PADI IDC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Blog Posts
PADI IDC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Blog Posts
Oceans 5’s Weekly Harbor Cleanups and a Growing Culture of Conservation For many people, the Gili Islands bring to mind turquoise water, coral reefs alive with colour, and sunsets that paint the horizon in gold. What visitors often don’t see is the dedication and effort …
Fun Diving Around the Gili Islands: More Than a Training Ground When divers talk about Indonesia, their minds often jump to places like Komodo, Raja Ampat, or Lembeh. Yet, sitting quietly between Lombok and Bali lies a diver’s paradise that is as underestimated as it …
Many people who visit the Gili Islands are unaware that they are entering one of Indonesia’s most important marine parks. Gili Air, together with Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan, is located within the Gili Matra Marine Park, officially designated by the Indonesian government as one of the country’s top ten marine conservation areas. Over the past decade, and especially since 2021, regulations governing marine parks like Gili Matra have become stricter. These rules are designed to protect coral reefs, marine life, and coastal ecosystems that are vital to both biodiversity and tourism.
Among the local stakeholders operating inside this protected area, Oceans 5 Gili Air has played an active and consistent role in supporting the marine park’s goals. Their involvement spans government partnerships, conservation initiatives, citizen science efforts, waste management support, and public education. This article provides an informational overview of how Oceans 5 contributes to the protection and management of the Gili Matra Marine Park.
The Gili Matra Marine Park is managed under the authority of BKKPN Kupang (Balai Kawasan Konservasi Perairan Nasional), Indonesia’s National Marine Conservation Area Agency. In recent years, BKKPN Kupang has strengthened enforcement of environmental regulations across marine parks, including:
While many tourists see the Gili Islands simply as a diving and holiday destination, the area is legally a protected marine ecosystem with conservation rules that apply to businesses and visitors alike.
In 2022, Oceans 5 Gili Air became the first foreign investment company in Indonesia to receive a conservation permit, known as a SIUPKK (Surat Izin Usaha Pengelolaan Kawasan Konservasi). This addition to their business license formalized their status as an official partner of BKKPN Kupang.
Other dive centers on the Gili Islands have since followed the example, but only five of them currently maintain an active partnership with BKKPN for the 2025–2026 period. These selected businesses are expected to:
Oceans 5’s conservation licensing reflects a long-term recognition of their involvement rather than a symbolic addition. Their partnership includes ongoing collaboration with monitoring and reporting programs.
One of the most basic forms of support for the marine park is the collection of marine park fees from visitors. These fees are required for all divers and snorkelers, and they contribute to park management, enforcement, and conservation activities.
While not all businesses have consistently complied with this requirement, Oceans 5 Gili Air has been collecting and processing marine park fees for over seven years. This consistency ensures that funds reach the agencies responsible for protecting the marine area. It also normalizes the idea among visitors that their activities come with responsibilities toward the environment they are enjoying.
Marine conservation on small islands is not limited to the sea. Waste that accumulates on the beaches can easily enter the water, especially during rainy or windy seasons. Since 2010, Oceans 5 has integrated cleanup activities into its operational culture.
Every Friday at 17:00, the dive center organizes a beach cleanup open to anyone on the island. Oceans 5 provides:
These weekly cleanups enable both visitors and locals to contribute directly to protecting the coastline. The initiative is self-funded and has run without sponsorship or donation dependence.
Beyond beach litter, marine debris accumulates underwater, particularly in high-traffic areas like the harbor of Gili Air. Dumping from boats, mismanaged waste, and storm runoff can lead to plastic, metal, and other materials settling on the seabed.
Unlike the weekly beach cleanup, reef cleanups in the harbor are organized as needed, based on conditions and volunteer availability. These dives are typically more logistically demanding, requiring:
Interested divers can inquire at Oceans 5 to join upcoming reef cleanup dives. Although less frequent than beach cleanups, these underwater efforts play a crucial role in preventing long-term damage to seagrass beds, coral patches, and marine habitats in the harbor zone.
A key part of long-term marine conservation is fostering the next generation of marine scientists. Oceans 5 Gili Air has established partnerships with three universities in Indonesia:
Through these partnerships, students receive practical field experience and support for their research projects. Oceans 5 provides:
Each semester, eight students join the program to conduct data collection around the Gili Islands. Starting in the coming years, the capacity will increase to 20 students per semester. The students and their universities select research topics, which often relate to coral health, biodiversity, and ecosystem monitoring.
This collaboration fills an important gap in accessible marine field research opportunities in Indonesia while contributing valuable data to conservation bodies.
The University of Mataram also participates in Global FinPrint, a worldwide research initiative that uses Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) to monitor shark and ray populations. These species are key indicators of reef health.
Oceans 5 supports this partnership by:
Since reef predators typically face pressure from tourism, overfishing, and habitat degradation, the data collected through these projects is essential for assessing ecosystem dynamics in the Gili Matra Marine Park.
Waste management is one of the biggest environmental challenges on small islands. Oceans 5 supports Gili Cares, a local company working to reduce and manage rubbish on Gili Air.
Their collaboration includes:
Gili Cares focuses on improving waste systems and recycling practices, and Oceans 5 contributes through logistics, manpower, and promotion. These collaborations help build a cleaner and more responsible waste framework for the island.
In addition to working with universities and local waste initiatives, Oceans 5 collaborates with Marine Conservation Indonesia, an organization led by Indonesian marine scientists. Instead of routing conservation program revenue to international operators, this partnership ensures that funds from conservation-focused activities support the local community and locally driven research.
Marine Conservation Indonesia develops conservation programs such as coral monitoring, reef rehabilitation, and awareness workshops. Oceans 5 helps facilitate access, logistics, and outreach, supporting local ownership of conservation efforts.
Recognizing the need for public awareness and transparency, Oceans 5 is developing a Conservation Information Centre on Gili Air. The aim of this project is to provide a space where:
The information centre is intended to serve both visitors and the local community by highlighting why conservation is necessary and what actions are being taken. It is designed to foster collaboration and improve the visibility of environmental efforts that are often unnoticed by tourists and businesses.
While the Gili Matra Marine Park is governed by national regulation, effective conservation depends on local actors who implement, monitor, and normalize environmental practices. Oceans 5 Gili Air is one of the businesses that has adopted this role beyond minimum compliance.
Their efforts span multiple areas:
These activities demonstrate a model of engagement where tourism businesses contribute actively to the protection of the ecosystems that sustain them.
With increasing pressure on marine environments due to tourism, development, and climate change, the role of local operators is becoming more critical. The conservation permit system and formal partnerships with BKKPN Kupang indicate a shift toward accountability.
Oceans 5 Gili Air’s initiatives reflect both compliance with government requirements and voluntary contributions that extend beyond them. As the marine park strengthens regulations, and as visitor numbers continue to demand resources, businesses that engage in conservation efforts will play an increasingly important role in safeguarding Gili Matra.
For tourists, students, researchers, and policymakers, understanding what happens behind the scenes is essential. In the case of Gili Air, Oceans 5 provides a practical example of how a dive center can integrate environmental responsibility into daily operations and long-term planning within a marine protected area.
Oceans 5’s Latest Beach Cleanup When you step onto the sandy shores of Gili Air, the first thing you notice is the island’s calm atmosphere and turquoise water stretching out toward Lombok’s towering mountains. But behind this postcard-perfect view lies a continuous battle to keep …
Choosing the Right Dive Center on Gili Air When it comes to scuba diving around the Gili Islands, Gili Air stands out as a favorite destination for divers from all over the world. This small, charming island offers an impressive variety of dive centers to …
When people think about learning to dive, one of the first questions that comes up is: “Which certification is better—PADI, SSI, RAID, NAUI, CMAS, NOB?” It’s an understandable question. Each dive organization has its own logo, course materials, and system of rules. But here’s the truth: the quality of your scuba course doesn’t depend on the name of the organization on your certification card. It depends on your dive instructor.
Dive organizations create the framework. They write the manuals, establish the standards, and define the progression of courses. They provide the path—from beginner to professional—and ensure a baseline of safety and quality across the world.
But having a well-written standard on paper is one thing. Ensuring that it’s applied with care, patience, and professionalism is another. That’s where your instructor comes in.
Your experience underwater will be shaped by the person standing in front of you in the classroom, beside you in the pool, and guiding you in the ocean. A good instructor:
No matter what organization’s name is on the card, it’s the instructor who determines how much you learn and how safe you feel.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we believe quality outweighs quantity every single time. Our instructors are carefully chosen, not just for their teaching ability but for their dedication to diving as a long-term profession.
We’re proud that so many of our students find us because they were recommended by friends, family, or fellow divers. People don’t come here because of the letters printed on the card; they come because they’ve heard about the quality of instruction and the confidence our divers feel after training with us.
So the next time you’re asking yourself whether you should choose PADI, SSI, RAID, or any other organization, remember this: your certification agency provides the system, but your instructor provides the experience. At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we don’t chase numbers—we focus on creating confident, safe, and happy divers. And that, more than any organization’s name, is what truly matters.
A Philosophy Rooted in Conservation and Community Since opening its doors in 2010, Oceans 5 Gili Air has embraced a philosophy that goes far beyond teaching scuba diving. From the very beginning, conservation and community have been at the heart of its operations. Oceans 5 …
Giving Back to Gili Air Gili Air is more than just a tropical paradise for divers and holidaymakers—it’s a small, close-knit island where the environment, the community, and local businesses are deeply connected. Life here depends on a delicate balance: the health of the ocean …
This week, a massive beach cleanup took place at the harbor of Gili Air, organized by Oceans 5 Gili Air’s very own divemaster, Zain. With the wind picking up in the afternoons and the swell carrying more and more rubbish to the shore, the timing could not have been better. The cleanup drew a large crowd of enthusiastic volunteers—tourists, locals, and dive professionals—who rolled up their sleeves and got to work along the stretch of beach right in front of the dive center.
Their combined efforts paid off. In just one afternoon, the team managed to collect an incredible 65 kilograms of rubbish. Plastic bags, bottles, packaging materials, fishing lines, and countless smaller items were removed from the coastline—items that would otherwise pollute the marine park and harm the fragile ecosystems that make the Gili Islands such a special place to visit.
During this season, the Gili Islands are facing a recurring challenge: the ocean brings in more debris than usual due to strong afternoon winds and increased swell. As a result, the otherwise pristine beaches can quickly become lined with floating plastic, tangled fishing nets, and waste carried from nearby islands or even distant lands.
These conditions make beach cleanups a necessity—not just for aesthetic reasons but also for the health of marine life and the local community. Tourists travel from all over the world to experience the white sand beaches and vibrant reefs of Gili Air. Maintaining a clean environment isn’t just a matter of pride—it’s a duty for everyone who lives on or visits the island.
Oceans 5 Gili Air has been organizing beach cleanups since 2010, making them one of the longest-standing conservation contributors on the island. What makes their efforts unique is that they are entirely self-funded. There’s no support from NGOs or external donations—just a dive center that believes in doing the right thing.
Every cleanup is organized with simple tools: gloves, rubbish bags, tongs, and a positive attitude. After each cleanup, Oceans 5 rewards volunteers with cold drinks and a warm smile, thanking them for their support in protecting the coastline and keeping the Gili Islands clean and inviting.
If you love the Gili Islands and want to support their conservation, there are a few simple things you can do:
Oceans 5 Gili Air isn’t just a dive shop—it’s a community hub for conservation and sustainability. Their beach cleanups are not isolated events, but part of a bigger effort to inspire responsible tourism and long-term environmental protection. Whether you live on the island or are visiting for just a few days, you can be part of the solution.
As the sun sets over the harbor, the freshly cleaned beach is a powerful symbol: that even with 65 kilograms of rubbish removed, there is still much more to do. But with people like Zain, the Oceans 5 team, and the incredible volunteers who showed up this week, there’s every reason to believe that the Gili Islands will continue to shine.
See you next week at 17:00 at Oceans 5 Gili Air. Let’s keep our island clean—together.
From Divemaster to Dive Instructor After 20 days of dedication, growth, and hard work, Jo, Dania, Nata, and Filippo have officially become PADI Instructors. Their journey at Oceans 5 Gili Air started with passion and ambition, and it ended with the successful completion of the …