Sunshine Dive

Located on Gili Trawangan, Sunshine Dive is a PADI 5 Star IDC centre serving the Gili Islands, Indonesia. The centre has been established since 2015 and provides a gateway to some of the most diverse reef systems in the region, from shallow coral gardens to deeper pinacles.

The islands themselves are unique, being entirely free of cars and motorcycles. You will navigate the local area on foot, by bicycle, or via the traditional cidomo, making the atmosphere around the dive centre distinctively relaxed.

The instructional team consists of six experienced instructors, some of whom bring professional background from major diving hubs like Cairns, Australia, and Koh Tao, Thailand. This international experience informs their approach to both training and guided fun dives.

As a 5 Star IDC centre, they are equipped to take divers through the full professional progression, including Divemaster and Instructor Development Courses. While the team is highly international, they offer courses in Korean for those who require it.

Environmental stewardship is a core part of their identity. The team actively participates in monthly underwater clean-up operations to help maintain the health of the local reefs and the surrounding marine environment.

The course catalogue is extensive, covering every level of the PADI system. Beginners can start with Open Water Diver, while more experienced divers can progress through Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver.

Specialty training is a significant part of the centre's offering, with courses including Nitrox, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Night Diver. For those looking to refine their skills, Peak Performance Buoyancy and Fish Identification are also available.

Professional training is conducted on-site through the Instructor Development Course (IDC), allowing students to work towards their Divemaster and Instructor certifications within the same facility.

The centre provides full equipment hire for divers, though you will need to provide your own dive computer for fun dives. For those who prefer to use their own kit, discounts are available if you bring your own complete set, excluding cylinders and weights.

Nitrox is available on-site for divers looking to extend their bottom time or manage nitrogen loading more effectively. For those needing a quick technical addition, dive computers can be hired on a daily basis.

The reefs are famous for their abundance of sea turtles, with Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) being a frequent sight in the shallower areas. You will also encounter various sharks, including Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus), blacktip reef sharks, and reef sharks (Carcharhinus) patrolling the deeper sections.

Large schools of fish are a constant presence, including various snappers (Lutjanus), Jack (Carangidae), and fusiliers. You can also spot unicornfish (Naso), damselfish (Chromis chromis), and various species of angelfish (Pomacanthidae) amongst the coral structures.

For those interested in macro life, the sites offer plenty of opportunities to find pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) in the gorgonians. Look closely for garden eels (Gorgasia), reef octopus, cuttlefish (Sepiidae), and various species of shrimp and lobster.

The reef architecture itself is vibrant, featuring extensive colonies of hard and soft corals, gorgonians, and sponges that provide habitat for many of the resident species, such as the reef octopus and various species of triggerfish.

Diving in the Gili Islands can involve varying conditions depending on the site. Some locations, such as Halik and Secret Reef, are known for moderate to strong currents, making them suitable for drift diving.

Other sites, like Shallow Turbo or Han's Reef, offer much calmer conditions with low currents, which are ideal for those working on buoyancy or completing initial certifications.