Manta Dive Gili Trawangan

Resort Gili Trawangan

MANTA DIVE GILI TRAWANGAN

We are located on the beach of Gili Trawangan, a tiny paradise island North West of Lombok just east of Bali, Indonesia. The Gili Islands, Trawangan, Meno and Air, are surrounded by white sand beaches and vibrant clear waters. The diving on Gili Trawangan is year round and the fringing coral reefs that surround the Gili Islands support a phenomenal array of marine life that will captivate scuba divers of all levels.

Ben and Harriet run the dive shop throughout the year and will gladly answer any questions you may have relating to getting from Bali to Gili, accommodation on Gili Trawangan, diving, or anything else. Together with our Instructors and Dive masters we offer a wealth of diving experience unequalled in Lombok and the Gili Islands, ensuring that dive courses and fun dives are conducted in both a safe and enjoyable manner.

DIVING GILI TRAWANGAN

Manta dive is the only Diamond Rated Dive Center and Instructor Training Facility in the region with Instructors qualified to teach both Padi and SSI courses. We insist on the best tuition possible so make sure our Instructors are highly qualified.


Manta Dive latest news:

Manta Dive Gili Trawangan has finished building a new breakfast area next to the swimming pool, and are now serving a much improved hotel breakfast that includes a selection of eggs and bacon, muesli and yoghurt, croissants and jam, fruit juice, tea and coffee.

Manta's new free diving courses are proving to be very popular whether you´re experienced or just a beginner. Static breath holds of up to 5 minutes and descents down to 30+ meters. Manta dive on Gili Air has just opened some new bungalows, and their new boat ´Samui´ is in the water. The accommodation at Manta Dive Gili Air currently stands at 11 bungalows.

On Gili Trawangan, Manta dive has expanded onto the land next door, the training pool has been extended, 2 new classrooms are now open and there is more space to relax after the dives both around the pool and in the front of the dive shop.




OUR LOCATION

The Gili Islands

East of Bali and just off the north west coast of Lombok are the Gili Islands. The welcoming people of the Gilis make them the perfect destination for holidaymakers, families and honey mooners alike. Although still on the backpacker trail the Gili Islands have moved with the times and now offer quality restaurants, a range of Hotels and a variety of activities. Accommodation options on the Gili Islands now suit every budget ranging from a bamboo hut to a luxury villa. This has all been achieved while maintaining the peaceful atmosphere typically associated with a tropical island retreat. Motorized transport is not permitted on the islands so a local taxi comes in the form of a traditional horse cart, called a Cidomo. Bargaining with the drivers is all part of the fun but make sure you do this before you start your journey. Bicycles can also be rented at reasonable prices but remember you are on a small island so nothing is very far away.

Gili Trawangan

The broadest range of hotel accommodation and the largest variety of restaurants can be found on Gili Trawangan. Here you find a Japanese and Indian amongst the international and local restaurants available. It also claims to have the largest Irish bar on the smallest island in the world which caters mainly for the western palate. Live sport is televised at the inside bar while the beach bar is propped up by the majority of the island visitors as they wash down a pizza with an ice cold Bintang (local beer). Most nights there is a party at one of the islands bars, and live music featuring local artists play nightly at Sama Sama.

Although known as mainly a diving destination the Gili islands now also offer visitors a variety of other activities and indulgences, from water skiing and golf to manicures and massages. Whatever your holiday needs the Gilis will more than do them justice.



ACTIVITIES ON THE GILI ISLANDS


Diving is the main activity on the Gili Islands, with Gili Trawangan being the main diving destination. However there are also a variety of other activities available on and around the Gilis.


Golf

The Lombok Golf Kosaido Country Club is an 18 whole championship course that offers a unique, challenging and world class experience for golfers of all levels. The course is located a 10 minute speed boat journey from Gili Trawangan, arriving on the beach at the 4th hole. We arrange one day and half day packages including transport, 18 holes green fee, club rental, buggy, caddy, lunch and drinks. We offer the most competitive rates and are always looking for some fresh competition. When you're here speak to Marcus or Antony as they're always keen to play.

Wakeboarding and water skiing: In order to preserve the peaceful environment of the Gilis these types of water sports are only permitted in a small bay in Lombok. There are numerous companies offering a variety of water sports that can all be booked at short notice, you would however be advised to look around for the best rates.

 

Surfing All 3 Gilis have surf, the South East corner of Trawangan and Gili Air are the main areas but both are very much dependant on the swell. When it's good it's really good however it isn't consistent. If you want consistent waves locally go to South Lombok. It's also not for beginners as it's all reef breaks.

Horse Riding For the slightly more adventurous horses can be hired and the island is yours to explore. Experience on horses is recommended as they can be rather feisty.

Free Diving Courses A Free Diving training center has recently opened just down the road from Manta Dive. The free diving center also has Yoga classes daily.

FACILITIES

		Dive Shop & Dive School : We have a broad range of dive equipment for rental in the dive school and for resale in the dive shop at highly competitive prices. We stock a wide range of brands and models from a variety of manufacturers e.g. Aqua Lung, Technisub, Mares, Suunto, and Sea & Sea. For teaching we have 2 classrooms and our swimming pool has recently been extended to give student divers more space. We have also widened the pool adding a beach area to allow hotel guests somewhere to cool down even when divers are in the main part of the pool. A larger area for sun beds has also been added next to the pool to lounge around. There are also have hammocks and a large baruga (essentially a chill-out area on stilts) where you can relax, read the paper or play games.

Dive Boats : Our "fleet" of three traditional Indonesia boats with outriggers provides a comfortable ride to and from the dive sites. Dive trips depart from directly in front of the dive shop and the dive sites are all within 20 minutes. For the non-diver you can snorkel, or sunbathe on deck.

Family Friendly : A lot of the westerners living on the Gilis now have children. This has lead to an increase in the availability of nannies and babysitters day and night. The islanders are great with kids and with the absence of motorized transport the islands are very child friendly.

Photography/Videography : Digital underwater cameras are available to rent for fun dives and on dive courses. If you've got your own camera and u/w housing but are still a novice why not take the Digital photography course and improve your underwater photography skills.

Massage : From Ali the legendary massage man. Available at very reasonable rates. 60,000rps (approx $7) per hour.

Speed Boat : For fast transfers to and from Lombok. Games: An assortment of board games, Backgammon, chess, cribbage, boules and cards. Complimentary drinking water is included with all courses and fun dives, as is use of the fresh water shower and secure storage.

Bar and Restaurant :

We have recently opened a small kitchen and breakfast area. This replaces the breakfasts that used to be served at the restaurant next door, and we are glad to say that our guest are extremely happy with the new breakfast menu. Drinking water, soft drinks and beer are available throughout the day.

First Aid :

Oxygen is always in our boats and in the Dive Center, as is a First Aid kit. The staffs are trained in basic First Aid, rescue breathing and CPR.




ACCOMMODATION


Accommodation Gili Trawangan

There are numerous accommodation and hotel options on the Gili Islands ranging from backpacker bungalows, or resorts and hotels, to luxury villas.

If you´re visiting during the holidays, or in peak season it is advisable to book in advance. If, however you want to just show up and see what´s available feel free to drop your bags at the dive shop when you arrive and we´ll gladly point you in the right direction.


Hotel Gili Trawangan

At Manta Dive we offer 2 options for hotel style accommodation on Gili Trawangan, traditional rooms and modern rooms.

Manta Bungalows traditional rooms have AC, hot water, mini bar, safety deposit box, TV & DVD. We have also recently built 3 Modern Rooms that have the same facilities as the Traditional bungalows and are slightly more spacious. These are classed as mid-range bungalows.


Villas Gili Trawangan

Gili Villas are located a few hundred meters from Manta dive and offer a more luxurious accommodation option on Gili Trawangan, particularly popular with groups and families. Each villa has two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, an open plan living area and kitchen that looks onto a private swimming pool. The villas are also only a few minutes from the beach, bars and restaurants.

Four 2 bed roomed villas located just a few hundred meters from Manta Dive. This exclusive accommodation, perfect for groups or families, offers privacy yet is still close to the beach, bars, and restaurants. Each villa has open plan kitchen/living/dining room, ensuite bathrooms and swimming pool. Facilities also include A/C, satellite TV, DVD, stereo, maid service, and breakfast.


Family Houses on Gili Trawangan

Located away from the noise and in the very center of Gili Trawangan are 2 family houses. Set in their own spacious gardens they are perfect for groups or families. Each house has 3 AC bedrooms, a kitchen, dining, living area, outdoor terrace and garden, and they share a 14 meter swimming pool that is fenced off for privacy and safety. Facilities include WIFI internet access, satellite TV, DVD, bikes, and the houses have part time staff that will clean every morning.

The houses are by no means luxury villas but they offer a great space with all the facilities necessary to enjoy your stay in Gili Trawangan. For availability and the latest rates whether you´re looking for accommodation on gili trawangan, a hotel on gili trawangan, or a villa on gili trawangan just contact us by email info@come2indonesia.com


Modern Rooms

We have three beautiful new rooms at Manta Dive. These elegant modern rooms are slightly more spacious than our traditional bungalows, and have all the facilities including AC, hot water, mini bar, a safety deposit box, TV and DVD.

We have kept the best bits from our traditional rooms, the highlight being the open air showers, which are also featured in our Modern Room bathrooms. Our new rooms are located close to the swimming pool and breakfast area.




DIVE COURSES


We were a 5 Star Padi training facility for 8 years and have recently upgraded to become an SSI Diamond Instructor Training facility. We are the only dive center in the Lombok region with dual qualified instructors that can teach SSI courses from beginner to Instructor level as well as Padi courses.

SSI and Padi are the global leaders in the diving industry and their diver certification courses are recognized in every dive center worldwide. For more information see the course summary below.

Our friendly and experienced team of Padi and SSI diving Instructors can be flexible with dive course durations and start dates to suit you. We have course materials available in English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Russian.

Scuba Ranger/Bubblemaker (Age 8+, theory, pool session) This course is designed to introduce children aged 8-10 to breathing underwater who are not yet old enough to dive in the open water. A strong emphasis is made on safety and, while it teaches them the basic skills, most of the time in the pool is spent playing games and having fun. From the age of ten you can do the Scuba Diver or Open Water Course in order to obtain a beginner level diving license.

Try Dive (Age 10+, theory, pool session and 1 dive in the sea) An introduction to the splendid world of scuba diving, this half day course comprises a 30 minute introduction to the equipment, some basic theory, and the skills required, followed by a half hour session in our pool trying out those skills and getting accustomed to breathing underwater, then you are taken on a dive accompanied by one of our instructors. After this course you will be able to dive for the next year to a maximum depth of 12 meters accompanied by a certified dive master or instructor. However if you want to receive a certification you will need to complete some more theory, more pool work and one more dive. This can all be done in one or two more days and will qualify you as a Scuba Diver or as an Open Water Diver.

Junior Scuba Diver/Scuba Diver Course (Minimum Age 10. Duration 2 days. Max dive depth 12 meters) A two day course, essentially half of the full Open Water Diver course. The first day is spent on theory and pool work covering a wider range of skills than on the Try Dive. On the second day your Instructor takes you on two training dives from one of our boats where you have your first encounters with the fascinating array of marine life around the Gilis. After this course you will be permanently certified to dive to a maximum depth of 12 meters but only when accompanied by a certified dive master, assistant instructor or instructor. In addition, you'll probably be sorely tempted to complete a further day or two and complete the Open Water Diver Course.

Open Water Diver - Manta Dive Gili Trawangan (Minimum Age 10. Duration 3-4 days. Max dive depth 18 meters) The full four day Open Water course is by far the most popular. The first two days are spent watching videos, going over theory with one of our multilingual instructors and practicing skills in our pool. On the third day we go out in our boat for morning and afternoon dives to 12 meters and on the final day we do two more dives to 18 meters (Junior Open Water Divers are limited to a maximum of 12m). After this course you will be fully and permanently certified to dive to 18 meters (Jnr OW 12m) when accompanied by a similarly or more highly certified buddy. Once you've completed the Open Water Course you can continue your diver education by doing Adventure Dives, Speciality Courses or if you have time the full Advanced Open Water Course.

Adventure Diver (Minimum Age 12. Duration 1-2 days. Max dive depth 30m) This course is effectively a shorter Advanced Course. Choose 3 of the dives from the Advanced Course to become an Adventure Diver. Adventure dives can also be taken individually, this means you can do one or more at a variety of different destinations. This is great if you're travelling and want to dive at different places during your travels, however doing the dives individually does work out to be more expensive. You will also get more out of the course by having the same instructor throughout as this will give the instructor time to work on your general diving technique and allow you the time to improve. We've found the most popular Adventure dives to be Deep Dive and Night Dive.

Speciality Courses (Age 15+. Duration 1-2 days per speciality. Max 30m) There are a range of specialities available to help you improve your recreational diving skills. Specialities include: Night and limited visibility Diving Underwater Navigation Diver Stress and Rescue Underwater Photography Boat Diving Deep Diving Computer Diving EAN - Enriched Air Nitrox Diving Marine Species Identification So whether you want to learn how to dive deeper; understand how to use a dive computer safely; explore a tropical reef at night; or how to extend your dive time with the use of Nitrox, there is a speciality course for you. Complete 4 specialty courses and 24 dives for the “SSI Advanced Open Water Diver” rating.

Advanced Adventurer or Advanced Open Water (Minimum Age 12. Duration 1-2 days. Max dive depth 30m) A great course which really opens up the range of diving activities you can take part in, this is a very practical course with little reading and lots of diving. You do a total of 5 dives. The 2 mandatory dives are Underwater Navigation Dive and Deep Dive. You then choose 3 of the specialty diving skills listed below. Prior to each of these dives we go through some theory and have a thorough briefing. On the dives there are some exercises to complete and we teach you specific skills to make you an all round better diver. Underwater Navigation: Learn to navigate using both a compass and natural navigation techniques to find your way around underwater. Deep Dive: Learn to dive down to 30 meters (Junior Advanced 18m) and increase your diving opportunities. Now you can be the one telling the stories about what you saw on the DEEP DIVE..... Enriched Air Diving(Nitrox): An introduction to diving on Nitrox. Extend your allowable bottom time, and increase the safety factor. Complete one more Nitrox Dive after the Advanced Course and to get a Nitrox certification. Underwater Naturalist: Improve your knowledge of the underwater environment and the huge range of creatures which live in it. There's a lot more down there than you may have first thought. Peak performance buoyancy: Although we will be working on your general diving skills throughout the course, this dive will concentrate 100% on your buoyancy skills. We will be taking you into our specifically designed underwater structure to hone your skills. Drift Diving: Not much swimming involved here, just get in the water and let the current take you along the reef. Night Diving: Diving by torchlight, this specialty opens up a whole new world, as the daytime life goes to sleep, the night shift comes out in the form of lobsters, crabs, shrimps and the phosphorescence has to be seen to be believed. Computer Diving: Increase your allowable bottom time while staying well within the safety limits, this module covers use of diving computers. Underwater Photography: This speaks for itself, but isn't as easy as you think as unfortunately fish don't pose. Digital Photography: Specifically for the use of Digital cameras, this course will dramatically improve the quality of your photos

Rescue Diver (Age 15+, Duration 4 days) The rescue diver course is a challenging & informative course that will build your confidence as a recreational diver. You will complete 12 Open Water Training Exercises which emphasize a divers ability to be flexible and adapt to a variety of different emergency situations. Once you have mastered these exercises you will get the chance to test your skills in a number of staged emergency scenarios. Courses Topics include : First aid for diving injuries First aid for marine injuries Emergency procedures Rescue equipment consideration and usage Distress recognition Self rescue Rescue entries, approaches and exits Assist and transportation of patients Missing, unconscious and submerged diver rescue In - water artificial respiration Accident recording and reporting By the end of the course you will have expanded your knowledge of diving, increased your level of diving skill and be more aware of what is happening in the diving environment. If you don't hold a current First Aid qualification you will also need to enrole in the Emergency First Response Course (1/2 day) that runs in parallel with the Rescue Course. All this training will prepare you to properly respond to diving and other emergency situations, and could one day help you to save a life. At the end of this course you will be prepared to become a Padi Professional and enrole in the Dive Master course.

First Aid (Duration ½ day) This is a basic training course in emergency care and covers a far wider range of situations than purely those which can be encountered in diving. CPR, rescue breathing and other important emergency care skills are combined into a video and practical 4 hour course which follows one consistent set of priorities to use in dealing with a medical emergency.

Digital Photography (Age 10+. Duration 1-2 days) Specifically for the use of Digital cameras, this course will dramatically improve the quality of your photos. This course includes a manual, a white slate to set your white balance, and 2 dives with the instructor. It's a lot of fun and really helps the quality of photos you'll be able to achieve.

Nitrox Diver (Minimum Age 15. Duration 2 days. Max depth 30m) Enriched Air(Nitrox) Diver: Increase your bottom time and safety. During this course you will study some theory, take an exam, learn how to analyze and measure the Oxygen content of your tank and then go on 2 great dives using Nitrox.

Dive Master (Age 18+. Duration 4 weeks+) Having trained thousands of student divers at Manta Dive we believe that the best way to become a really good Dive Master is to experience how a dive centre operates on a day-to-day basis. Of course you still have to read the books, take the exams and practice the exercises but by actually helping the instructors and dive guides with real students and qualified divers you will gain experience and pick up a wealth of knowledge that you cannot learn from any manual. If you are thinking of becoming an Open Water Scuba Instructor then this is the best possible way to prepare for it. If you want to get a head start it is advisable to read all the theory before you arrive and answer all the knowledge reviews. The PADI Divemaster Manual, The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving, and the Diving Knowledge Workbook are the books you need to buy if you want to do this. Once you have completed the Dive Master Course we encourage all our candidates to stay for at least a few more weeks to get some experience and put all your freshly learned skills into practice. This invariably helps us out and apart from the experience gives you lots of free diving.

Freediving Courses Mike Board was trained at Apnea Total in Thailand and is now conducting SSI freediving, Apnea, and breath-hold courses from Manta Dive, Gili Trawangan. For further information about Free Diving Courses please contact us and Mike, our freediving Instructor, will answer any questions you may have.

SSI Speciality Course Packages: Due to requests from both our Instructors and student divers we have put together some packages for the most popular SSI Speciality training programs. Now you can go deeper, for longer, at night!! Deeper & Longer: Deep and Nitrox Specialities combined over 4 dives, and we throw in a free Computer Speciality for good measure ensuring you get the most enjoyment and dive time possible. Cost US$350. Deeper & Longer, in the Dark!: Deep, Nitrox and Night Dive Specialities combined over 6 dives, again we throw in the Computer Speciality for free but also include the use of a digital underwater camera on 2 of the dives so you can show off when you get home. Cost US$455. If you complete 2 Speciality Dive programs and have logged 12 dives then you will receive the SSI SPECIALITY DIVER certification card, this is SSI´s intermediate diver rating and is higher than any other agency´s Advanced Courses. If you complete 4 Speciality Dive programs and have logged at least 24 dives, then you will receive the SSI ADVANCED OPEN WATER DIVER certification which stands alone in the industry with the highest combination of diving knowledge and experience. For more information just email us and we´ll be happy to answer any questions you have.

DIVE SITES


There are 17 sites that we visit around the Gili islands, most are suited to all levels of diver but a few require an Advanced certification or higher.

FUN DIVES

There are 17 sites that we visit around the Gili islands, most are suited to all levels of diver but a few require an Advanced certification or higher.

We send only two buddy teams with each guide providing you with a very relaxed diving environment. Oxygen is on board, as well as drinking water. Most of our dives are drift dives, so the dive boat picks you up at the end of the dive.

The dive sites around the Gili Islands offer a broad range of topography, including sea mounds, slopes, canyons, walls and flatter areas, providing a wide selection for divers of all levels.


Diving Gili Trawangan

Typically we encounter black and white tip reef sharks, stingrays, octopus, cuttlefish, moray and ribbon eels, a variety of scorpion and lionfish, clams, sea snakes, silly amounts of turtles and a bewildering amount of fish.

If you're into the small stuff the ´Magic Pier´ is a great site for 'Muck Diving', where frogfish, ghost pipefish, sea horses, are the highlight, but you never know what weird creatures you could come across. Thousands of species dwell in these waters, other visitors include mantas, eagle rays, leopard sharks, and large pelagics.

Dives are generally at 9am, 11;30 am and 2pm, night dives typically begin at 7pm, and we expect you around ½ hour beforehand to arrange equipment, and so we can make all the necessary pre-dive checks and briefings. We dive around all of the Gilis and some sites in Lombok, and while there are good dive sites on Gili Air and Gili Meno, the most popular sites are on Gili Trawangan.

When diving on Gili Trawangan make sure you check out the dive operator to see that they have well maintained diving equipment, experienced dive guides and instructors, and are an active member of the Gili Eco Trust and GIDA. GIDA members have recently put into place an emergency assistance plan that involves all of the GIDA members working together if ever there is a diving emergency situation.


Freediving Gili
(...Diving on a single breath)

FreeDiveGili at Manta Dive was the first Freediving school in Indonesia, based on the island of Gili Trawangan close to Bali. Whether you are interested in competitive apnea, spearfishing, breath-holding for surfing or just improving your comfort in the water for snorkeling, our courses can help you achieve your goals. Freediving is a unique and natural way of experiencing the underwater world, swimming freely and silently and allowing you to get much closer to aquatic life without disturbing it.

Our Freediving Courses include theory sessions, breathing techniques, depth training sessions, fun dives, equipment and course materials.

Freediving Course Gili Trawangan This is the introductory course teaching the fundamental skills of freediving. The objective is to achieve controlled freediving to a maximum depth of 20m by applying basic breathing and relaxation techniques (2-section breathing). An emphasis is also placed on safe diving practices. Duration: 2 days

Static Apnea Training Gili Trawangan On completion of the freediver course students can take the static apnea clinic, a comprehensive session that will maximize your breath holding ability. Students achieve breath holds of over 3 minutes. Duration: 1 day

Advanced Freediver Course An intensive course that teaches freedivers more advanced apnea techniques, arming students with the knowledge to conduct their own training and dive deeper and longer. Aims of this course include deep dives to depths between 30-40 meters and static breath holds of over 3 minutes. Duration: 3 days

FAQ


What´s the best way to get to the Gilis from Bali?
We recommend using one of the Fast Boat services that operate daily between Bali, Lombok, Lembongan and the Gili Islands. You can now check availability, rates, schedules and book your trip using the blue button on our website.

Is there Malaria on the Gili Trawangan?
No, despite what you may have heard there is no malaria on Gili Trawangan. Some areas in Lombok however are known to have it. If you have to take anti malarial medication don't use Larium, as in about 50% of cases it produces unpleasant side effects when combined with diving.

How can I pay and do I have to bring much cash?
We accept Visa/Mastercard, Travellers cheques, and almost any foreign currency. There are now ATM/cash point machines on Gili Trawangan. Occasionally none of them work so you can change money at the local money changers and even get cash on credit cards but the exchange rates will not be in your favour and commissions will be charged.

Is Gili Trewangan safe for children?
There are no cars, motorbikes, in fact no motorized transport on Trewangan, so children are free to run around and play. Everything is very close together so there's no chance of getting lost. The locals are also very friendly and always keep an eye out, so finding a babysitter or nanny is never a problem.

Can we swim to the other Gilis?
While it is perfectly safe to swim and snorkel around the Gilis you should never try to swim to the next island, it is much further than it looks and the currents in the middle of the channel can be very strong even for the best of swimmers.

Are there hawkers on the island?
No, the aggressive hawkers you may have had experiences with in Bali are not allowed onto the island. However on your way to the Gilis you will possibly come via Bangsal harbour. The hawkers there will try to sell you everything from cigarettes to return tickets, telling you that these are not available on the islands. Everything they offer is available on the island and probably cheaper.

Are there police on the island?
Most of the time there are no police on Trawangan, however the local population have put together an equivalent organization called SATGAS. They answer to the Kepala Desa (Head of the Village) so if, for example, you lose anything they'll be your best chance for finding it. There office is located just behind the harbour.

What else can I do other than diving?
Apart from the tourist attractions like temples and waterfalls, and the usual beach activities like sunbathing and snorkeling, you can go fishing, horse riding, water skiing, wakeboarding, yoga classes, free diving courses, and there is a surf break to the south of the island for the experienced surfer. If any of you are golfers there is a fantastic 18 hole course 10 minutes away in the speed boat. It's not a cheap day out when compared to everything else in Indonesia, but good value for western standards: transport, green fee, clubs, buggy, caddy, lunch and drinks will cost you about $100.

The price is subject to change. Please  contact us for more information.