,500 species of fish and 600 species of coral — a richness that makes diving here consistently thrilling whether you are logging your first dive or your thousandth.
The Gili Islands are where most divers begin their Lombok journey. These three small islands — Trawangan, Air, and Meno — are ringed by coral reefs that drop gently into a channel teeming with green sea turtles, white-tip reef sharks, cuttlefish, and vast schools of fusiliers. Visibility averages 15-25 meters, currents are generally mild, and dive sites are just minutes from shore. A dozen PADI-certified dive centers compete for business, keeping standards high and prices reasonable: expect to pay $35-50 USD for a two-tank fun dive, or around $350-400 for a full Open Water certification course.
For experienced divers, Belongas Bay on Lombok's south coast is the real prize. This deep channel between Lombok and a small rocky islet called Batu Gendang funnels nutrient-rich currents that attract schooling hammerhead sharks, mobula rays, and occasional oceanic manta rays. The diving here is serious — strong currents, deep water, and limited visibility on some days — but encounters with hammerheads cruising past in blue water make it one of Indonesia's most electrifying dive experiences.
The Secret Gilis off Lombok's southwest coast (Gili Nanggu, Gili Kedis, Gili Sudak) offer pristine reef diving without the Gili Islands crowds. Macro photographers love the muck diving sites around Sekotong, where frogfish, blue-ringed octopuses, and nudibranchs hide among the rubble. And for something truly unique, the underwater sculpture installation near Gili Meno provides an eerie, art-meets-nature dive experience.
Water temperatures hover around 27-29 degrees Celsius year-round, meaning a 3mm shorty wetsuit is all most divers need. The best visibility is during the dry season (May-October), while the wet season brings plankton blooms that attract filter feeders like mantas to the south coast sites.
Site-by-site breakdown of every dive spot around Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno, with depth profiles, marine life, and best conditions.
Read guide →Everything you need to know before diving Belongas — seasons, conditions, operators, and what to expect when the hammerheads show up.
Read guide →The best shore-access snorkeling spots around Lombok and the Gili Islands — no boat needed, just a mask and fins.
Read guide →