SSI ITC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Blog Posts
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 …
Supporting the Gili Matra Marine Park 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 …
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 the island’s environment clean and thriving. Oceans 5 Gili Air has been at the forefront of this effort since opening its doors in 2010, organizing weekly beach cleanups that have become an integral part of the dive center’s philosophy—not a marketing gimmick, but a way of life.
This past week, Oceans 5’s divemaster candidates led another successful cleanup, collecting 18 kilograms of rubbish from the harbor area. The effort may seem small compared to the challenges facing marine parks worldwide, but on an island as compact as Gili Air, every piece of plastic removed from the beach is a victory for the environment.
When Oceans 5 was founded, its mission extended beyond teaching people to dive. The team wanted to foster respect for the ocean and ensure that future generations could enjoy the reefs of the Gili Matra Marine Park. Weekly cleanups were established right from the start.
Unlike some initiatives that appear only when it’s convenient for marketing campaigns, Oceans 5 has kept these events running consistently—week after week, year after year. The team never saw cleanups as a tool to attract tourists but rather as a community responsibility. And over the years, this steady commitment has earned respect from locals, volunteers, and divers worldwide.
At Oceans 5, beach cleanups aren’t just another optional activity. They’re woven into the divemaster course itself. Divemaster candidates are tasked with organizing the cleanup: promoting the event, preparing the gloves and bags, leading volunteers to the cleanup site, and ensuring the collected rubbish is sorted and weighed.
This hands-on approach turns a simple cleanup into an educational experience. Candidates learn what kinds of trash are most common on the island, think critically about where it comes from, and consider how human behavior can be changed to prevent it in the first place. It’s a powerful lesson that goes beyond diving skills—transforming future dive professionals into ambassadors for the ocean.
As one candidate recently put it:
“I knew pollution was a problem before coming here, but until you spend an hour filling bag after bag with flip-flops, cigarette butts, and food wrappers, you don’t realize just how much impact even a small group can make in such a short time.”
While Oceans 5 continues to lead by example, the island also faces a growing challenge: development that prioritizes profit over sustainability. Over the past decade, Gili Air has seen a construction boom, with villas, restaurants, and beach bars popping up to meet the increasing demand for tourism.
Unfortunately, not all of these projects follow environmental regulations. Some investors build permanent sea walls that alter natural currents and accelerate beach erosion. Others install fixed structures too close to the waterline, damaging turtle nesting grounds and reducing beach space. Water management systems are often overlooked, leading to flooding during the rainy season.
These short-term decisions might generate quick returns for investors, but they come at a cost for the island’s long-term health. Oceans 5’s beach cleanups often collect waste originating from construction activities—cement bags, plastic wrapping, and discarded building materials. The message is clear: without proper planning and accountability, Gili Air’s natural beauty could be compromised for future generations.
One of the more frustrating aspects of organizing weekly cleanups is the lack of participation from other foreign-owned businesses on the island. Oceans 5 cleans up the main harbor area—exactly where tourists arrive. Every dive shop, hotel, and restaurant benefits from a clean beach and a welcoming first impression, yet very few contribute manpower or resources.
Even when Oceans 5 advertises the cleanups on social media and island promotion pages, foreign investors rarely show up. “Maybe they are too busy counting money,” one local joked after last week’s event. It’s a telling comment. Community engagement is a two-way street, and protecting Gili Air’s environment requires collaboration, not just the efforts of a single dive center.
Despite the challenges, the latest cleanup was a success. Divemaster candidates, volunteers, and staff collected a total of 18 kilograms of trash. Most of it consisted of plastic packaging, fishing lines, cigarette butts, and discarded flip-flops—items that could easily end up in the ocean and threaten marine life if left on the beach.
At the end of the cleanup, everyone gathered for a small social moment. Volunteers were rewarded with a free drink, and the team shared stories about what they found and how the waste might have ended up there. This social aspect is just as important as the cleanup itself—it builds a sense of community and reminds everyone why they are fighting to protect Gili Air.
Oceans 5 doesn’t stop with one event. Next week, they are hosting a special Conservation Weekend.
The only requirement to join the reef cleanup is that participants must be Advanced Open Water certified, as some sites involve deeper dives. For both events, Oceans 5 provides all the necessary equipment, including gloves and rubbish bags.
This proactive approach turns conservation into an engaging, hands-on experience for locals and tourists alike. It shows that protecting the island can be fun, social, and deeply rewarding.
Beach cleanups might seem like a small step, but they have ripple effects across the island’s ecosystem. Clean beaches mean healthier reefs, safer nesting sites for sea turtles, and a better experience for the thousands of tourists who visit Gili Air each year.
Furthermore, these events raise awareness. Tourists who participate often return home inspired to make changes in their daily lives—reducing plastic use, supporting sustainable businesses, and educating others about the importance of conservation.
Oceans 5 Gili Air’s commitment to weekly cleanups sets a powerful example for other businesses. It proves that environmental responsibility and tourism can go hand in hand. By investing just one hour per week, the dive center has kept its corner of the island clean for more than a decade.
The challenge now is to inspire other businesses to follow suit. Imagine the impact if every hotel, restaurant, and dive shop organized its own cleanup or contributed volunteers to a shared initiative. Gili Air could become a model for sustainable island tourism in Indonesia.
If you are on Gili Air and want to participate, you are welcome to join the next event.
For more information or to register:
📱 WhatsApp: +62 853 3339 7823
📧 Email: [email protected]
Bags and gloves are provided—just bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to help protect one of Indonesia’s most beautiful islands.
Beach cleanups are not glamorous, but they are deeply meaningful. They remind us that protecting the ocean is everyone’s responsibility. Oceans 5 has shown that with consistency, dedication, and community spirit, it is possible to make a real difference.
Gili Air’s charm lies in its balance of tourism and nature. If the island is to remain a paradise, businesses and visitors must work together to protect it. The next time you arrive at the harbor and step onto a clean beach, remember the divemaster candidates and volunteers who made that first impression possible. Better yet—join them next Friday and be part of the change.
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 …
Dive Organizations 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 …
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 was built on the idea that a dive center should not only showcase the beauty of the ocean but also actively protect it, while giving back to the local people who make Gili Air such a special place.
One of the earliest commitments Oceans 5 made was to ensure fair opportunities for locals. To avoid creating jealousy between the island’s five families, Oceans 5 hired at least one staff member from each family. This decision fostered long-term trust and relationships, and the owner, Sander, remains close to the community—attending weddings, funerals, and local ceremonies as a valued friend, not just a business owner.
Over the years, Oceans 5 has launched several programs to uplift Indonesian citizens through education and opportunity. In 2021, the dive center gave 12 Indonesians the chance to become professional dive instructors. Many of them are now working across Indonesia’s dive industry, and two remain part of the Oceans 5 team.
In 2025, Oceans 5 took this vision further with the launch of a free Divemaster Internship for Indonesian citizens. The initiative has already proven transformative, with graduates finding work on Gili Air, in Labuan Bajo, Nusa Lembongan, and even Raja Ampat. Watching local divers achieve their dreams and explore some of Indonesia’s most iconic dive destinations is one of Oceans 5’s proudest accomplishments.
Oceans 5 Gili Air also recognizes the importance of scientific research for the protection of marine ecosystems. The dive center supports students from the University of Mataram’s Faculty of Marine Science, providing them with boats, dive equipment, lunches, transport, and professional dive guides. Importantly, Oceans 5 does not interfere with the projects or the outcomes, ensuring that research remains independent and unbiased.
By partnering with Marine Conservation Indonesia, Oceans 5 guarantees that these students have the resources and training they need to conduct reliable and meaningful studies. This work helps deepen knowledge of the Gili Islands’ marine ecosystems and lays the foundation for better protection strategies in the future.
Every Friday, Oceans 5 organizes a beach cleanup in Gili Air’s harbor—the very first place visitors see when they arrive on the island. The harbor is not only the gateway for tourists but also a key area for shaping the island’s image. Volunteers, often led by Oceans 5’s divemaster interns, collect bags of rubbish with gloves and tools provided by the dive center. This simple yet powerful initiative has been running since 2010, keeping the island cleaner and raising awareness among locals and tourists alike.
What sets Oceans 5 apart is that all of these initiatives are fully self-funded. Oceans 5 does not accept donations, grants, or financial support from NGOs. This independence allows the dive center to stay true to its mission without outside influence or hidden agendas. Every conservation and community project is made possible by the dive center’s own revenue, and by divers and guests who choose to stay and dive with Oceans 5.
Perhaps the most common question is: How can I support these projects?
The answer is simple: Dive or stay with Oceans 5 Gili Air.
By choosing Oceans 5, you directly support their conservation and community work. Every Discover Scuba Diving program, Open Water Course, Divemaster Internship, or IDC course helps fund beach cleanups, local scholarships, marine science research, and opportunities for Indonesian dive professionals. Guests not only experience Oceans 5’s commitment to high-quality, safe, and environmentally aware diving but also contribute to long-lasting positive change on the island.
Supporting Oceans 5 Gili Air means more than enjoying world-class diving in a marine park. It means becoming part of a bigger vision: protecting the reefs, uplifting the community, and building a sustainable future for the Gili Islands. With every dive and every course, you help keep this philosophy alive.
The ocean gives us so much—it’s time we give something back.
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 …
Community in Action: 65kg of Rubbish 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 …
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 PADI Instructor Examination (IE) on the shores of Gili Air. Under the guidance of PADI Course Director Waz, these four divemasters transformed into confident instructors, ready to teach PADI programs from beginner level all the way up to Divemaster.
The PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) is no small undertaking. It requires determination, resilience, and a willingness to step outside one’s comfort zone. Over 20 intensive days, Jo, Dania, Nata, and Filippo immersed themselves in dive theory, teaching methodology, confined and open water presentations, rescue workshops, and skill circuits.
They didn’t just learn how to pass the PADI Instructor Examination. At Oceans 5 Gili Air, the focus is on turning candidates into complete instructors — instructors who can adapt their teaching to real-world situations, care for their students, and act as ocean ambassadors. All four candidates absorbed these principles and rose to the challenge with enthusiasm and teamwork.
The final test came during the PADI Instructor Examination, which took place over two days right here on Gili Air. A PADI Examiner flew in to evaluate each candidate’s knowledge, teaching ability, rescue skills, and professionalism. It’s always a nerve-wracking moment — the culmination of weeks of preparation — but Jo, Dania, Nata, and Filippo handled the pressure with confidence and success.
Passing the Instructor Examination is not just a milestone — it’s a gateway to a new career underwater.
While the four instructors wait for their official teaching status from PADI — which usually takes between 5 to 10 working days — the possibilities for their careers begin to open. The next step? Finding a job in one of the most beautiful dive destinations in the world.
The Gili Islands are known for vibrant reefs, turtles, and drift diving — a paradise for both fun divers and dive professionals. But working in Indonesia requires a valid working permit (KITAS) issued and supported by a registered dive center. Immigration checks are becoming more frequent, and the authorities are tightening regulations to protect the integrity of the diving industry. That’s why having legal working status is crucial for any instructor wanting to work in the country.
Oceans 5 Gili Air supports the highest standards in the industry and encourages all instructors to follow the correct legal pathways. Once everything is arranged, these new instructors will have the opportunity to live their dream and teach diving in one of the most stunning marine environments on earth.
One of the greatest things about becoming a PADI Instructor is the global opportunity that comes with it. Jo, Dania, Nata, and Filippo are now part of a worldwide network. Their certification isn’t limited to Indonesia. Whether they dream of teaching in Thailand, the Maldives, Egypt, Mexico, Australia, or somewhere completely unexpected, the door is wide open.
And for Dania, this moment is extra special. As the first Gili Air-born female PADI Instructor, she’s not just following her dream — she’s making history and inspiring a new generation of local divers to believe that anything is possible.
If reading about their journey inspires you, why not start your own?
The next PADI Instructor Development Courses at Oceans 5 Gili Air start on:
Spots are limited to ensure quality training and personalized attention. And they are filling up quickly.
This could be your chance to change your life — to trade a desk for a dive boat, and to inspire others to explore the ocean. At Oceans 5 Gili Air, you’re not just earning a certification — you’re becoming part of a dive family, learning from experienced mentors, and developing the confidence to teach anywhere in the world.
To reserve your place in one of our upcoming IDCs, contact us via:
📱 WhatsApp: +62 853 3339 7823
📧 Email: [email protected]
Congratulations again to Jo, Dania, Nata, and Filippo. We are proud of you and can’t wait to see where your journey as PADI Instructors takes you next. The ocean is your classroom — go and inspire the world!
What’s Next After Becoming a PADI Instructor? Becoming a PADI Instructor is a milestone achievement — the result of weeks (or even months) of dedication, study, and training. For those who complete their Instructor Development Course (IDC) at Oceans 5 Gili Air, the journey doesn’t …