Scuba Diving on Gili Air
What to Expect on a Typical Dive Day
Scuba diving on Gili Air does not have to mean spending the entire day on a crowded boat. At Oceans 5 Gili Air, each dive is a separate trip. Our boats leave three times a day, and after every dive we return to the dive centre.
This gives you the freedom to make diving part of your holiday instead of allowing it to take over your complete day. You can join one dive, book all three, relax beside the pool between dives or meet friends and family for breakfast or lunch.
If you are wondering what scuba diving on Gili Air is really like, here is what you can expect from a typical day with Oceans 5.
Before Your First Dive
Your diving experience begins before you step onto the boat.
When you arrive at Oceans 5, our team will check your certification, number of logged dives and the date of your most recent dive. We may also ask about your experience with currents, your usual air consumption and the kind of diving you enjoy.
These questions help us place you in a suitable group. A recently certified diver may want a calm and relaxed dive, while an experienced underwater photographer may prefer to move slowly and search for smaller marine life. Divers with similar experience, confidence and interests generally have a safer and more enjoyable dive together.
At Oceans 5, we take a maximum of four certified divers per guide. Small groups give the guide more time to monitor each diver, adjust the route when necessary and help everyone enjoy the dive.
If you have not dived for six months or longer, we normally recommend completing a Scuba Skills Update before joining regular fun dives. A short refresher can rebuild confidence and allow you to practise important skills in one of our training pools before returning to open water.
Preparing Your Diving Equipment
If you are using rental equipment, our team will help you choose the correct sizes. Take the time to check that your mask, fins, wetsuit and BCD fit comfortably.
Your guide will explain where to prepare your equipment and will be available if you need assistance. However, certified divers should remain involved in assembling and checking their own equipment. This is an important part of being a responsible and independent diver.
Before departure, you and your buddy should complete a pre-dive safety check. Even experienced divers can overlook a closed cylinder, an incorrectly connected inflator hose or a loose weight-pocket handle. A careful check takes only a few moments and can prevent problems later.
The Dive Briefing
A dive briefing is not simply a description of the fish you might see. It should give you the information needed to understand and safely participate in the dive.
Your guide will normally explain:
- The dive site and planned route
- The expected depth and approximate dive time
- The entry and exit procedures
- Current direction and strength
- Important underwater landmarks
- Buddy procedures and group positioning
- Minimum-air and ascent procedures
- Lost-buddy procedures
- Safety-stop requirements
- Relevant marine life and environmental considerations
Conditions around the Gili Islands can change. The best route, entry point or even choice of dive site depends on the current, tide, visibility and experience of the group. For that reason, the briefing you receive on the day is more important than a generic description found online.
Listen carefully, even if you have visited the dive site before.
Boarding the Dive Boat
Oceans 5 is located beside the harbour of Gili Air, so reaching the boats is quick and easy. The dive sites around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan are generally only a short boat journey away.
Our boats have more than a captain. Boat crew help load and handle equipment, assist divers when entering and leaving the water, serve refreshments after the dive and help the boat travel safely between the islands.
Your guide remains responsible for the dive, but safe and comfortable boat diving is a team effort. Please follow instructions about where to sit, when to prepare and when to enter the water. Keep masks, computers and other small items secure so they cannot fall overboard or create a trip hazard.
Entering the Water
Depending on the boat, dive site and conditions, divers will normally enter using a backward roll or another method explained during the briefing.
Once in the water, signal that you are okay and move away from the entry area when instructed. The group will meet at the surface before beginning the descent.
Do not rush. Equalise early and often, stay close to your buddy and communicate immediately if you have difficulty descending. Reaching the bottom is never more important than remaining comfortable and in control.
What Is Diving Around the Gili Islands Like?
The Gili Islands are well known for turtles, but every dive offers something different. Depending on the site and season, you may encounter green and hawksbill turtles, reef sharks, rays, moray eels, cuttlefish, octopuses and large schools of reef fish.
Smaller marine life can be just as interesting. Nudibranchs, pipefish, frogfish, crustaceans and other macro species reward divers who slow down and look carefully.
Many dives around the Gili Islands involve some current. This does not automatically make a dive difficult. A well-planned drift dive can be wonderfully relaxing: you maintain good buoyancy, stay with the group and allow the current to carry you along the reef.
Currents can vary, however, and occasionally change during a dive. That is why local knowledge, good group control and clear communication matter. Follow the guide’s route and avoid swimming far away from the group to chase a turtle or take a photograph.
Responsible Diving in Gili Matra Marine Park
Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan are surrounded by the Gili Matra Marine Protected Area. Divers are visitors in this environment and should behave accordingly.
Oceans 5 has a strict no-touching policy. Divers should not touch coral, hold turtles, chase sharks, feed fish or collect anything from the reef. All skills should be performed while neutrally buoyant rather than kneeling on the seabed.
Good buoyancy is not only about looking like an experienced diver. It protects coral, prevents sediment from being kicked up and allows you to remain safely in control of your depth.
If you are struggling with buoyancy, tell your guide. Asking for help is responsible diving—not something to be embarrassed about.
The End of the Dive
As the group approaches the agreed minimum pressure or maximum dive time, your guide will begin the ascent. In drift-diving conditions, the guide may deploy a surface marker buoy so the boat crew can follow the group’s position.
Ascend slowly, monitor your computer and complete the planned safety stop. Stay close to your buddy and guide until everyone is safely back aboard the boat.
The crew will help with equipment where needed. Once seated, secure your cylinder and equipment before relaxing with water or a snack.
Returning to Oceans 5 After Every Dive
After the dive, the boat returns to Oceans 5. You are not required to remain aboard for a second dive or spend the full day at sea.
This separate-departure system gives you several options:
- Join one dive and enjoy the rest of the day on Gili Air
- Complete two dives with a comfortable break between them
- Join all three daily departures
- Return to your room, have a meal or relax beside the pool between dives
- Spend time with non-diving friends or family
It is particularly convenient for couples and families when not everyone wants to dive. You can enjoy an underwater adventure and still share much of the day together.
After the Dive
Once back at the dive centre, you can rinse your equipment, complete your logbook and talk about what the group encountered. If you are making another dive, your guide will explain when to meet and whether any equipment changes are needed.
Remember to drink water and allow enough surface interval before the next dive. Avoid excessive alcohol, heavy exercise and anything else that may negatively affect your fitness to dive.
If you experienced discomfort, unusual fatigue, breathing difficulty or any other concern during the dive, tell the guide immediately. Small problems are easier to manage when they are communicated early.
Can Beginners Join?
Yes. You do not need to be a certified diver to discover scuba diving on Gili Air.
Complete beginners can start in the pool, where an instructor introduces the equipment and basic skills in a controlled environment. Depending on the programme you choose, you may continue with an open-water introductory dive or begin the SSI Open Water Diver course.
Already-certified divers who feel nervous or out of practice can complete a refresher before joining a regular dive. There is no prize for pretending to feel more confident than you do. The best diving experiences begin with honest communication and suitable preparation.
One Dive or Three? You Decide
A typical dive day at Oceans 5 is designed to be flexible. Some guests want to dive as much as possible. Others prefer one morning dive followed by breakfast, cycling around Gili Air or relaxing by the pool.
Both are possible.
Our regular boats depart at 08:30, 11:30 and 14:30, with a different schedule on Fridays. Night dives can also be arranged on request. Because we return to the dive centre after every dive, you can choose a schedule that fits your holiday.
The dive site is important, but it is only one part of a good diving day. The group, guide, briefing, equipment, boat crew and decisions made according to the conditions all influence your experience.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, our goal is simple: small groups, responsible diving and a safe, relaxed experience—both above and below the surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many boat dives does Oceans 5 offer each day?
Oceans 5 normally offers three daytime boat departures at 08:30, 11:30 and 14:30. On Fridays, the schedule is different. Contact us for the current timetable and available dive sites.
Do the boats return after every dive?
Yes. The boat returns to Oceans 5 after each dive, so you can relax at the dive centre, return to your room or have something to eat before your next departure.
How large are the dive groups?
Oceans 5 takes a maximum of four certified divers per guide. We also try to match divers according to experience, certification, air consumption and interests.
Can I book only one dive?
Yes. Each departure is a separate trip, so certified divers can book one dive or combine several departures.
What if I have not dived recently?
If your last dive was six months or longer ago, Oceans 5 normally recommends a Scuba Skills Update. This allows you to review essential knowledge and practise important skills before returning to open water.
Is scuba equipment included?
Complete recreational rental equipment is available for guests diving with Oceans 5. Ask the team about any optional extras, including Nitrox or a larger cylinder.
Do I need experience with currents?
Not necessarily. Your guide will consider your experience and current conditions when selecting the dive site and organizing the group. Always tell the team honestly if you are unfamiliar with drift diving or do not feel confident in stronger currents.
Can non-certified guests try scuba diving?
Yes. Oceans 5 offers introductory options for complete beginners as well as the full SSI Open Water Diver course.
Plan Your Dive Day on Gili Air
Would you like to join us for one dive, a complete day of diving or your first-ever underwater experience?
Contact Oceans 5 Gili Air on WhatsApp at +62 853 3339 978 or email [email protected]. Tell us your certification level, number of logged dives and the date of your most recent dive, and our team will help you plan the right experience.