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Person snorkeling over colorful coral reef in crystal clear ocean waters. Underwater exploration and marine life interaction.
📷 John Cahil Rom · Pexels

Snorkelling reef

3.6 — based on 21 community signals
4.1 12 species 15 contributors

Snorkelling Reef near Gili Layar offers year-round reef exploration in Indonesia's protected marine areas, with active community monitoring and documented marine life.

⭐ Best for intermediate divers.

🐢 MPA · Taman Wisata Perairan Gili Tan… updated 4 months ago
Shore entryFamily-friendlyMPABleachingRisk
+1 more
PhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

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Map

This spot Operators POIs Airport Nearby spots
Snorkelling reef location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
6.5 kn
Wave
1.22 m
Water
27.6°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: ESE (45%)
Now: ESE (120°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.26m

Next: High at 01:00 (+0.95m)

+1.0 m0 m-0.2 m
▲ 01:00 · +0.95m ▼ 09:00 · +0.02m ▲ 15:00 · +0.21m ▼ 17:00 · +0.17m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV9.05 · very high Air PM2.510 · good 06:07 18:12
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 11.3 1.28 9 1mm
09-20 9.4 1.58 9 0mm
09-21 8.3 1.66 9 0mm
09-22 9 1.46 9 0mm
09-23 8.1 1.4 9 0mm
09-24 7.9 1.32 9 7mm
09-25 6.9 1.26 9 5mm
⚠ Coral bleaching: Watch — favorable conditions
DHW: 2.5°C-weeks · NOAA Coral Reef Watch

About this spot

Snorkelling Reef sits within the Taman Wisata Perairan marine protected area in West Lombok Regency, Indonesia, near Gili Layar island. The site is part of a network that includes Gili Tangkong, Gili Nanggu, and Gili Sudak, all managed to preserve local coral and fish populations. Year-round access means you can plan your trip around your schedule rather than waiting for seasonal windows. The reef falls within an actively monitored conservation zone. Coral bleaching is currently on watch status—a sign that local management is tracking reef health closely. This matters because it means the site has oversight and the community cares about long-term conditions. Community divers have logged 12 species observations and contributed 3 videos, giving you a sense of what to expect before you arrive. Specific depth, visibility, and water temperature data aren't documented here, so contact local operators or check recent trip reports for current conditions. The reef's protected status makes it worth the visit if you value diving in zones with active marine stewardship. Exact difficulty ratings also aren't recorded, but snorkelling-focused sites typically suit mixed experience levels.

📖 Guide: Diving in Indonesia: 323 Sites, Mantas to Micro-critters

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dive types

ReefShore

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type C/F · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 12575km · ~2892kg · €52

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 54/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 12h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 12h east · 8 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to visit Snorkelling Reef?

Year-round access is available, so you can visit whenever suits your schedule. No strong seasonal restrictions are documented, though local operators can advise on weather and sea conditions during your preferred dates.

What depth and difficulty should I expect?

Specific depth and difficulty ratings aren't recorded for this site. Contact local dive shops or check recent community reports for current conditions and suitability for your experience level.

What marine life will I see?

Twelve species observations have been logged by divers at this site. Community videos document what's been spotted. Check those videos and recent trip reports for the most current sightings.

Do I need permits or special access?

Snorkelling Reef is located within the Taman Wisata Perairan marine protected area. Local operators are familiar with any entry requirements or fees. Book through established dive shops in West Lombok for current access details.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

The High Dive Gili Gede

3 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

64 records · 34 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Eunicidae

polychaete worms
Polychaeta · Eunicidae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Dec 2004
×5records

Perinereis

Polychaeta · Nereididae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Dec 2004
×5records

Perinereis nuntia

Polychaeta · Nereididae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Dec 2004
×4records

Capitellidae

polychaete worms
Polychaeta · Capitellidae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Dec 2004
×2records

Composetia

Polychaeta · Nereididae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Dec 2004
×2records

Paraonidae

polychaete worms
Polychaeta · Paraonidae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Dec 2004
×1records

Scolelepis (Scolelepis) bifida

Polychaeta · Spionidae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Dec 2004
×1records

Ceratonereis

Polychaeta · Nereididae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Dec 2004
×1records

Timarete

Polychaeta · Cirratulidae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Dec 2004
×1records

Perinereis helleri

Polychaeta · Nereididae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Dec 2004
×1records

Abyssoninoe

Polychaeta · Lumbrineridae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Dec 2004
×1records

Perinereis variodentata

Polychaeta · Nereididae
OBIS
Last seen:
9 Dec 2004
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Coral Reefs of Amed | A Hidden Gem For Divers | Bali | Indonesia | 4K HDR | 2024

Diver's Lens
💬 3 top comments
  • Unsurpassed festival of color and species. Superb film in HDR, with the careful selection of music and editing to which we are accustomed. High Dynamic Range underwater cinematography like very few people can offer. It is a privilege that you share your images and your films. Congratulations!❤

    @JUANMONTEREY · 👍 3
  • ❤ your videos are amazing ! Thank you for sharing the beauty of the ocean and for inspiring us

    @Antafromabove · 👍 1
  • Thanks you for keeping earth 🙏👍

    @MadeSudiana-b1c · 👍 1

INDONESIA'S SECRET PARADISE: World's Best Diving!

Back 2 Basics Adventures
💬 3 top comments
  • Bring on the next 6 weeks! Yeww :)

    @strickandfran · 👍 45
  • It's great that Indonesia has kept this area natural and unfished, I'm glad somebody in the world cares enough to look after our beautiful earth.

    @dianapurdy7755 · 👍 30
  • Brilliant video, easily some of the best underwater footage you've ever given us. Thanks so much!

    @davidmonk4949 · 👍 29

Featured House Reef: Alami Alor, Indonesia

Snorkel Venture
💬 3 top comments
  • Beautiful work as always, Alex!

    @danielwilson3671 · 👍 0
  • Belas imagens 👌

    @robsonsantana599 · 👍 0
  • Nice video. How would you compare Alor and R4?

    @asiadreamvideo8744 · 👍 0
wind peaks Jul-Aug-Sep, calmest Mar-Apr-Nov, dry Apr-Oct.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)

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