Snorkelling with turtles on Gili Air

Where

Green and hawksbill turtles graze the seagrass beds off the eastern and northern shores, and the reef starts close enough to the sand that you do not need a boat to reach it. From the beach in front of the village you can often reach the seagrass in a few minutes of easy swimming, no fins required if you are a confident swimmer.

The drop-off further out has the coral and the bigger fish life, but the seagrass beds closer in are where the turtles actually spend their mornings feeding.

When

Early morning, ideally before the wind picks up and before the day-trip boats arrive from the other islands and stir up the water. Conditions are best April to October, in line with the calmer dry-season seas covered in our best time to visit guide. Slack tide is usually best of all; ask at reception which hour that falls on during your stay, since it shifts daily.

What you will actually see

Mostly green turtles, grazing slowly and largely indifferent to snorkellers who keep a sensible distance, alongside hawksbills that tend to be more easily spooked. Expect coral fish around the seagrass fringe too — this is not a single-species outing, just one where the turtles are the reliable part.

How to behave around them

Keep three metres back at all times. Never touch, never chase, and never block a turtle's route to the surface — they are air-breathing reptiles, not fish, and need a clear path up.

Reef-safe sunscreen only, or better, a rash vest instead of sunscreen entirely — it is one of the things we ask of every guest, in the water and on the reef generally.

Fins stir up sediment and can break coral if you are not paying attention to your depth. Stay horizontal in the water and off the bottom, even in the shallow seagrass sections.

If you want a boat

A half-day boat trip by traditional boat takes you to two or three sites depending on the tide, including the coral gardens and the underwater statues off Meno, with mask, fins and a guide included. We can arrange it with a day's notice through reception or via WhatsApp.

What to bring

A rash vest or reef-safe sunscreen, a mask that actually fits your face if you own one, and nothing valuable you would mind losing in open water. Towels are provided if you book the boat trip; for the beach entry, bring your own from the room.

Written by the team at The KOHO Air Hotel, a boutique wellness retreat five minutes’ walk from Gili Air harbour. We answer these questions by message most days — just ask.

Common questions