Next Level Scuba

Located on the shores of Gili Air, Next Level Scuba serves as a gateway to one of Indonesia's most famous marine ecosystems. The centre is positioned just a ten-minute walk from the local port, with all dive sites reached within 20 minutes by boat.

Managed by a team from Sweden and Finland, the centre operates year-round, providing a consistent schedule of three daily departures. Whether you are looking to complete your first certification or are a professional diver seeking a Divemaster course, the environment is designed for focused, personalised learning.

The team consists of professional instructors and divemasters who maintain a strict ratio of no more than four divers per guide. This ensures that every member of your buddy pair receives close attention, which is particularly beneficial during technical training or for those working through their initial certifications.

Instruction is available in English and French, making the centre a practical choice for international divers. The staff's multilingual capabilities extend to the educational materials provided throughout your courses, ensuring clarity during both theory and practical sessions.

The centre is affiliated with both PADI and SSI, offering a comprehensive curriculum that spans from Discover Scuba Diving and the Open Water Diver course through to professional levels. For those looking to advance their skills, they offer Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster programmes.

Specialty training is also available to refine specific techniques or expand your underwater profile. This includes the Nitrox Diver certification, Deep Diver, Navigation, Buoyancy, and Wreck Diver courses. For those interested in non-scuba disciplines, the centre also provides Freediving Level 1 and introductory Freediving sessions.

The centre operates daily departures at 9 am, 11.30 am, and 2 pm. All dive sites are located a short distance away, ensuring you spend more time in the water and less time commuting. Night dives are also a regular part of the schedule, allowing you to experience the reef under different conditions.

Next Level Scuba provides a full range of rental kit, including regulators, BCDs, and wetsuits, with equipment maintained to a high standard. For those who prefer to use their own gear, the centre is well-equipped to handle personal equipment needs.

To make the logistics of your day easier, the centre follows a policy where divers are not required to carry their own cylinders. This service is a significant advantage when transitioning from the shore to the boat, especially for those carrying heavier kit.

The reefs are home to a vast array of large marine life. You will regularly encounter green and hawksbill turtles, as well as various reef sharks, including blacktip reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks. Larger pelagics such as tuna, barracuda, and jacks are also frequently seen patrolling the deeper sections of the sites.

For those interested in macro life, the area is exceptional. You can find many interesting species including nudibranchs, seahorses, frogfish, and various types of octopus and cuttlefish. The sandy patches and reef flats also host garden eels, porcelain crabs, and shrimps.

Fixed life is abundant across the various habitats. The corals include a mix of hard and soft varieties, with large gorgonians and colourful sponges providing structure for the ecosystem. You will also see anemones, sea stars, and various species of coral, including table corals.

During the rainy season, the presence of plankton attracts larger animals. This is the best time to look for eagle rays and manta rays, as well as the occasional whale shark.

The diving environment is generally calm, with the centre monitoring local conditions and adjusting dive sites if necessary. While currents can be present and occasionally strong on specific sites, most dives are conducted in relatively stable water.

Surface conditions are typically calm, making for easy boat entries and exits. The centre's proximity to the sites ensures that even when conditions change, the transit time remains minimal.