Turtle Heaven (Gili Meno)

Overview: The Green Turtle Sanctuary of Southeast Asia

Situated off the north-east coast of Gili Meno, Turtle Heaven is globally celebrated as having the highest concentration of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Indonesia.

The site is defined by a colossal submerged coral seamount whose apex sits at 10 metres, gently sloping down to a white sand seabed at 18m to 20m.

Detailed Dive Route & The Cleaning Pinnacle

• Descent: Roll in from the local Indonesian outrigger boat (perahu) into calm, clear turquoise water (28°C–30°C). Descend directly to the main seamount at 10m.
• The Cleaning Bommie (10m–14m): At the top of the pinnacle, massive green turtles and hawksbills rest motionless inside coral hollows while cleaner wrasse, damselfish, and surgeonfish clean their shells and flippers. It is completely routine to count 10 to 15 sea turtles on a single 50-minute dive.
• The Sandy Perimeter (15m–18m): Cruising around the base of the seamount over the white sand, look for blue-spotted ribbon-tail rays, garden eels, and white-tip reef sharks sleeping under table corals.
• Ascent & Safety Stop: Ascend slowly around the pinnacle to 5m, conducting your safety stop while watching turtles swim to the surface for breath.

Diver Etiquette & Conservation Rules

• Never Touch or Ride: Green turtles are strictly protected under Indonesian conservation law. Touching strips their protective shell coating and causes acute stress.
• Never Block Surface Breathing: If a turtle begins swimming upwards to breathe, give it at least 3 metres of clearance.
• Certification Level: Open Water (18m). Minimal current makes this the premier checkout dive for beginner courses on Gili Trawangan and Gili Air.

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 18m)

• NDL Discipline: At depths of 18m, 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.