PADI IDC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Blog Posts
PADI IDC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Blog Posts
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 …
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 …
The Gili Islands — Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air — are more than just stunning tropical getaways with white sand beaches and turquoise waters. They are located within one of Indonesia’s top ten marine parks, the Gili Matra Marine Park, a sanctuary created to protect and preserve one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the country. Established to safeguard this underwater paradise for future generations, the Gili Matra Marine Park is a place of both exceptional beauty and scientific importance — but also a park under growing pressure.
In 2011, a remarkable discovery put the Gili Islands firmly on the map of marine biodiversity hotspots. Dr. Bert Hoeksema of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, the Netherlands, found that the Gili Islands host the greatest diversity of mushroom coral species in the world.
Even more fascinating? This biodiversity was concentrated in the harbor of Gili Air — an area not typically thought of as pristine due to its boat traffic. Yet the harbor proved to be a haven for these unique corals, showcasing just how resilient and rich the local marine ecosystem can be when given the chance to thrive.
The waters around the Gili Islands are also home to an abundance of sea turtles, making the area one of the best places in the world to encounter them while snorkeling or diving. The most commonly seen species include:
These charismatic animals are not just a tourist attraction — they are key indicators of the health of the marine ecosystem. The relatively high population of turtles in Gili Matra shows that the park has the potential to support thriving marine life when protected.
Another gem of the Gili Matra Marine Park is its population of juvenile white tip reef sharks. These elegant predators are most commonly spotted around dive sites near Gili Trawangan, using the reef structures as nurseries. The presence of juvenile sharks suggests that the area once offered a healthy, supportive environment for new generations of reef predators.
In the past, divers also had the privilege of seeing Leopard Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, and large schools of Bumphead Parrotfish, particularly around full moon events. Deep Turbo near Gili Trawangan and Gili Air Wall used to be popular sites for shark sightings — a sign of a balanced and thriving marine food chain.
But things are changing.
In recent years, many iconic species and marine spectacles have started to vanish. The massive schools of Bumphead Parrotfish, once a regular highlight during full moons, have become increasingly rare. Leopard Sharks and Grey Reef Sharks have all but disappeared from regular sightings.
These changes raise concern about the health and stability of the marine ecosystem. Although the Gili Matra Marine Park is officially protected, enforcement remains a challenge. Issues such as coastal development, construction of sea walls, and overdevelopment on the islands are placing pressure on the very ecosystems the marine park is designed to protect.
While tourism brings opportunity, it also brings risk. Unregulated construction along the beaches, poorly planned infrastructure, and increasing human activity near sensitive reef zones have begun to disrupt the delicate balance of marine life.
The construction of ocean protection walls may be intended to guard the shoreline, but they often alter wave patterns, limit coral growth, and cause sand erosion elsewhere. Without strict regulations, even small-scale changes can have ripple effects throughout the ecosystem.
Despite the challenges, Gili Matra Marine Park remains a beautiful and inspiring place to visit. Divers and snorkelers still encounter vibrant coral gardens, turtles cruising through shallow reefs, and schools of reef fish in dazzling colors. For many, it’s their first introduction to the richness of the underwater world — and a memory they’ll never forget.
Every person who comes to the Gili Islands with respect for the marine environment plays a role in supporting its future. By diving responsibly, supporting eco-conscious dive centers, participating in cleanups, and learning about local conservation efforts, visitors can help protect what remains and even aid in its recovery.
The Gili Matra Marine Park is a national treasure — a place where coral reefs, sea turtles, sharks, and thousands of marine species coexist in an underwater symphony of life. But this harmony is fragile.
To protect it, we must do more than admire it. Government agencies, local communities, dive centers, and visitors all have a role to play in:
Oceans 5 Gili Air, for example, is actively involved in conservation, working with the University of Mataram, BKKPN, and NGOs to promote scientific research and environmental education.
If properly protected and managed, Gili Matra has the potential to recover its former biodiversity and once again become a global example of successful marine conservation. It is a place of wonder, of beauty, and of immense scientific value.
Let’s not wait until it’s too late to act.
Whether you’re diving for the first time or returning to your favorite reef, remember: this marine park needs our protection as much as we need its inspiration. Let your visit be more than a holiday — let it be part of a movement to preserve Indonesia’s underwater treasures for generations to come.
The Divemaster Internship at Oceans 5 Gili Air The Divemaster Internship at Oceans 5 Gili Air is more than just another box to tick on your path to becoming a dive professional — it’s an investment in quality training, fair employment, and a sustainable future …