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Gili Trawangan dive jobs & life guide
High course volume, tight budgets, and a tourist-island pace. The Gilis are where instructors earn their reps.
Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
Gili Trawangan at a glance
- Pay range
- $500–1,800/mo
- Cost of living
- $600–950/mo
- Savings potential
- Break-even to $700/mo
- Visa
- Sponsored KITAS
- Location
- Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
- Hiring season
- Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
- Dive focus
- Training + fun diving
- Agencies
- PADI, SSI +1
- Languages
- English, French +1
- Water temp
- 27–30°C
What is diving in Gili Trawangan like?
Gili Trawangan sits in the Lombok Strait with calm, warm water, 27–30°C year-round, and visibility that holds above 15m outside of rainy season. Reef sites are minutes from the beach: Shark Point, Coral Garden, and Halik run from sandy slopes up to coral walls with turtles on nearly every dive. The north of the island has productive macro sites; the west side offers gentle drifts. Conditions favour training and fun diving over challenging guided work.
What is life like working in Gili Trawangan?
At work
Instructors and DMs typically run 2–4 dives per day, split between pool or OW course sessions in the morning and fun dives or DSDs in the afternoon. Shops are small, most operating 4–10 staff. Gear moves by handcart to fibreglass boats that run a few minutes offshore. Tank fills, admin, and student briefings fill the gaps between dives. Long days, tight teams, and a repetitive rotation. Expect to know your sites, your gear, and your students well within the first week.
After work
Everything on Gili T is reachable by bicycle. The main strip runs along the east coast with cafes, beach bars, and warungs from north to south. Evenings are social: sunset drinks at the strip, night markets, occasional live music. Days off mean island-hopping to Gili Air or Gili Meno for a change of pace, or freediving off the north coast. It is a small island, which means everyone in the dive industry eventually knows everyone. Some find that community invaluable. Others find it claustrophobic. There is no private retreat once you live here.
How much do dive instructors get paid in Gili Trawangan?
| Role | Monthly pay (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Divemaster | $500–900/month | Accommodation and commission vary by centre |
| OW Instructor | $700–1,300/month | Accommodation often included; commission peaks in dry season |
| Senior / IDC staff | $1,300–1,800/month | Varies by centre and tenure |
Realistic savings potential: Break-even to $700/mo after rent and daily costs.
Cost of living in Gili Trawangan
| Beer (bar) | $3 |
|---|---|
| SIM card /month | $10 |
| Shared rent /month | $220 |
| Transport /month | $71 |
| Local meal | $4 |
| Coffee | $1 |
Prices verified August 2026. Sourced from working dive professionals on the ground.
What visa do you need to work in
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