Oceans 5 Blog

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 is spectacular—the Gili Islands. Many people still believe the Gilis are only a training hub for beginners or a practice ground for instructor candidates. They imagine crowded dive sites, sandy bottoms, and nothing worth exploring once you are certified.

That misconception couldn’t be further from the truth.

The Gili Islands—Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air—are nestled within the Gili Matra Marine Park, one of Indonesia’s officially protected marine areas. This status alone already sets the tone: conservation, regulation, and biodiversity. Whether you’re a new diver, a seasoned photographer, or an experienced technical diver, the Gilis offer something special for everyone. With more than 25 unique dive sites across dramatically different topographies, the islands are far from “just a classroom.” They are a living, breathing underwater world teeming with life—big and small, shallow and deep.

Let’s explore what fun diving around the Gili Islands truly has to offer.

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A Marine Park Full of Life

Many who dismiss the Gilis as “just a training area” have never truly explored the depth of what the marine park provides. The reefs around the three islands are healthy, colorful, and surprisingly diverse. Because the Gili Matra Marine Park imposes conservation rules, local dive centers participate in reef monitoring, waste reduction, and marine park fees that contribute to long-term protection.

As a result, divers can enjoy coral slopes, rubble patches full of surprises, deep reefs, cleaning stations, wrecks, walls, and drift dives—all within a short boat ride. No site is further than 10–20 minutes away, which means divers can comfortably explore several in one day without long travel times.

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Something for Every Certification Level

One of the biggest strengths of the Gili Islands is accessibility. Unlike many destinations that require long boat crossings or advanced certifications to see something worthwhile, the Gilis deliver an abundance of marine life in waters suitable for all levels.

Beginner-Friendly Sites

Many reefs offer gentle slopes, mild currents, and good visibility. Open Water divers can enjoy coral gardens filled with butterflyfish, angelfish, damselfish, parrotfish, wrasse, sweetlips, and juvenile reef species. Drift dives are smooth, relaxed, and ideal for building experience under guidance.

Advanced & Adventure Divers

For those who want more excitement, the Gilis deliver deeper reefs, swim-throughs, walls, stronger currents, and shark encounters. Sites on the north and west of Gili Trawangan or Gili Meno often offer sightings of blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, large trevallies, schools of fusiliers, eagle rays, and the occasional mobula.

Wreck & Specialty Lovers

Not one, but two wreck dives are available—and both offer fun, accessible exploration.

1. The Bounty Wreck (Southwest Gili Meno)
   Once a wooden jetty, this structure sunk years ago and is now encrusted with coral, sponges, and surrounded by fish life. Batfish, lionfish, moray eels, shrimps, and fans of underwater photography love it. Depth ranges between 10–16 meters, making it perfect for Open Water divers and beyond.
2. The Glenn Nusa Wreck (North of Gili Trawangan)
   This sunken tugboat lies on the deeper side of recreational diving, usually between 22–30 meters. It is covered in soft and hard corals and surrounded by jacks, snappers, batfish, groupers, and occasionally reef sharks. The wreck is atmospheric, exciting, and full of life.

Technical Diving

The Gilis also cater to tech divers. Deeper slopes, walls, and drop-offs allow for decompression diving around canyons and untouched reef sections. The clear water and easy logistics make it a convenient base for tech divers building experience or exploring beyond recreational limits.

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Turtles: The Icon of the Gili Islands

If there is one creature that defines diving around the Gilis, it is the turtle. The islands are world-famous for their large populations of green and hawksbill turtles. Unlike many other destinations where spotting one turtle is a highlight, here they are a part of nearly every dive.

Divers can encounter them resting on coral, gliding above reefs, visiting cleaning stations, or lazily drifting with the current. It is not uncommon to see five, ten, or even twenty in a single dive—especially around Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno.

For photographers, new divers, and families, it creates unforgettable memories. For experienced divers, it is still pure magic.

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Sharks and Pelagics

Many divers assume sharks are only found in Indonesia’s more remote regions. Yet, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks are regularly spotted around the Gilis, particularly on the western and northern sites of Gili Trawangan. Sites like Shark Point or Deep Turbo often deliver encounters with one or several individuals.

You may also see schools of trevallies, giant travellies on the hunt, barracuda, eagle rays, and sometimes even larger visitors cruising through.

And because currents can vary from mild to strong depending on tides and site choice, underwater action can be as relaxed or as thrilling as you want it to be.

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The Macro Magic Hidden in Plain Sight

While many divers think of the Gilis as a “big stuff” destination, the macro life is a well-kept secret. In certain sandy bays, harbors, and rubble slopes, an entire universe of tiny creatures lives quietly beneath the surface. These sites are often overlooked by large dive centers that prefer the classic circuit of popular dive spots.

But those who take the time to explore are rewarded with incredible detail.

Top macro sites include:

• Mentigi
• Seahorse Bay
• Teluk Nara
• Hans Reef
• The Harbor of Gili Air

These areas are macro heaven, especially for photographers and critter hunters. Frogfish hide in sponges, mimic and coconut octopus roam the sand, pipefish slither along corals, and nudibranchs of every color are everywhere once you start looking. Seahorses, ghost pipefish, leaf scorpionfish, bobtail squid, shrimps, and crabs appear in all shapes and sizes.

This combination—large megafauna like turtles and sharks plus world-class macro—makes the Gilis an unusually versatile dive destination.

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Why Some Divers Miss the Best Sites

The misconception that “the Gilis are only good for training” often comes from divers who only did a few dives in crowded, shallow, and well-worn training areas. Many dive centers stick to the same four or five popular sites day after day. They focus on logistics, not exploration.

But the marine park includes far more than the obvious spots.

Some operators do not visit macro sites regularly, some avoid the deeper slopes unless requested, and many do not customize dive plans to match diver interests. As a result, many fun divers leave the Gilis without realizing what they missed.

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Oceans 5 Gili Air: Diving the Gilis as They Deserve

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, the philosophy is simple: listen to the divers, not just the schedule. Every diver has different preferences—some love wrecks, some want turtles or sharks, others are obsessed with macro or underwater photography. Instead of rotating through the same “popular” sites, Oceans 5 goes where the guests want to go.

That flexibility is what opens the door to the full richness of the marine park.

Guests who love turtles? Head to Turtle Heaven or Sunset Point.
Macro hunters? Hans Reef or Seahorse Bay.
Adventurous wreck fans? Bounty or Glenn Nusa.
Deep divers or technical training? Northern drop-offs and submerged reefs.
Photographers? Playgrounds, Halik, Mentigi, and shallow reefs full of surprises.

Because the dive center listens instead of assuming, fun divers get the experience they’re actually looking for—not a generic tour.

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Drift Diving Done Right

Drift diving is one of the highlights of the Gilis. Water movement brings nutrients, and nutrients bring fish. Many sites offer smooth and comfortable drifts that allow you to relax and simply glide past coral gardens and marine life.

Experienced guides know how to plan dives based on tides and currents. Instead of fighting the sea, they use the flow to make the experience enjoyable and effortless. This makes it ideal for divers of all levels—from relaxed beginners to thrill-seeking current junkies.

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Fast, Easy, and Comfortable Logistics

Another often-overlooked benefit is convenience. No long boat rides, no overnight trips, and no complicated transfers. Boats depart directly from the beach, and most sites are 5–20 minutes away. That means more diving and less traveling.

The water is warm year-round—usually 27–30°C—visibility often ranges from 15–30 meters, and conditions are comfortable in most seasons. There are also very few days where the sea is undiveable, making it a reliable destination year-round.

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Fun Diving for Everyone

Whether you are a casual holiday diver, a family with kids who snorkel, a photographer with a macro lens, or an experienced diver looking to squeeze in five dives a day, the Gili Islands deliver. The variety of marine environments allows you to build your itinerary however you like.

You can spend one day exploring turtles and reef sharks, the next hunting nudibranchs in sandy bays, and the day after drifting past coral slopes or exploring a wreck. You don’t need flights or long transfers to visit multiple types of diving—it’s all right there.

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Don’t Believe the Rumors—Experience the Reality

The idea that the Gili Islands are “only for beginners” or “just training grounds” is outdated and often repeated by people who barely scratched the surface. The marine park is alive, diverse, and full of surprises—with healthy reefs, plenty of fish, guaranteed turtles, hidden critters, sharks, rays, and wrecks.

The only real limitation is whether your dive center is willing to take you there.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, fun diving is treated with the same priority and passion as any course. Divers are asked what they want to see, and the schedule adapts. From stunning coral slopes to wrecks, from sharks to shrimps, from drift dives to macro dives, the Gilis are ready to impress anyone who gives them a proper chance.

So the next time someone says “there’s nothing to see in the Gilis,” you’ll know—they just haven’t dived them properly.

And if you dive with the right team, like Oceans 5 Gili Air, you absolutely will.

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 choose from, ranging from small, family-run operations to larger and more established facilities. With so many options, divers often look at the obvious factors first: price, dive organization affiliation (PADI, SSI, RAID, etc.), size of the dive shop, the number of courses offered, or even the quality of the equipment.

But there is a deeper layer to this decision that many divers are beginning to consider: what is the dive center doing for the local community, and what efforts are they making to protect the Gili Matra Marine Park? These factors go beyond just diving—they are about shaping the future of the island and ensuring that its natural beauty and local culture remain for generations to come.

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Beyond Price: Looking at the Bigger Picture

Yes, price matters, and travelers are often tempted to pick the cheapest option. However, cheaper doesn’t always mean better when it comes to diving. Diving is a life-support activity, and the quality of training, equipment maintenance, and staff professionalism play a huge role in keeping divers safe. The dive center you choose is responsible not just for giving you a memorable experience but for doing so in a way that respects the environment and supports the community you are visiting.

Dive shops that focus solely on being the cheapest often cut corners somewhere—whether in staff salaries, equipment servicing, or environmental responsibility. This may lower the immediate cost for customers, but it comes with hidden risks and long-term consequences. On the other hand, dive centers that invest in their staff, their facilities, and their community tend to create safer, higher-quality diving experiences and a more positive impact on the destination.

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Oceans 5 Gili Air: A Different Kind of Dive Center

Oceans 5 Gili Air is not the cheapest dive shop on the island—and this is by design. Their philosophy has always been about prioritizing quality, sustainability, and fairness rather than competing in a race to the bottom on price.

One of the key differences is how Oceans 5 treats its staff. The majority of the team has been with the company for over 10 years. This kind of loyalty is rare on small tropical islands, where tourism jobs often have a high turnover rate. The reason so many staff stay long-term is that Oceans 5 pays fair wages, offers opportunities for professional growth, and treats its employees like family.

Over the years, local boat crew have been trained to become divemasters, divemasters have been encouraged to become instructors, and instructors have taken on management roles. This creates a stable, experienced team that provides consistent training quality for students and a welcoming, family-like environment for guests.

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Supporting Local Education and Marine Science

Oceans 5’s commitment doesn’t stop with its own staff. The dive center is actively involved in supporting local education and marine research. Oceans 5 has partnered with the University of Mataram to give marine science students hands-on opportunities to conduct reef surveys, study coral health, and monitor marine biodiversity around the Gili Islands.

This support goes far beyond simply allowing students to tag along on dives. Oceans 5 provides them with full access to boats, dive equipment, experienced dive guides, lunches, and transport. The goal is to give these students the resources they need to grow into skilled marine scientists who can one day lead conservation efforts in Indonesia.

In 2025 alone, Oceans 5 is supporting 15 Indonesian divers in their journey to become PADI Divemasters. This is not just about building a workforce—it is about empowering local divers to take ownership of their marine resources and become role models for future generations.

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A Commitment to Conservation

Another key factor that sets Oceans 5 apart is its commitment to environmental protection. Oceans 5 was the first foreign-owned company in Indonesia to be granted the SIUPKK, a special conservation license issued by BKKPN Kupang. This license is not simply a piece of paper—it is a recognition of Oceans 5’s commitment to sustainable operations and a legal agreement to contribute to data collection and protection of the Gili Matra Marine Park.

Only five dive centers on the Gili Islands have signed a partnership agreement with BKKPN Kupang, and Oceans 5 is proud to be one of them. This partnership means that Oceans 5 helps the government collect important data about reef health, fish populations, and marine park usage, which is crucial for long-term planning and conservation.

In addition to these official efforts, Oceans 5 has been organizing weekly beach cleanups since 2010—long before sustainability became a buzzword in tourism. Every Friday, staff, interns, and guests gather to collect rubbish from the main harbor beach, where thousands of visitors arrive and depart every day. These cleanups not only remove plastic and other waste from the environment but also create awareness among visitors, showing them firsthand the impact of human activity on a small island ecosystem.

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Why Oceans 5 Costs More—and Why It’s Worth It

It’s true that some dive centers can offer cheaper prices. But those savings often come at the cost of things you might not immediately see: lower wages for staff, fewer resources for conservation, or neglected equipment maintenance.

Oceans 5 invests in quality equipment and proper servicing schedules to ensure safety. They also invest in people—currently employing four Indonesian instructors and six Indonesian divemasters on a full-time salary, which provides stable livelihoods for local families.

When you dive with Oceans 5, your money directly supports these initiatives. There are no donation boxes, no requests for charity, and no hidden “conservation fees.” All of Oceans 5’s community and environmental projects are fully funded by the business itself. The only thing guests are asked to do is dive or stay with them—because every course and fun dive contributes to keeping these projects alive.

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Long-Term Thinking: Protecting Gili Air for the Future

Short-term profit is tempting for many businesses, especially in a competitive tourism market. But Oceans 5 believes in a different model—one that focuses on the long-term future of the Gili Islands.

By training and employing local staff, supporting education, collaborating with government conservation agencies, and continuously raising environmental awareness, Oceans 5 is investing in a future where Gili Air remains a thriving, beautiful destination for generations to come.

This forward-thinking approach benefits not just the business, but everyone who loves the Gili Islands—local residents, international visitors, and even future divers who haven’t yet discovered the magic of the Gilis.

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Choosing Your Dive Center Wisely

When you are deciding where to dive, ask yourself a few questions:

• How are the staff treated? Do they have fair wages and opportunities for growth?
• How does the dive center protect the environment? Are they actively contributing to marine park conservation?
• What is their reputation on the island? Do they work together with the community and local authorities?
• Will your money have a positive impact? Or are you supporting a business that focuses only on taking from the island, not giving back?

The answers to these questions can help you make a choice that goes beyond cost and convenience. By diving with centers that care about the bigger picture, you become part of the solution—helping to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the Gili Islands while supporting fair and ethical business practices.

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Final Thoughts: Your Dive, Your Impact

Diving is not just an activity—it is an opportunity to connect with the ocean and the people who depend on it. Where you choose to spend your money matters. Oceans 5 Gili Air has built its philosophy on the idea that diving should not just be about ticking off courses or logging as many dives as possible. It should be about learning, growing, and contributing to something bigger than yourself.

When you dive with Oceans 5, you are supporting a company that takes care of its staff, invests in the future of marine science, collaborates with government agencies, and works tirelessly to keep the Gili Islands clean and healthy.

So, next time you are looking for a dive center on Gili Air, think beyond price. Think about the community, the environment, and the kind of legacy you want to leave behind. By staying and diving with Oceans 5, you are not just enjoying a world-class dive experience—you are helping to secure a better future for the island, its people, and its marine life.

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 draws visitors, the warmth of the local community makes them stay, and tourism supports livelihoods. But with opportunity comes responsibility.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we believe that every business operating here should give something back—whether through environmental protection, community initiatives, or both. Our own journey in this commitment has been ongoing since we opened in 2010, and it continues to grow stronger every year.

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Oceans 5’s Environmental Commitment

From the very beginning, Oceans 5 made environmental protection part of our DNA. We are located in the Gili Matra Marine Park, an area that should be preserved for generations to come. Our conservation work includes:

• Weekly Beach Cleanups – Every week since 2010, our staff, guests, and volunteers come together to clean the beaches in front of the harbor. We provide all the equipment—bags, gloves, and tools—and thank volunteers with a free drink afterwards. These events are open to everyone, because cleaner beaches benefit us all.
• Reef Cleanups – We regularly organise underwater cleanups, especially in the busy harbor area where rubbish from boats and currents tends to collect. Divers join for free in exchange for helping us remove marine debris.
• Marine Research Partnerships – Oceans 5 supports the University of Mataram’s Faculty of Marine Science by providing facilities, transport, and equipment for reef surveys and scientific research around the Gili Islands. This helps improve knowledge of the marine ecosystem and builds local expertise in marine conservation.
• Awareness Through Education – As a PADI Career Development Centre, we integrate environmental awareness into all our diving courses. From Open Water students to Instructor candidates, we teach responsible diving practices, including neutral buoyancy techniques to avoid damaging the reef.

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How Oceans 5 Finances These Activities

Unlike many conservation programs that depend on donations or external grants, Oceans 5 finances its environmental and community initiatives entirely from its own operations. The revenue from our diving courses and resort services allows us to allocate a dedicated annual budget to these projects—without asking guests to pay extra or relying on outside funding.

This model ensures stability: whether or not donations are available, our cleanups, education programs, and research support will continue. We see it as a responsibility, not a seasonal project or a marketing campaign.

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Why Every Business on Gili Air Should Contribute

We don’t expect every business to do exactly what we do—after all, a restaurant can’t run reef cleanups in the same way a dive shop can. But every business can contribute in its own way:

• A café could replace plastic straws with reusable ones.
• A hotel could support local clean water or waste-management initiatives.
• A shop could source more products from local suppliers, supporting the island economy.
• Tour operators could include environmental messages in their guest briefings.

On a small island like Gili Air, where resources are limited and the environment is fragile, every little bit counts. The combined effect of many small actions can be as powerful as a single large project.

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Giving Back Is Not Optional—It’s Part of Living Here

It’s easy to forget that without the local community, there would be no Gili Air as we know it. The warm smiles that greet visitors, the knowledge passed from fisherman to dive guide, the hospitality that keeps tourists returning—these all come from the people who call this island home.

If you run a business here and make your living from the beauty and culture of this place, it’s only fair to give something back. This isn’t just about charity—it’s about respect, sustainability, and ensuring that future generations can enjoy the same Gili Air we love today.

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A Shared Responsibility

Oceans 5 will continue to do our part—cleaning beaches and reefs, supporting marine science, and teaching environmentally responsible diving. But our hope is that every business, big or small, joins in. It doesn’t have to be costly or complicated; it just has to be consistent.

Because when everyone contributes, Gili Air thrives—not just as a destination, but as a living, breathing community in harmony with the ocean that surrounds it.