Scuba Diving in Lombok

Scuba diving in Lombok is suitable for all levels, from first‑time divers to experienced shark and current junkies. Although similar in many ways to diving in Bali, Lombok is generally less developed and quieter underwater, especially once you leave the main Gili Islands.

The best‑known locations are around the Gili Islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno), the “Secret Gilis” and Belongas Bay in South Lombok, and the eastern walls of Tanjung Ringgit facing Sumbawa. The main diving area around the Gilis is on the north‑west coast of Lombok.

Intro To Lombok

Lombok is an island in the West Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. It’s known for beaches and surfing spots, especially around Kuta and Banko Banko (in south Lombok). The motor‑vehicle‑free Gili Islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno) off Lombok’s west coast offer more beaches, reefs for diving and snorkeling, and a sea turtle hatchery.

Lombok also sits on a famous bio‑geographical boundary between the fauna of Indo‑Malaysia and the distinctly different fauna of Australasia. On our own trips we’ve often combined diving days with treks around Mount Rinjani or quiet village visits, which is part of what makes Lombok feel different from busier Indonesian hubs.

View Location on Google Map

For a great diving option in Trawangan, check out Blue Marlin Dive.

Marine Life & Environment

Marine life around Lombok includes reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays, occasional manta rays, dolphins, morays, cuttlefish, octopus, scorpionfish, pipefish, leaf scorpionfish and angelfish. On many sites you’ll also find stretches of healthy hard coral gardens with table corals, sea fans and barrel sponges, alongside sandy areas that are good for macro life.

On recent trips we’ve found that deeper reefs and pinnacles often host healthier coral and more fish life than heavily used shallow training sites, especially around the Gilis – something to keep in mind if you’re an experienced diver choosing where to dive.

Diving Conditions

• Water Temperature: 23-29C (73-84F)
• Visibility: 10 - 40 m (30 - 120 feet)
• Weather: Temperatures ranging between 21-33C (70-91F)
• Currents & level: currents are generally mild to moderate around the Gilis, but can be very strong at southern sites like The Magnet and The Cathedral, which are suitable only for experienced, confident divers.

Top Dive Sites

Here are some of the most popular dive sites around Lombok:

1. Shark Point & Volker’s Golf Course – Shark Point east of Gili Trawangan is a popular morning dive. The site consists of different levels (around 24 m, 20 m, 18 m). It starts with a slope of hard and soft corals – home to many green and hawksbill turtles. The different levels are sandy areas with small coral blocks and a wide variety of marine life, from schools of trevally and napoleon wrasse to white tip reef sharks and rays, plus ribbon eels, leaf fish and even the occasional manta. Volker’s Golf Course lies about 500 m east of Shark Point and starts at about 30 m. It’s one of the best sites to see sharks, schools of mackerel and doctorfish. Because of the depth and sometimes very strong currents, it’s suitable for advanced divers only.

2. Meno Wall – On the west of Gili Meno, this wall drops to about 18 m. Expect lots of smaller reef fish such as lionfish, soldierfish, gobies, crabs and many nudibranchs coming out of hiding. It’s also called Turtle Heaven because of the many resident hawksbill and green turtles.

3. Frog Fish Point – A large coral block from about 5–18 m with sandy patches where garden eels sway and the coral is overgrown with anemones and clownfish. Look closely for ghost pipefish, frogfish and plenty of scorpionfish.

4. Manta Point & Malang Reef – In the rainy season, when the water is rich with plankton, this site south of Gili Trawangan gives you a chance to see manta rays. Even without mantas, you can still see reef sharks and turtles. Nearby Malang Reef features underwater canyons with a plateau starting at about 10 m and dropping to around 40 m. Here you may encounter mantas, blue‑spotted stingrays, scorpionfish, lionfish, white tip reef sharks and spiny lobsters.

5. Hammerhead Sharks – A more recently explored site in the south where you may see schools of barracuda, mackerel, tuna and various shark species (including hammerheads), plus manta and eagle rays. Corals here are in excellent condition.

6. The Magnet – A pinnacle in the open sea rising from around 80 m to near the surface, famous for big‑fish action. Expect schools of mackerel, rainbow runner, tuna and barracuda, and the chance of white tip, black tip, grey reef and schooling hammerhead sharks. This site is for very experienced divers only, with strong currents and often negative entries.

7. The Cathedral – Another offshore pinnacle, dropping to around 50 m. Sharks, tuna, mackerel and barracuda are common, and schools of eagle rays are sometimes seen. There is a large cave at around 40 m. For advanced divers only.

8. Nipah Slope – A spectacular slope down to about 60 m. Between 10–25 m there is an array of beautiful corals and lots of reef fish, with a chance to see white tip reef sharks and turtles. Various shrimps and crabs hide among the corals.

9. Alang‑Alang Wall – A wall that begins around 16 m and drops to about 35 m. Expect colourful corals, turtles, sharks and a wide variety of reef fish. It’s also a great spot for night dives.

You can easily get to Lombok from Bali – Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). Flights to Lombok – Lombok International Airport (LOP) take about 40 minutes. Lombok International Airport is the only airport on Lombok. The airport is 40 km south of Mataram city, around 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Senggigi and 25 minutes from Kuta. Learn more about domestic travel in Indonesia in our helpful guide.

How To Dive Lombok

There are plenty of dive resorts & dive operators available in Lombok, including Two Fish Divers South Lombok, as well as liveaboards operating in the area. If you're looking for just diving on the Gili Islands, check out Two Fish Divers GIli Air.

Best Time To Dive Lombok

There are only two seasons there. Dry season from May to October and wet season from November to April. It is advised to avoid going to Lombok in December and January for diving as the heavy rainfall during these months will reduce visibility.

Topside & Non-Diving Activities

• Visit the beautiful natural beaches
• Volcano trekking
• Daily tours
• Surfing
• Biking

Is Lombok suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Gili Islands are a major training area with many shallow, easy reefs and lots of turtles, making them ideal for Open Water courses and newer divers. However, advanced southern sites like The Magnet and The Cathedral are only suitable for experienced divers with good buoyancy and drift‑dive experience.

How does Lombok compare to Bali for diving?

Lombok feels generally quieter and less developed than many parts of Bali. The diving is not as diverse as Indonesia’s very top destinations, but it’s excellent for combining easy turtle dives and macro with a few days of big‑fish, current‑exposed sites if you’re experienced. It’s also easy to add on to a Bali trip without long domestic flights.

What exposure protection should I bring?

Most divers are comfortable in a 3–5 mm wetsuit in Lombok. If you feel the cold easily, a 5 mm with a hooded vest is a good choice, especially for deeper southern dives or if you are doing multiple dives a day.

How many days should I plan for Lombok?

For a simple Gili‑based dive stay, 4–5 days is enough to sample the main sites. If you want to add the South Gilis, Belongas Bay or Tanjung Ringgit, plan on at least 7–10 days so you can allow for transfers, rest days and changing conditions.

• Currency: Indonesian Rupiah
• Language: Indonesian, but English is commonly used at tourism sites
• Time Zone: UTC+8
• Electricity: 230 V 50 Hz