Shark Point

Overview: Gili Trawangan’s Premier Deep Drift

Located off the north-west coast of Gili Trawangan, Shark Point is the largest and most ecologically diverse dive site in the Gili Islands.

The topography consists of a series of stepped underwater ridges and canyons that drop from a shallow 5m reef flat to stepped plateaus at 15m, 24m, and 32m, eventually dropping off into the Lombok Strait.

Detailed Dive Route

1. The Deep Canyons (24m–30m) · Advanced Divers

• Drop in on a negative entry and descend to the deepest canyon at 28m–30m.
• This is where black-tip and white-tip reef sharks cruise in the current or rest on the sandy canyon bottoms.
• Keep your eyes on the open blue: schooling giant trevally, barracuda, and mobula rays frequently pass through the deep channel.

2. The Mid Plateau & Wreck Point (15m–22m)

• Ascend along the second ridge to the 18m plateau.
• Inspect the remains of the “Bounty Wreck” (a sunken steel floating pontoon) covered in soft corals and home to schools of batfish, scorpionfish, and banded sea kraits.

3. The Shallow Turtle Reef (6m–12m)

• Drift with the current south-east onto the upper coral garden, finishing the dive surrounded by grazing green sea turtles and clownfish.

Currents & Safety Briefing

• Current: Moderate to strong (1.5–2.5 knots) running north-to-south. This is an active drift dive—divers must deploy an SMB and surface together as a group.
• Certification: Open Water (18m) can dive the upper plateau; Advanced Open Water (30m) required for the shark canyons.

Technical Dive Profile & Navigation

1. Entry & Descent Mechanics

• Descent Method: Direct giant-stride or negative back-roll from the boat, descending along the shot line to prevent surface drift.
• Ear Equalization: Equalize continuously every 1 metre during the descent phase to prevent sinus or middle-ear barotrauma.
• Compass Heading & Navigation: Set a primary heading toward the main reef structure. Maintain buddy contact within 2 metres throughout the descent.

2. Deep Section & Gas Management (14m to 30m)

• NDL Discipline: At depths of 30m, your No-Decompression Limit ticks down rapidly. Monitor your dive computer continuously.
• The Craig Rule: Divers certified to Open Water level (18m maximum) must stay on the upper reef shelf and never follow advanced divers down past 18m.
• Turnaround Gas: Signal your buddy and start your ascent when the first diver reaches 110 bar (or one-third of usable cylinder capacity).

3. Ascent & 5m Safety Stop

• Ascent Rate: Ascend along the reef wall at a controlled rate not exceeding 9 metres per minute.
• Mandatory Safety Stop: Complete a strict 3-to-5-minute safety stop at 5 metres (15 feet) before deploying an SMB and surfacing with a 360-degree overhead scan.

Marine Life & Habitat Zones (Biologically Verified)

• Apex & Pelagic Predators: Reef Manta Rays (Mobula alfredi), Dogtooth Tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor), Giant Trevally (Caranx ignobilis).
• Reef Fish & Keystone Species: Bumphead Parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum), Clown Triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum), Oriental Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus).
• Macro Biodiversity & Benthic Invertebrates: Pygmy Seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti), Blue-Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata), Robust Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus).
• Elasmobranchs & Marine Reptiles: High-Density Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill Turtles, Whitetip Reef Sharks (Triaenodon obesus), Blacktip Reef Sharks.