Deep Turbo

Deep Turbo sits on the north-eastern side of Gili Trawangan and is one of the most spectacular deep dive sites in the region. The site is built around an impressive series of coral pinnacles, gorges, ridges, and sea mounds rising from a sandy bottom, with the mounds beginning at around 22 m and providing structure all the way to 35 m. Several overhangs and small caves carved into the pinnacles provide shelter for a wide variety of marine life. The sandy bottom between the mounds is covered in dense fields of garden eels — a mesmerising sight from above — while the structures themselves support some of the largest gorgonian sea fans in the Gili Islands.

Huge schools of bumphead parrotfish frequently patrol the site, often in groups of 30–50, creating a dramatic soundscape as they bite at the coral. Blacktip reef sharks patrol the outer edge, while leopard sharks are occasionally spotted resting on the sandy bottom. Batfish hover in open water above the pinnacles, and barracuda form loose schools just inside the current. Smaller wonders reward close attention: pygmy seahorses grip the gorgonian fans with their prehensile tails, and nudibranchs in striking colour combinations browse the encrusting sponges on the mound surfaces. Sea turtles are regular visitors throughout.

Current at Deep Turbo varies from moderate to strong and is the primary driver of the site’s exceptional marine life. Visibility commonly reaches 20–30 m in the dry season. Advanced certification is required — the combination of depth, current, and complex topography demands solid buoyancy skills.

Diver tips: Nitrox is highly recommended given the typical bottom depth of 25–30 m. Spend the first part of the dive at depth on the pinnacles and ascend to the 15–18 m range for an extended safety stop surrounded by the fish life that congregates at the top of the structures. Wide-angle photography works beautifully here — the scale of the pinnacles and the open-water schooling fish create compelling compositions. Check the garden eel fields on your ascent: they retract instantly as you approach, so move slowly and keep your profile horizontal.