Simon's Reef

Simon’s Reef is an offshore pinnacle system located between Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan, rising from the seabed in a cluster of roughly eight separate spires arranged in a loose figure-eight pattern. The pinnacle tops begin at 14 metres and the base of the structures descends to approximately 30–35 metres. The site is exposed to open-water conditions and tidal current; we plan dives here around the slack tide to provide the best combination of conditions and marine-life activity.

The underwater topography at Simon’s Reef is what makes it exceptional. Large canyons and swim-throughs run between the pinnacles, with walls draped in enormous barrel sponges, oversized gorgonian sea fans, and dense soft coral colonies. The scale is impressive — the barrel sponges here are among the largest in the Gili area, some wide enough for a diver to fit inside. These provide cleaning stations and shelter for a range of fish, and the fans are worth checking for pygmy seahorses.

Big animals are the headline draw. Whitetip reef sharks patrol the deeper sections of the structure consistently, and schools of trevally and bigeye jacks accumulate in the water column above the pinnacle crests. Barracuda hang in loose schools at mid-depth, and schools of fusiliers sweep over the tops of the spires in pulses. Stingrays rest in the sandy gaps between the pinnacles, and the overhangs and crevices throughout the structure shelter moray eels, scorpionfish, and sweetlips.

Despite being classed as advanced, Simon’s Reef has an accessible upper section that experienced Open Water divers can enjoy on calm, slack-tide days. The richer parts of the dive are in the 20–30 metre range where the canyon walls are most impressive and shark activity is greatest.

Diver tips: Plan the dive for within 30 minutes of slack tide — the site can have unpredictable current during tidal flow, and the figure-eight layout means current can accelerate between the pinnacles. Enter on the up-current side and work your way through the canyons methodically. Hovering in the water column above the pinnacle tops during the mid-dive is worth the air — this is where the schooling fish are most visible. Surface with a minimum of 50 bar and deploy your SMB early given the site’s location between island traffic lanes.