The snorkelling and diving around the islands is some of the best and most accessible in Lombok and, despite a lot of visitors, the reefs remain in reasonable condition. All the islands are fringed by coral reefs and visibility is generally around 15m. The fish life here is the main attraction and includes white-tip and black-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, Napoleon wrasse and bumphead parrotfish. There are good snorkelling spots just off the beaches of all the islands but most of the best dive sites involve short boat trips. Away from the shore, the currents are treacherous, so be careful.

There are dive operations on all the islands, with most based on Gili Trawangan. Expect to pay around US$45-55 for a two-dive trip, PADI Open Water courses hover either side of US$300. You'll need to check whether the price you are quoted includes equipment rental. The nearest hospital is in Mataram and the nearest decompression chamber is in Denpasar on Bali.