Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on August 27, 2023
The three tiny Gili Islands, fringed by turquoise waters and coral reefs, are among the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia, and certainly one of the best snorkeling area in Southeast Asia. The crystal-clear waters of these paradisiacal islands, where turtle-watching is the star attraction, practically guarantee exceptional snorkeling experiences. Sandwiched between Gili Air and Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, only a mile long, is the smallest and less developed island of the archipelago.
There are dozens of speedboat and ferry services to get to Gili Meno. Most of them are from Lombok (Bangsal) and Bali (via Gili Trawangan). Inter-island boat transfers are also available, from/to Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. Contact the various companies for up-to-date information.
You can enter the water anywhere along the sandy beach. You can snorkel almost all the way around Gili Meno, continually surrounded by coral reefs. We particularly recommend the area on the map above, known for the richness of its marine life, the regular presence of two species of sea turtles, as well as famous underwater sculptures.
The area to explore covers a 164 to 218 yards-wide area between the beach and the reef drop-off. At this point, when starting from the beach, you will cross a few dozen yards of sandy areas and seagrass (↕2-6ft/0.5-2m), then a sea bed covered with coral (↕6-10ft/2-3m) as far as the reef drop-off (↕+20ft/6m).
The sea turtles are hard to miss on this spot. Two species, the green sea turtle and the hawksbill sea turtle, are mostly seen in the coastal waters of the island, sometimes just 5 to 10 yards from the beach. They feed on the sea grass, but you can also meet them on the coral areas along the drop-off, especially at high tide.
In Gili Meno, like on the two other Gili islands, the turtles have been long used to human presence and can be easily approached and observed. Avoid disturbing them, as they come to the area to feed and rest: don’t chase after turtles, don’t touch them, and leave them enough room between you and the turtles when they come up to the surface to breathe.
While snorkeling with sea turtles is the star attraction on the island, the other richness of the site should not be overlooked. Along a strip of ten or so yards along the reef drop-off, the spectacle is at its finest!
Soft and hard corals, even if some areas are suffering from human presence, covers the seabed. Snorkel along the reef and at various points you will come across shoals of surgeonfish, sunburst butterflyfish, groups of sea goldies, or even (if you are lucky), ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in their sea anemone.
Some 100 yards from the shore, snorkelers can also spot the “Nest”, 48 life-size human sculptures, formed in a circle, created by the artist Jason deCaires Taylor (check map above for exact location).
The reefs here were damaged in the past and are slowly regaining their former glory. Don’t touch the coral and be careful not to break it with your swim fins. Watch out for boats that frequently come and go on this site when you are exploring the drop-off area.
On Gili Meno, you’ll find countless beachside hotels, bungalows, cafés, bars and restaurants.
Sea turtles (both green and hawksbill) are a familiar sight in the Gili Islands. In order to be a responsible snorkeler, be sure to respect the following rules when observing them:
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
