Blue Marine Dive Resort — Hotel in Gili Air

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I did my Advanced Open Water Course with Boni – and once again, it was an absolutely perfect experience from start to finish! After doing my Open Water on Gili Meno, I already loved diving, but this course with Boni on Gili Air took it to another level. From the very first dive, I felt completely safe and well taken care of. Boni has a great way of combining professionalism with a relaxed and friendly attitude. Every briefing was super easy to follow – we discussed all the required skills for the Advanced Open Water course beforehand, and underwater he always kept an eye on me, making sure I felt comfortable and completed all the exercises. What made it even more special is that Boni is such an incredibly positive and cheerful person – the kind of energy that truly inspires you. The way he approaches life and starts each day with enthusiasm is something you can really take with you. He’s genuinely passionate about what he does, and you can see how much he enjoys finding and showing even the smallest animals underwater.

The dives themselves were simply incredible – from deep dives with amazing visibility to shallow dives full of corals and fish. My absolute favorite dive was at Shark Point. There we not only saw a wreck but also sharks in their natural environment. I absolutely loved that spot – it’s the perfect combination of a deep dive (30 meters) to explore the wreck, followed by spending the remaining air in shallower waters (14–18 meters) to enjoy the coral, fish, and everything else around.

After finishing the course, I also did two fun dives – I just wish I had had more time before leaving! The two instructors I dove with were also super kind and professional. I had a lovely chat with Ilak during the whole boat ride, and when we dove as a group of four, he always made sure everyone was doing well and took his time whenever we stopped to admire marine life – even though he probably sees those animals every day. He pointed out animals that a less experienced diver might have missed, which made the dives even more special. The last dive on Gili Air was also fantastic; the instructor, Dania, was just as enthusiastic, searching for octopuses and other underwater animals with genuine excitement. We had such a beautiful final dive together at Harlik Reef!

Just like on Gili Meno, the whole Blue Marlin Dive School team on Gili Air was absolutely wonderful. Everyone is extremely friendly, helpful, and easygoing – you instantly feel welcome. And honestly, what would we do without the amazing crew who make sure all the equipment gets onto the boat and who take such good care of us as we enter and exit the water?

Between dives, it’s a super nice place to relax and chat with other divers, crew members, and instructors. The organization was also super easy and uncomplicated – the flexibility of the team made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

All in all, the course with Boni and the Blue Marlin Dive School on Gili Air was an unforgettable experience. I learned so much, had a lot of fun, and felt completely safe and supported the whole time. A huge thank you to Boni and the entire Blue Marlin team – you’re all...

Gili Air and Blue Marine Dive Resort was a fantastic experience for our family of four. We had several nice dives, saw turtles, sharks and a plethora of fish. Since we are diving with kids 10 and 16 we are always very concerned about security. We never felt unsafe on any of the dives, and our dive guide Dedi was fantastic. Especially our 10 yr. old loved him. ||||The Bungalows were great, and the cleaning every morning was immaculate. When we had an issue it was quickly taken care of. ||||On the sadder side, the breakfast and general maintenance of the diving center lacked proper management and enthusiasm. It would have been better not to have served breakfast at all. The kitchen was only a bar and the food was not well prepared. For example cleaning of tables that were so grimed with dirt that we hardly wanted to eat of them. Even the dishes were not clean. And they (the management) lets the cats sitt on the tables the guests eat from, without cleaning them first. This is not ok! ||||We also had some issues with the dive equipment. Both the adults got faulty BCD and masks when first given equipment. It was quickly taken care of. They are building a new room for the dive equipment but that is no excuse to slack in this important aspect of running a dive school. ||||We know that the Gilis has had some hard times and that it will take some time to get back on their feet. We didn't feel they were quite ready to receive guests at the resort, and this is a management issue. But all things considered, we had a great time, we hope things will go...

Highly recommend this scuba shop! Got my advanced open water certificate here and had a great experience. My primary instructor Jasmin was awesome — very kind, patient, and knowledgeable. When I was nervous at the start, she helped me feel comfortable and safe. And she helped me refresh my skills so I could build the needed confidence and experience to be an advanced OW PADI diver.

And I also had a dive with Sherin, another wonderful instructor! Kind, sweet, and very knowledgeable on advanced scuba topics such as fish identification for the local reefs 🐠

In addition to the instructors, the whole support staff at Blue Marine is so friendly and accommodating. From the boat captains to the staff who helped transport my equipment and provide me with coffee and popcorn, everyone was so kind and welcoming from the very start!

Last, the location just can’t be beat. Steps away from the ocean with a gorgeous coral reef right nearby, on the east side of Gili Air!

Thank you so much Blue Marine for such a wonderful scuba experience — terima kasih from the bottom...