Sunset Reef, Gili Trawangan: Whitetip Sharks Everywhere

Austin Tuwiner
PADI Divemaster · 500+ dives · 20 countries & states
November 6, 2026
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I dove Sunset Reef in July 2026 with Trawangan Dive, by boat out of Gili Trawangan, Indonesia.

Sunset Reef is a quieter reef dive, sparser on fish and coral than the other sites I've hit around Gili Trawangan.

I dove Sunset Reef in July 2026 with Trawangan Dive, by boat out of Gili Trawangan.

Dive Log · Gili Trawangan, Indonesia · July 2026

Sunset Reef

Dive Score3.5 / 5
Dive Data from my Garmin Descent MK3i
Max Depth
72ft / 22m
Avg Depth
42ft / 13m
Dive Time
95min
Water Temp
82.4°F / 28°C
Visibility
80ft / 24.4m
Entry
Boat
Recommended Certification
Advanced Open Water
Why it scored 3.5#13 of 13 I've dived in Indonesia
My take: A quieter reef with fewer fish and less coral than the other Gili sites. Warm, no current and good visibility, so it's an easy dive.
My satisfaction3/5
Marine life3/5
Reef or wreck3/5
Conditions4/5
Crowds4/5
Getting there3/5
My 6 ratings above, plus visibility, water temp, cost, season and ease from the dive data. 5 = calm, uncrowded and easy to reach. How the Dive Score works
Reef Indonesia Coordinates: 📍 -8.364229, 116.031049

The Dive

Boat dive out of Gili Trawangan, dropping us at Sunset Reef for a 95-minute dive down to 72ft (22 m)
Boat dive out of Gili Trawangan, dropping us at Sunset Reef for a 95-minute dive down to 72ft (22 m).
Reef ledge dropping away into deep blue water, Sunset Reef, Gili Trawangan
Came across more lively patches of coral, Sunset Reef, Gili Trawangan
Came across more lively patches of coral.
Colorful algae?, Sunset Reef, Gili Trawangan
Colorful algae?
Wonder what these are, Sunset Reef, Gili Trawangan
Wonder what these are.

No current the whole time. I wore a 3mm shorty and stayed warm in the 82.4°F (28°C) water.

Sunset Reef wasn't my favorite reef dive out of the sites I've done here. It felt emptier than the others, with fewer fish around, and the coral looked like a different mix than what I've seen on Gili Trawangan's other reefs.

What Marine Life I Saw

Turtle swimming over the reef in clear blue water, Sunset Reef, Gili Trawangan

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Two to three white tip reef sharks on this dive, Sunset Reef, Gili Trawangan
Two to three white tip reef sharks on this dive.
Large anemone with anemonefish sheltering among its tentacles, Sunset Reef, Gili Trawangan

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Close view of an anemone's tentacles with the reef dropping away behind, Sunset Reef, Gili Trawangan

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Reef top fading into blue with a shark in the distance, Sunset Reef, Gili Trawangan
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Conditions & Logistics

Boat & Logistics

Trawangan Dive runs this as a boat dive out of Gili Trawangan, Sunset Reef
Trawangan Dive runs this as a boat dive out of Gili Trawangan.

Conditions

Visibility on my dive was around 80ft (24 m), no current. Water temp was 82.4°F (28°C), warm enough that a 3mm shorty was plenty
Visibility on my dive was around 80ft (24 m), no current. Water temp was 82.4°F (28°C), warm enough that a 3mm shorty was plenty.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Austin Tuwiner

Hey I'm Austin, a PADI Divemaster based in South Florida .

I initially got certified at 16 at a scuba camp in Kona, Hawaii, did my Advanced Open Water on Koh Tao, my deep and nitrox on Gili Trawangan, and my Rescue and Divemaster in Miami.

Since then I've logged 500+ dives across 20 countries and states. I write about the gear I dive with, the sites I've dived, and the trips I've taken.

Hear Austin's Story

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