Why the Gili Islands Are Called the Turtle Capital of the World

The Turtle Capital of the World

If you ask divers why they love the Gili Islands, chances are that one of the first things they will mention is the turtles. Whether you are snorkeling from the beach or exploring deeper reefs on a scuba dive, seeing sea turtles is almost an everyday experience. This is why many visitors have started calling the Gili Islands the Turtle Capital of the World.

But what makes these three small islands so special?

A Healthy Population of Green and Hawksbill Turtles

The waters around Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan are home to two species of sea turtles:

• Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) – the most commonly encountered species, often seen grazing on seagrass beds or resting beneath coral formations.
• Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) – slightly smaller, with their distinctive pointed beak, usually found around coral reefs where they feed on sponges.

It is not unusual to see several turtles during a single dive. On some dive sites, divers may encounter five, ten, or even more turtles in one dive.

Perfect Habitat

The Gili Islands offer almost everything sea turtles need to thrive.

Extensive Coral Reefs

Healthy coral reefs provide shelter and feeding grounds for juvenile and adult turtles. The reefs around the islands include shallow coral gardens, reef slopes, and deeper walls, giving turtles plenty of habitat.

Seagrass Meadows

Green Sea Turtles are herbivores as adults and feed mainly on seagrass. The extensive seagrass beds surrounding the islands are one of the reasons why so many green turtles choose to stay in the area.

Warm Tropical Water

With water temperatures ranging between 26°C and 30°C throughout the year, turtles can remain active in every season. Unlike many destinations where turtle sightings are seasonal, the Gili Islands offer excellent chances of seeing turtles all year round.

Protected Marine Environment

The Gili Islands are part of the Gili Matra Marine Recreation Park, a protected marine area managed by the Indonesian government.

Although challenges remain, marine protection has helped preserve important turtle habitats. Regulations on fishing, marine conservation initiatives, coral restoration projects, and increasing environmental awareness all contribute to maintaining healthy ecosystems where turtles can survive.

Many local dive centres, conservation organisations, universities, and volunteers also participate in reef monitoring, beach clean-ups, marine education, and scientific research.

Turtles for Every Level of Diver

One of the unique aspects of diving around the Gili Islands is that turtles can be found at almost every certification level.

Snorkelers

Many snorkelers encounter turtles only a few metres from the beach, especially around Gili Air and Gili Meno.

Beginner Divers

Open Water students often see turtles during their very first ocean dives, creating unforgettable memories that inspire many to continue diving.

Experienced Divers

Advanced divers regularly encounter turtles while exploring drift dives, deep reefs, and wrecks. Watching a turtle effortlessly glide through the current is one of the highlights of diving in the Gilis.

Why Turtles Feel Comfortable Here

Unlike many destinations where turtles quickly swim away, the turtles around the Gili Islands often appear calm and relaxed.

This is largely because:

• Divers are taught to maintain good buoyancy.
• Responsible operators promote respectful interactions.
• Feeding or chasing turtles is discouraged.
• Increasing awareness helps reduce stress on marine life.

Giving turtles enough space allows them to behave naturally, making encounters more enjoyable for both divers and the animals.

A Responsibility to Protect

Being known as the Turtle Capital of the World also brings responsibility.

Sea turtles still face many threats, including:

• Plastic pollution
• Lost fishing gear
• Boat strikes
• Coral reef degradation
• Climate change
• Disturbance at nesting beaches

Everyone visiting the islands can help by avoiding touching turtles, maintaining good buoyancy while diving, reducing plastic waste, and choosing environmentally responsible dive operators.

Experience Turtle Diving at Oceans 5 Gili Air

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, turtle encounters are part of everyday diving. Whether you are trying scuba diving for the first time, completing your Open Water Course, or joining guided fun dives, there is an excellent chance you’ll meet one or more sea turtles.

Our experienced instructors and divemasters focus on small dive groups, excellent buoyancy control, and environmentally responsible diving practices. We believe the best turtle encounters happen when the animals are allowed to behave naturally in their own environment.

Every dive is an opportunity not only to admire these incredible animals but also to understand why protecting the reefs around the Gili Islands is so important.

The Turtle Capital of the World

The title isn’t official, but after just one day in the water around Gili Air, Gili Meno, or Gili Trawangan, it’s easy to understand why so many divers use it.

With warm tropical waters, healthy reefs, abundant seagrass, protected marine habitats, and turtle sightings that are possible almost every day of the year, the Gili Islands have earned a reputation as one of the best places on Earth to see sea turtles.

If seeing turtles in their natural habitat is on your diving bucket list, few destinations can match what the Gili Islands have to offer.