PADI IDC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Blog Posts
PADI IDC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Blog Posts
Why Scuba Diving Is a Great Sport for Kids: A Lifelong Adventure Begins Underwater 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, …
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 required to keep these islands clean and thriving. At the heart of that effort stands Oceans 5 Gili Air, a dive centre that has made conservation a core part of its philosophy from the moment it opened its doors. For well over a decade, Oceans 5 has organized weekly beach cleanups around the harbor of Gili Air, helping protect both the coastline and the reef that lies just offshore.
Last Friday, this tradition continued thanks to a passionate team of Divemaster and IDC candidates, supported by volunteers from the island community and travellers staying or diving with Oceans 5. Together they collected 48 kilograms of trash from the harbor area—an impressive amount, especially given that the rainy season has not yet fully arrived.
In about a month, the rainy season will start in earnest. Each year, the shift in weather brings a predictable and worrying challenge: rubbish washed from Lombok’s mainland rivers and coastlines rides the currents across the strait and lands on the beaches of Gili Air. Even now, at the tail end of the dry season, the occasional heavy rain shower is enough to push plastic, cans, nylon ropes, shoes, and other debris onto the island’s shoreline.
If these items are not picked up promptly, they do not simply disappear. A portion is blown inland, some is collected by informal waste pickers—but much of it is washed back into the sea. Once in the water, rubbish can sink and become trapped among corals, sponges, and rocks. In the harbor of Gili Air, just a few meters off the beach, lies a stunning coral reef, home to everything from juvenile reef fish to cuttlefish, shrimp, and pipefish. At night, one of the area’s most beloved creatures—the mandarin fish—can be seen emerging from the coral for its short, colourful mating routine.
Marine debris poses a serious threat to this delicate environment. Plastic bags can wrap around corals, depriving them of light and oxygen. Fishing lines and rope entangle marine life. Bottles can smother coral heads or create hazards for divers and snorkelers. What may look like a small piece of rubbish on the beach can have irreversible consequences underwater.
This is why the weekly cleanup is more than a symbolic gesture—it is a critical, practical action.
The harbor cleanup last Friday showed exactly how much can accumulate in just a short period. Under the coordination of Oceans 5’s divemaster trainees and instructor candidates, dozens of people joined forces to comb the shoreline, gather debris from the waterline, and separate recyclable items from general waste.
Gloves, refuse bags, and logistical support were provided by Oceans 5, as always, free of charge. Volunteers included tourists who had just finished dives, local shop owners, staff from other dive centres, and residents who understand the importance of protecting the beaches that support their livelihood. The atmosphere was energetic, positive, and purposeful. Children from the village watched curiously, some joining in for a short time, learning by example that caring for their island starts with something as simple as picking up a bottle or a piece of styrofoam.
By the time the sun began to set, 48 kilograms had been collected—an amount that would otherwise have dispersed throughout the marine park. It is a reminder that conservation is not an occasional campaign but an ongoing responsibility.
Oceans 5 Gili Air did not begin organizing cleanups in response to trends or public pressure. When the dive shop opened its doors, environmental commitment was already part of its foundation. Back in 2010, when there were few formal initiatives and almost no external funding for conservation in the Gilis, Oceans 5 launched weekly beach cleanups purely because it was the right thing to do.
Over the years, these cleanups have inspired countless individuals and organizations. Some dive shops and NGOs took their first steps in conservation after observing how Oceans 5 incorporated cleanup activities into their daily operations. Guests often arrived with the idea of diving or relaxing and left with a deeper understanding of marine protection and a desire to contribute.
This long-term consistency is what sets Oceans 5 apart. Their goal was never to launch a one-off event for publicity; instead, they built a culture of responsibility. Divemaster interns and IDC candidates are introduced to conservation not as an optional subject but as a professional expectation. They learn that protecting the environment is not separate from diving—it is part of being a competent dive professional.
The harbor of Gili Air is one of the busiest points of arrival and departure for boats. With constant movement of people and goods, it can be a magnet for trash. But what many don’t realise is how close the reef is to shore. In some parts, it begins just a few fin kicks from the beach. This is exactly where the mandarin fish live—bright, shy creatures whose colourful bodies contrast with the coral rubble where they hide during the day.
Without ongoing cleanup efforts, debris would quickly migrate to these sensitive zones. Once waste settles underwater, removal becomes far more difficult and resource-intensive. Preventing rubbish from entering the sea is simply the most effective strategy.
By combining beach cleanups with education and reef-awareness campaigns, Oceans 5 is safeguarding a habitat that divers treasure. Every Friday’s effort is effectively a coral reef protection mission dressed as a beach walk.
Oceans 5’s commitment extends far beyond the sand. Over the years they have worked with a range of partners—some local, some national, some international—to launch or support conservation initiatives. From marine data collection to coral restoration, from student training to plastic recycling projects, the dive centre has quietly helped other groups get started.
What makes this cooperation special is that Oceans 5 has never positioned itself as the hero of the story. Instead, it has acted as a platform, connecting people, organizations, and communities. Some partners focus on waste management, others on reef rehabilitation, marine research, or environmental education. Each one contributes to the bigger picture of protecting Gili Matra Marine Park.
In 2025, Oceans 5 will take another major step in public awareness by opening the first Conservation Exhibition Centre on the Gili Islands. The building, located close to the dive shop, is currently under renovation. Once completed, it will be open to both tourists and locals at no charge.
The concept is simple but powerful: provide a space where all of Oceans 5’s conservation partners can present their work, missions, methods, and successes. Each partner will have its own wall or display section to showcase its projects—whether that involves coral nurseries, waste recycling, marine park regulations, sea turtle monitoring, or school outreach.
This exhibition centre will serve several purposes:
For many tourists, it will be the first time they realize how much effort is required to protect the island they are enjoying. Instead of short signs or social media posts, they will have a full space to explore, ask questions, and discover ongoing projects.
One of the key messages Oceans 5 has always sent is that you do not need grants, sponsors, or external financing to begin positive environmental action. From the start, the weekly cleanups were self-funded and volunteer-driven. The dive shop contributed time, staff, gloves, bags, and logistics not because someone paid them to do so, but because they believe that every business in a marine park has a duty to act.
Their upcoming Conservation Exhibition Centre will follow the same philosophy: free to access, created in partnership, and focused on sharing knowledge rather than promoting a single brand.
The 48 kilograms removed last Friday were not posted on social media as a victory for likes. They were physically removed from the harbor to keep the reef safe. This practical, no-nonsense approach is typical of Oceans 5. While many organisations talk about sustainability, Oceans 5 demonstrates it every week through direct action, capacity-building of future dive professionals, and long-term partnerships.
The involvement of IDC and divemaster candidates is especially important. These trainees come from all over the world. When they return to their home countries or travel to their next job, they carry with them an experience of real conservation work in a marine park. This influences how they will guide divers, structure their courses, and engage with their own communities.
As the rainy season approaches, Oceans 5 will continue to organize beach cleanups every week. Volunteers—locals, tourists, and dive professionals—will keep showing up with bags and gloves, knowing that every piece of trash removed today prevents a problem tomorrow.
With the Conservation Exhibition Centre opening soon, the message will be louder and clearer than ever: conservation is not a trend, it is a responsibility. And on Gili Air, that responsibility is woven into the identity of Oceans 5.
The next time you walk across the harbor and see a group of people crouched in the sand with buckets and sacks, remember that this is not just tidying up. It is safeguarding a coastline. It is protecting a reef where the tiny mandarin fish performs its nightly dance. It is preserving the future of the Gili Islands, one cleanup at a time.
And thanks to the persistence, leadership, and example of Oceans 5 Gili Air, that future is not just possible—it is already being built, every Friday.
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 …
