Manta Dive

Located directly opposite the port of Gili Trawangan, Manta Dive has been a fixture of the local diving community since 1999. The centre has evolved from its PADI roots to become a premier SSI Diamond Rated facility and an official Instructor Training Facility. This status reflects a long-standing commitment to high safety standards and professional training.

The centre serves as a comprehensive base for both holiday divers and professionals. Whether you are looking to complete your first Open Water Diver certification or are pursuing a Divemaster or Instructor course, the facility is designed to support every stage of a diver's progression. Its proximity to the harbour makes it an easy access point for those arriving by fast boat from Bali.

The team consists of 10 professional instructors, ensuring a high level of expertise across various disciplines. Training is conducted with a maximum ratio of four divers per guide, allowing for the personalised attention required for both recreational and technical courses. The staff is multilingual, with instruction available in both English and French.

Beyond recreational diving, the centre is a significant training hub. It hosts dedicated programmes for children, including Scuba Explorer and snorkelling and freediving courses. For those looking to advance their careers, the facility offers a full suite of professional development, from Divemaster training to the complete Instructor Training Course (ITC).

The training catalogue is extensive, covering the full spectrum of SSI certifications. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or the Scuba Diver course, progressing through to Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver. Specialities such as Nitrox Diver, Deep Diver, and Wreck Diving are also available to tailor your experience.

For more advanced divers, the centre has an established technical diving department. This includes specialized training and courses designed for those moving beyond recreational limits. Professional training is a core pillar of the facility, offering the Divemaster course and the full Instructor Training Course (ITC).

The centre operates a fleet of three traditional Indonesian outrigger boats. These vessels are used for daily excursions to the surrounding dive sites, most of which are reachable within 20 minutes.

During the trips, the boats provide water and snacks for the divers. The fleet is well-suited for the local conditions, providing a reliable platform for both reef explorations and drift dives across the Gili Islands.

Manta Dive offers full equipment hire for divers who prefer not to travel with their own kit. This includes all the necessary components for a complete dive rig.

The centre is also equipped to support divers looking to extend their bottom time, with Nitrox available on-site. For those staying at the adjacent resort, the facilities include a 20-metre swimming pool, which is useful for skill practice or buoyancy checks.

The reefs around the Gili Islands are teeming with diverse marine life. You will regularly encounter large schools of fish, including snappers, trevallies, and tuna. Pelagic sightings are common, with reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, and whitetip reef sharks patrolling the walls and pinnacles.

Macro life is a significant draw for many divers. The sites are home to a variety of invertebrates and small creatures, including octopuses, crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. You can find nudibranchs, seahorses, and various species of scorpionfish amongst the coral formations.

In the coral gardens and on the reef slopes, look for hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), green turtles (Chelonia mydas), and various species of sea anemone fish. The hard and soft coral structures provide a home for many species, such as butterflyfish, angelfish, and parrotfish, alongside garden eels and various types of rays, including eagle rays (Aetobatus) and blue-spotted rays.

Diving is possible year-round in this region. While many sites are suited to all levels, conditions can vary depending on the location and the time of year.

Some sites, such as Deep Turbo and Shark Point, are known for having stronger currents. Many of the daily excursions involve drift diving, so being comfortable with moving water is beneficial. The local swell can also affect the ease of access to certain reef tops.