Welcome to our Gili Islands Diving Update blog for June 2026!
The southeast monsoon has settled in, bringing some fantastic diving conditions to the Gili Islands. Rain has largely stopped, visibility is excellent across most sites.
Currents have been steady from the north. Water temperatures remain warm at 29–30°C, making for comfortable diving throughout the day.
Mornings and evenings have become noticeably fresher.
Shark Activity
Sightings remain consistent across the islands. Shark Point continues to live up to its name, with numerous whitetip reef sharks resting beneath the famous Shark Block. In addition to these resident sharks, many divers are reporting free-swimming whitetips cruising between the ridges at Deep Shark Point.
One particularly large pregnant female whitetip reef shark has been seen regularly around Glenn Nusa Wreck, while blacktip reef sharks continue to patrol the shallows at Sunset Reef and other northern dive sites.
Interestingly, sharks have become less common at Shallow Turbo. Some individuals are still occasionally found resting inside the caves and overhangs at Halik Reef, but sightings are less frequent than earlier in the year.
Turtles Everywhere
Halik Reef is currently packed with turtles. Many are resting amongst the hard and soft corals towards the northern end of the site, creating some incredible opportunities for underwater photography.
Turtle City continues to produce excellent turtle encounters, and the top of Turtle City Hill is currently covered with large schools of sergeant majors.
Octopus and Cuttlefish Season?
Several guides have noticed increased octopus activity across multiple dive sites. Individuals are spending more time out in the open and displaying interesting behaviour that may indicate the beginning of a mating season.
Cuttlefish activity has also increased. Several individuals have been observed moving into shallower water and laying eggs amongst coral formations.
Coral Conditions
The reefs are looking exceptionally healthy.
Especially the shallow sections of Shark Point and Gili Air Wall are particularly impressive at the moment. Colourful coral gardens teeming with life. Coral recovery in the shallows at Gili Air Wall has been especially encouraging.
While the wall section itself remains beautiful, some of the famous yellow soft corals that once covered parts of Gili Air Wall appear to have declined in recent years.
Macro Highlights
Bounty Wreck continues to be the most reliable site for frogfish sightings in the Gili Islands.
Large numbers of baby angelfish are currently being seen throughout the reefs, adding even more colour to already vibrant coral gardens.
Sea cucumbers are unusually abundant between Shallow Turbo and Halik Reef, covering large areas of sand and rubble.
Fish Life
Schools of fusiliers are currently present at almost every dive site and often form enormous bait balls around reef edges and current-swept sections.
Large schools of unicornfish have been gathering at Halik Reef, creating spectacular scenes for divers and photographers.
Around Glenn Nusa Wreck, divers are regularly encountering huge schools of drum fish surrounding the structure.
Moray eels seem particularly active at Shark Point, with many individuals venturing further from their holes than usual.
Titan triggerfish numbers remain high, although many individuals are currently displaying paler colouration than normal. Fortunately, they are not showing aggressive behaviour.
Several guides have also noticed a shift in pipefish species. Trumpetfish seem less common, while cornetfish are appearing more frequently, often travelling in family groups of three to six individuals.
Looking Ahead
With excellent visibility, warm water, healthy reefs, and abundant marine life, conditions are currently among the best we’ve seen this year. The larger tidal ranges are creating more dynamic diving conditions, but they are also bringing plenty of life onto the reefs.
If these conditions continue, the coming months should provide some exceptional diving throughout the Gili Islands.
In case you’d like to learn more about diving in the Gili Islands, don’t miss our Complete Guide to Diving in the Gili Islands. From the best dive sites and marine life to seasonal conditions, currents, and beginner-friendly reefs, it’s your ultimate resource for planning an unforgettable diving adventure in Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air.
