If there is one marine animal you can almost count on seeing around the Gili Islands, it is a turtle. Green turtles are a familiar sight on many of the reefs, while hawksbill turtles are also regularly encountered.
In fact, you don’t necessarily need to go diving to see one. Turtles can be found pretty much everywhere around the Gilis.
Sometimes you can spot one while snorkelling, swimming from the beach, or even when you’re simply sitting on the dive boat waiting for your next dive. But some dive sites consistently offer better turtle encounters than others.
Here are our top five.
Halik
Halik is one of our favourite places for turtle encounters. Most turtle encounters happen towards the end of the reef, around the shallow top reef.
It is not unusual to see several turtles at the same time here, with larger turtles feeding or resting while juveniles explore the shallower reef.
If you’re lucky, you may even find a turtle tucked into the reef for a daytime nap.
The shallow depth also makes Halik particularly enjoyable for photographers, with plenty of natural light and good opportunities to observe turtles without disturbing them.
Turtle City
The name gives away the main attraction.
Turtle City is one of the classic turtle sites around the Gili Islands, with green turtles regularly seen around the reef.
Feeding turtles are common, and you may encounter both smaller juveniles and larger adults during the same dive.
The site is particularly enjoyable because you can often watch turtles going about their normal routines rather than simply passing through.
Give them space, especially when they are resting. A sleeping turtle is one of the most peaceful encounters you can have underwater.
Hans Reef
Hans Reef is another reliable place to look for turtles. They can be encountered around the reef and sandy areas, often feeding or resting between meals.
The highlight of the dive is often the turtles sleeping inside large sponge corals on the outside pinnacle. These relaxed turtles can make a fantastic encounter, especially when you approach slowly and give them plenty of space.
The site is not only about turtles, however. Its reef environment supports plenty of other marine life, so keep looking around rather than spending the entire dive focused on finding the next turtle.
Bounty Wreck
Bounty is another good turtle dive, with many turtles found along Meno Slope, where the dive usually starts. As you continue towards the Bounty wreck, keep an eye out for hawksbill turtles feeding around the wreck.
One of the highlights is the outer reef in front of Glassfish Rock, where several green turtles can often be found sleeping.ย
Meno Wall
Meno Wall offers another good chance of seeing turtles, particularly around the reef and sandy areas. The wall itself is also home to plenty of smaller marine life, so there is always something else to look for if the turtles aren’t cooperating.
It is a good example of why turtle dives around the Gilis are rarely just about turtles. You might start the dive looking for a green turtle and end up photographing a nudibranch, watching a school of fish or spotting something completely unexpected.
Where Are the Turtles?
The short answer is: almost everywhere.
Turtles are not restricted to these five dive sites. They can be encountered on many of the reefs around Gili Meno, Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. Some days you may see several during a single dive; on others, you may see none.
And you don’t even need to be underwater.
It is not unusual to see turtles surfacing near the boat, swimming past while you’re snorkelling, or resting in shallow water close to the beach.ย
A Note on Turtle Encounters
The best turtle encounters are the ones where the turtle is completely relaxed. Don’t chase, touch or block its path. If a turtle is sleeping, give it plenty of space and avoid disturbing it for a photograph.
Want to explore the Gili Islands underwater? Learn more about the dive sites, seasons, currents and how we choose the best dive site for every dive.