Frequently Asked Questions

Is there Malaria on the Gili Trawangan?

No, despite what you may have heard there is no malaria on Gili Trawangan. Some areas in Lombok (20 minutes by boat)  however are known to have it. If you have to take anti malarial medication don't use Larium, as in about 50% of cases it produces unpleasant side effects when combined with diving.
 

How long are the courses and can I add extra weeks?

• The Open Water course to Divemaster course you attend if you do not have any prior experienec (OW to DM). This course takes 8 weeks.
• The Advanced Open Water to Divemaster course you can attend if you are already an Open Water diver (AOW to DM). This course takes 6 weeks.
• The Rescue to Divemaster course you can do when you are already an Advanced Open Water diver (rescue to DM). This course takes 5 weeks.

You can add on an extre weeks to built up your CV. You will be 'working' as a Divemaster at our diveschool so you can built up experience which will halp you getting a job as a Divemaster in the future.

Do I have to bring much cash?

On the island Visa/Mastercard, Travellers cheques, and almost any foreign currency are accepted in the western run restaurants.  There is also an ATM/cash point machine on the island, however it does not accept all cards and it runs out of cash quite regularly so bring some rupiah as a back up. You can change money at the local money changers and even get cash on credit cards but the exchange rates will not be in your favour and commissions will be charged. We go to Lombok for shopping once a week and at the same time get cash from ATM's for our customers when the machines on the island do not work.
 

Is Gili Trawangan safe?

There are no cars, motorbikes, in fact no motorized transport on Trewangan,so no traffic accident will happen. Everything is very close together so there's no chance of getting lost. The locals are also very friendly and always keep an eye out, so finding staying safe will not be a problem. However just line in every country there is the hazard of getting drunk and feeling unwell. Take it easy as you will always dive the next day. The current of the sea around the Gili’s is very strong so skinny dipping after dark is also not a good idea.
 

Can we swim to the other Gilis?

While it is perfectly safe to swim and snorkel around the Gilis you should never try to swim to the next island, it is much further than it looks and the currents in the middle of the channel can be very strong even for the best of swimmers.
 

Are there street sellers on the island?

No, the aggressive hawkers you may have had experiences with in Bali are not allowed onto the island. However on your way to the Gilis you will possibly come via Bangsal harbour. The hawkers there will try to sell you everything from cigarettes to return tickets, telling you that these are not available on the islands. Everything they offer is available on the island and probably cheaper.
 

Are there police on the island?

There are no police on Trawangan, however the local population have put together an equivalent organization called SATGAS. They answer to the Kepala Desa (Head of the Village) so if, for example, you lose anything they'll be your best chance for finding it. There office is located just behind the harbour.
 

What else can I do other than diving?

Apart from the tourist attractions like temples and waterfalls, and the usual beach activities like sunbathing and snorkeling, you can go fishing, horse riding, water skiing, wakeboarding, and there is a surf break to the south of the island for the experienced surfer. If any of you are golfers there is a fantastic 18 hole course 10 minutes away in the speed boat. It's not a cheap day out when compared to everything else in Indonesia, but good value for western standards: transport, green fee, clubs, buggy, caddy, lunch and drinks will cost you about $100. The best thing to do on your day of is chilling as this is the island for it!
 

Visas

The Visa required will depend on the length of stay planned. Visa on arrival (30-days US$25) You automatically get 30-days on arrival when you enter into the country. You will need to pay for this at the airport, and it is best to bring US$ notes dated from the year 2000 onwards for the payment. Most airport immigration offices will not accept credit cards, so be prepared with the cash.

Once your first 30-days runs out you can visit the Immigration office in Lombok and apply for an additional 30-days for around $50. This involves one day spent in Lombok and a lot of Indonesia paperwork, so can be a day wasted if you are on a tight schedule! If you know you want to be here for longer than one month, then it is best to come prepared with a 60-day tourist visa.

Tourist Visa (60-days, cost depends on the Embassy where visa application is processed) For anyone planning to be here for up to 2 months, a 60-day tourist visa is definitely the easiest way to go. These visas need to be pre-arranged and collected from an embassy outside of the country before entering into Indonesia. The time taken to process the visa is usually 3 working days, and the cost will depend on which embassy you are using.

Insurance

Good diving insurance is a must! You will need to arrange this yourselves, however we recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) as they work in partnership with the Hyperbaric Chamber in Bali. If you choose not to use DAN, please be sure to read the small print of your insurance documents. Look out for a limited number of dives during a specified time and also if you need to be diving with an Instructor for all dives. Here you will have the opportunity to go fun diving as a buddy pair without an Instructor, so it is important that you choose an insurance that will cover you for this.