SSI ITC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Blog Posts
SSI ITC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Blog Posts
Another Major Advantage of Becoming an SSI Instructor: More Instructor Ratings from Day One Choosing to become a scuba diving instructor is not only about passion for the ocean, teaching skills, or lifestyle freedom. It is also a professional business decision. How many courses you …
A New Chapter Starts on 13 February On the 13th of February, Oceans 5 Gili Air will officially start a new chapter in its long history of professional dive education: the first SSI Instructor Training Course (ITC). After more than a decade as a leading …
Just off the northwest coast of Lombok lies a small cluster of islands that feels like a different world altogether: the Gili Islands. For many travelers, the Gilis represent what they imagine a tropical island holiday should be—white-sand beaches, turquoise water, coral reefs close to shore, and a lifestyle that moves at its own gentle pace.
The Gili Islands consist of three islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air. Each island has its own character, atmosphere, and rhythm. While all three share the same marine park, the same reef system, and similar dive sites, the experience on land can feel very different.
Among the three, Gili Air stands out as a rare balance: lively enough to offer great restaurants, dive centers, and activities—but calm enough to still feel like a real island community rather than a tourist playground.
For many travelers, a holiday in Indonesia starts with Bali. Bali is beautiful, culturally rich, and full of unforgettable experiences. But Bali is also busy. Traffic jams are common, distances are longer than expected, and daily life often involves navigating cars, scooters, taxis, and crowded streets.
Gili Air offers a completely different reality.
There are no cars, no taxis, and no motorbikes on Gili Air. You don’t wake up to traffic noise or spend time stuck in congestion. Instead, people walk, cycle, or use bicycles to get around. Occasionally you’ll see a traditional horse cart, locally known as a cidomo, transporting goods or luggage. Children play on the roads, neighbors greet each other as they pass, and when it’s time for prayer, locals walk calmly to the mosque in the center of the island.
This absence of traffic creates something rare: mental quiet. On Gili Air, distances feel short, days feel longer, and stress fades quickly. Compared to Bali’s fast pace, Gili Air feels like a deep exhale.
Within the Gili Islands themselves, the biggest contrast is between Gili Air and Gili Trawangan.
Gili Trawangan—often called “Gili T”—is the most developed and busiest of the three islands. It is known for its nightlife, beach parties, late-night bars, and larger crowds. For some travelers, that energy is exactly what they are looking for.
Gili Air, on the other hand, is a calmer and more relaxed version of island life. There are beach bars, cocktail spots, and sunset lounges, but there are no nightclubs, no all-inclusive resorts, and no mass tourism complexes. Evenings on Gili Air are about barefoot dinners on the sand, quiet conversations, live acoustic music, and watching the sun disappear behind Bali’s volcanoes.
It’s an island that suits:
One of the most special aspects of Gili Air is that it is not just a tourist island. In the center of the island lies a local village where around 1,800 local residents live year-round. This village is not hidden away—it is part of everyday island life.
The main road and the island road that circles Gili Air are lined with small resorts, guesthouses, cafés, restaurants, beach bars, and boutiques. Walk a little inland, and you’ll find local homes, schools, small shops, and community spaces. The result is an island where tourism and local life exist side by side, not separated.
This balance gives Gili Air its warm and welcoming atmosphere. Visitors are not just passing through; they are sharing space with a living, breathing community.
One common misconception is that staying on Gili Air means missing out on the “best” dive sites. In reality, all dive centers across the Gili Islands access the same marine park and the same dive sites.
Whether you dive from Gili Air or Gili Trawangan, you will explore the same reefs, the same coral gardens, and the same underwater landscapes. The difference is not underwater—it’s above water, before and after the dive.
Dive centers like Oceans 5 Gili Air regularly dive all around the islands, including sites often associated with Gili Trawangan. Boats travel easily between islands, making location less important than dive philosophy, group size, and teaching quality.
This means you can enjoy:
And still return to the calm, green, and peaceful atmosphere of Gili Air after every dive.
The waters surrounding Gili Air are famous for their clarity. On calm days, visibility can be exceptional, making snorkeling directly from the beach a daily activity rather than a planned excursion.
Turtles are frequently spotted close to shore, coral reefs start in shallow water, and the gentle conditions make the island ideal for:
The ocean is not something you “travel to” on Gili Air—it’s always just a few steps away.
Although Gili Air is famous for diving and snorkeling, life on the island offers much more than time underwater.
Visitors can enjoy:
For those who want a bigger adventure, Gili Air is also the perfect base for day trips to Lombok, including excursions to the majestic Mount Rinjani. From waterfalls and rice fields to hiking and cultural tours, Lombok adds depth to a Gili Air stay without overwhelming it.
Gili Air is not about ticking off attractions or filling every hour with activity. It’s about slowing down, reconnecting with nature, and enjoying simple pleasures.
Mornings start with barefoot walks on the beach. Afternoons drift by between swims, books, and cold drinks. Evenings end with sunsets, shared meals, and soft conversations under the stars.
There is no pressure to rush. No traffic to beat. No schedule to follow unless you want one.
Gili Air is ideal for people who:
It is not an island for nightclubs, loud parties, or all-inclusive resorts. And that is exactly why so many people fall in love with it.
The Gili Islands offer something rare in today’s world: a choice. You can choose energy or calm, crowds or space, speed or stillness.
Gili Air represents the gentle side of island life—a place where tourism has not erased community, where diving remains easy and accessible, and where relaxation feels natural rather than forced.
For travelers who want crystal-clear water, world-class diving, warm local culture, and a slower pace of life, Gili Air is not just an alternative to Bali or Gili Trawangan—it is often the place they didn’t know they were looking for, until they arrived.
Oceans 5 Gili Air Maybe you have already heard some rumors.Maybe you noticed subtle changes on our website, on social media, or around the dive resort itself.Or maybe you are reading this as a returning guest, a future student, or simply someone who cares about …
Running Together Across the Gili Islands On the 13th of December, something special happened in the heart of the Gili Matra Marine Park. Before most of the islands were awake, 86 runners—a mix of local residents and international participants—gathered with one shared goal: to take part in the Tri-Isla-Thon, a …
Oceans 5 Gili Air has always believed that a dive centre should be more than a business operating on an island. From the very beginning, Oceans 5 has taken the position that respect from the local community is not something you demand—it is something you earn. And that respect is not earned by paying salaries alone or providing a boarding room for staff. It is earned by giving something back that goes beyond the direct needs of the business and contributes to the long-term well-being of the island, its people, their knowledge, and their future.
In 2025, Oceans 5 Gili Air continued and expanded this philosophy with concrete actions that directly benefited the local community, Indonesian dive professionals, students, and the marine environment of the Gili Islands.
One of the most impactful initiatives in 2025 was the launch of a free Divemaster internship program for Indonesian citizens. This was not a discounted program, a sponsorship tied to work contracts, or a marketing exercise—it was a fully free professional training opportunity.
Eight Indonesian candidates signed up for this program, and by the end of the year, all eight successfully became certified PADI Divemasters. This achievement alone already sets the program apart, but the impact goes much further.
After certification, the new Divemasters were free to choose their own path. Some found employment in Komodo, others in Raja Ampat, and some decided to stay and work at Oceans 5 Gili Air. As qualified dive professionals, they now earn a significantly higher income than before, allowing them to support their families and start saving for their next professional step: becoming dive instructors.
For many Indonesian families, this kind of career progression has a real, long-term economic impact. Becoming a dive instructor does not just improve personal income—it often changes the financial stability of an entire family.
In 2025, Oceans 5 Gili Air also supported eight Indonesian university students through a marine research internship program. Over two academic semesters, these students conducted regular data collection around the Gili Islands as part of their research projects.
The students came from the University of Mataram, University of Lampung, and University of Malang, and worked closely with Oceans 5 staff during fieldwork. Many of these students are now close to graduating as marine scientists, and Oceans 5 hopes they will find careers in marine conservation, research, and environmental management.
In 2026, this program will be expanded to twelve students, further increasing its impact.
The reason Oceans 5 supports this program is simple but important:
Long-term, consistent research by local researchers produces more reliable data.
When the same researchers collect data over extended periods, patterns become clearer and conclusions become stronger. This data is used by universities and government institutions to make decisions about environmental regulations and marine park management.
Just as importantly, the knowledge stays in Indonesia. The skills of collecting, interpreting, and applying scientific data do not leave the country with foreign researchers. They remain with Indonesian students who understand the local environment, culture, and challenges.
Oceans 5 Gili Air is proud to be one of only five official partners of the Gili Matra Marine Park, working together with BKKPN Kupang. This partnership is not symbolic—it is active and ongoing.
Throughout 2025, Oceans 5 supported BKKPN with reef surveys, monitoring programs, and hands-on action such as removing algae blooms from coral patches. These algae outbreaks are a serious threat to coral health, fish populations, and turtles.
Without a healthy marine ecosystem, the marine park will decline. And without a healthy marine park, tourism will decline. That directly affects every business and every family on the island.
Marine protection is not an abstract idea—it is directly connected to jobs, income, and the future of Gili Air.
Not everyone growing up on Gili Air gets the chance to experience the marine park the way tourists do. Many local children have never snorkeled or dived on the reefs that made the Gili Islands famous.
That is why in 2025, Oceans 5 Gili Air organized introduction dives for 20 local children. Under the supervision of experienced instructors, these kids entered the ocean and saw what lies just below the surface:
crystal-clear water, sea turtles, Nemo, Dory, and healthy coral reefs.
This experience creates understanding. The children now know why tourists come, why the marine park matters, and why it must be protected. Conservation starts with awareness, and awareness starts with experience.
Since 2010, Oceans 5 Gili Air has organized weekly beach cleanups in the harbor area—the place where tourists arrive and depart.
First impressions matter. If visitors step onto an island covered in rubbish, that impression is difficult to change. A dirty harbor affects tourism, reputation, and pride in the island.
These cleanups have continued consistently for over 15 years, including throughout 2025. They are not sponsored events or seasonal campaigns—they are simply part of Oceans 5’s responsibility toward the island.
To make all these efforts visible, Oceans 5 Gili Air created a Conservation Exhibition Center on its premises. While the center is still under development, visitors can already see what Oceans 5 and its partners are doing for Gili Air.
The exhibition is designed for tourists, students, and locals who want to understand how diving, conservation, education, and community support are connected. It is a place for transparency, learning, and inspiration.
In 2026, Oceans 5 Gili Air will continue this work:
Community involvement is not a marketing strategy for Oceans 5—it is a responsibility. A business that depends on an island must also protect it, support its people, and invest in its future.
That is how respect is earned.
A New Chapter for Oceans 5 Gili Air: Change, Growth, and the Same Heartbeat If you’ve seen our recent social media posts, heard whispers around the island, or caught a few rumors online, you might already know: after 15 incredible years, Oceans 5 Gili Air is …
Divemaster Internship Program for Indonesian Citizens 2025: Empowering Local Talent at Oceans 5 Gili Air For more than 15 years, Oceans 5 Gili Air has stood not only as a dive centre dedicated to high-quality training but also as a place deeply rooted in the …
Family holidays often come with a familiar challenge: What can we do that is fun, meaningful, and unforgettable for the kids? While many families turn to beach games, snorkeling trips, or island activities, there is one option that stands far above the rest—scuba diving. Not only is it exciting and adventurous, but it is also one of the most educational and empowering experiences a child can have.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we see every week how scuba diving transforms young people. Children grow in confidence, they discover a deeper understanding of the natural world, and they return from dives with stories that light up their faces. And the best part? Kids can start their Open Water Diver certification from just 10 years old, giving them access to a sport that can stay with them for life.
Below, we explore why scuba diving is such a great sport for kids—and why their first breaths underwater may just be the highlight of your holiday.
Many parents are surprised to learn that scuba diving is not just for adults. Recreational diving agencies allow children to join the full Open Water Diver Course from the age of 10. This is not a “watered-down” version of the adult course—it’s the actual certification, adapted with kid-friendly equipment, teaching methods, and safety ratios.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we run Open Water Courses every day, and we have specially sized equipment designed for younger divers. Small BCDs, shorter wetsuits, lightweight tanks, and masks that fit children’s faces make the experience comfortable and fun. Our instructors who teach children are selected specifically because they love working with young divers and know how to keep the program safe, relaxed, and enjoyable.
The result? Children don’t just learn to dive—they do it confidently and safely from the very first day.
Diving is one of the most complete learning experiences for kids. Over the course of 3–4 days, they develop:
Kids learn why pressure affects the body, how buoyancy works, how to communicate underwater, and what equipment does. For many young divers, it is the first time they see science not as a classroom lesson but as something practical, fascinating, and useful.
From assembling equipment to controlling buoyancy, diving requires fine motor skills, balance, focus, and body awareness. Kids learn to move underwater in a controlled, graceful way—something that helps them in all areas of life, from swimming and sports to concentration at school.
Every dive includes exercises: clearing a mask, recovering a regulator, staying neutrally buoyant. These tasks teach kids to stay calm, follow steps, and solve challenges safely. Many parents tell us later that these skills show in their children’s behaviour long after the holiday ends.
One of the most powerful gifts diving gives children is a real, personal understanding of the natural world.
Underwater, kids see ecosystems in action—corals feeding, turtles resting, fish hiding, cleaner wrasses helping larger fish. It’s the first time many children realize how delicate and interconnected everything is. No textbook or documentary can compare to the moment a child sees a reef alive with colour and movement.
And from that moment, something changes.
Kids begin to ask questions:
Why is this coral broken? Why is there plastic in the ocean? Why is this fish scared?
These questions guide them naturally toward environmental awareness. During the Open Water course, instructors explain how reefs grow, why we don’t touch marine life, how buoyancy protects the reef, and why keeping our oceans clean matters.
This is not just a diving lesson—it is a life lesson that shapes how kids think about their world.
Becoming a diver comes with responsibility—and children take that very seriously. They learn:
Parents often tell us that their children become more disciplined and mature after the course. Diving requires focus and respect for the environment, and kids naturally rise to the level expected of them.
They also develop a unique relationship with the ocean. When a child sees what lies beneath the surface, they instantly become more protective of it. They understand why we avoid stepping on corals, why we reduce plastic, and why small actions matter. That sense of responsibility stays with them forever.
One of the beautiful side effects of kids learning to dive is that they talk about it. A lot.
Kids love telling others about:
In this way, young divers become messengers. They share their excitement, and with it, they spread awareness. Many of our young divers return home and inspire their classmates to recycle, use less plastic, or learn about the ocean. Some even give school presentations using their underwater photos.
Diving doesn’t just teach kids—it empowers them to teach others.
The Open Water Course is more than a class. It is a social event where kids meet:
In this positive environment, kids quickly learn to interact with strangers, work with a buddy, cooperate during skills, and celebrate their achievements with others.
For shy children, diving can be transformative. Many of them become more confident and comfortable speaking to new people. For outgoing children, diving gives them a group to connect with—friends from all over the world.
Whether they are sharing stories, practicing skills, or looking at fish ID books together, the social side of diving is one of the best parts of the experience.
One of the greatest benefits of getting certified young is that the Open Water certification never expires. Even if a kid completes the course at 10 years old, they will be certified forever.
Of course, if they haven’t been diving for a while, we recommend a refresher—but the certification itself stays valid.
This means your child can:
It opens the door to a lifetime of adventure—both recreationally and professionally.
Some of our instructors at Oceans 5 started diving when they were kids themselves. Their passion began with a single Open Water course, just like the one your child might take during your holiday.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we create the ideal environment for young divers:
Families arriving on any date can start within 24 hours.
Small tanks, children’s masks, small BCDs, and lighter gear to make everything comfortable.
Not every instructor is suited to teaching children. We choose instructors who are patient, fun, gentle, and safety-focused.
The Gili Islands offer calm conditions, good visibility, shallow reefs, and plenty of marine life—perfect for kids.
We teach in small groups, without rushing, and always at the pace of the child.
From assembling equipment to making their first descent, kids gain confidence every step of the way.
If you’re on holiday and wondering what you can do for your kids that is meaningful, exciting, and unforgettable, scuba diving might be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s not just a sport—it’s a complete learning experience that shapes how children see the world.
Scuba diving helps kids:
And with a certification that lasts for life, the adventure doesn’t end when the holiday ends—it is just beginning.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we are ready every day to guide young divers on this journey. With kid-specialized equipment, calm dive sites, and instructors who love teaching children, we ensure the experience is safe, joyful, and unforgettable.
Give your children the gift of discovery beneath the surface—and watch how it changes them forever.
