SSI ITC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Blog Posts
SSI ITC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Blog Posts
Introduction Dive Have you always wondered what it feels like to breathe underwater, but you have never tried scuba diving before? At Oceans 5 Gili Air, you have two opportunities every day to start your Introduction Dive: at 08:30 and at 15:00. You don’t need any previous …
10 Things to Check Before Booking Choosing a dive center can have a much bigger influence on your diving experience than choosing the dive site itself. When people plan a diving holiday, they often compare three things first: location, reviews and price. They search Google, …
If you have never scuba dived before, choosing where to take your first breaths underwater is an important decision. You want warm water, interesting marine life, professional instructors, good training facilities and, most importantly, an environment where you can learn without feeling rushed.
So, is Gili Air good for beginner divers?
The short answer is yes. Gili Air is an excellent place to learn to scuba dive, and thousands of people have discovered the underwater world around the Gili Islands for the first time.
Warm tropical water, abundant marine life, a variety of dive sites and relatively short boat journeys make Gili Air particularly attractive to new divers. But there is another important factor: the Gili Islands also experience currents. Learning here therefore shouldn’t simply be about completing the minimum requirements for a certification. Good training should teach you to become comfortable, confident and environmentally responsible underwater.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we believe your first diving course creates the foundation for everything you do later as a diver.
Gili Air is one of three small islands located off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia, together with Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. The waters surrounding the islands form part of the Gili Matra marine protected area.[1]
For a beginner diver, the location offers something special: within relatively short boat rides you can find coral reefs, sandy areas, slopes, walls and different underwater environments.
That variety is valuable during training.
A beginner isn’t simply learning how to breathe underwater. You are learning how to control your body, manage your equipment, communicate, monitor your air, equalize your ears, control your depth and become aware of the environment around you.
And after mastering those skills, there is a very good chance that you will be doing all of this while watching a turtle swim past.
One of the challenges when learning to dive in colder destinations is dealing with thick wetsuits, gloves and additional weight.
Around the Gili Islands, the water is generally warm throughout the year. For beginners, that can make training considerably more comfortable.
Less exposure protection generally means less bulky equipment and greater freedom of movement. Instead of thinking about being cold, students can concentrate on their breathing, buoyancy and surroundings.
Comfort should never be underestimated when learning to dive.
The more relaxed you become underwater, the easier it usually becomes to concentrate on developing your diving skills.
Another advantage of learning to dive around Gili Air is that interesting marine life isn’t reserved only for advanced dive sites.
The Gili Islands are particularly well known for their sea turtles, and both green and hawksbill turtles can be encountered around the islands. Depending on the dive site, beginners may also see anemonefish, angelfish, butterflyfish, moray eels, pufferfish, triggerfish, surgeonfish, lionfish and many other tropical species.
For someone completing their first open-water dives, seeing a turtle underwater can be unforgettable.
It also creates an important connection.
Suddenly, the skills you practiced in the swimming pool have a purpose. Buoyancy isn’t just something you need to demonstrate to your instructor. Good buoyancy allows you to observe a turtle or coral reef without crashing into the bottom or damaging the environment.
Divers Alert Network describes buoyancy control as an important element of diving safety and notes that poor buoyancy can contribute to problems including excessive descents, increased gas consumption and uncontrolled ascents.[2]
At Oceans 5, we therefore put a lot of attention on developing good buoyancy from the beginning.
The ocean is exciting, but your first experience with scuba equipment doesn’t have to start there.
Oceans 5 Gili Air has two purpose-built training swimming pools. This gives beginner divers an opportunity to become familiar with their equipment and basic diving skills in a controlled environment before going into the ocean.
This is especially valuable if you are nervous.
Your first experience breathing through a regulator feels unusual. You suddenly discover that you can breathe while your face is underwater. Then you learn how to clear water from your mask, recover your regulator, control your buoyancy and communicate using hand signals.
There is no reason to rush this process.
If you need to repeat something, you repeat it.
Confidence underwater isn’t created by pushing someone beyond their comfort level. It develops through understanding, repetition and experience.
A beginner diver needs attention.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we deliberately keep our training groups small, with a maximum of four students per instructor.
This allows an instructor to see what is actually happening with every student.
One person might immediately understand mask clearing but struggle with buoyancy. Another may have excellent buoyancy but need more time equalizing their ears.
Learning speeds are different.
Scuba diving shouldn’t be an assembly line where everyone must perform a skill at exactly the same speed.
Small groups give instructors more opportunity to recognize problems early and help students become comfortable before progressing.
This is probably the most important point when discussing whether the Gili Islands are suitable for beginners.
Yes, there can be currents around the Gilis.
The islands are located in an area where water movement can produce anything from almost no current to enjoyable drift dives and, at times, stronger conditions.
Does that make Gili Air unsuitable for beginners?
No.
But it makes good dive planning extremely important.
Beginner students shouldn’t simply be taken to a dive site because that is where everyone else is going. The dive site and entry point should be selected according to the conditions and the experience of the divers.
At Oceans 5, our dive professionals check the conditions and currents before dives. We can adjust the entry point, dive site or dive plan when necessary.
Learning to dive in an area where some current exists can actually give students useful experience. You learn that the ocean isn’t a swimming pool and that conditions can change.
The important difference is that this experience should be introduced gradually and under professional supervision.
Not everyone knows immediately whether they want to complete a full diving certification.
For those people, the SSI Basic Diver program can be a great introduction.
The SSI Basic Diver program includes an academic component, pool or confined-water training and an open-water introductory dive. SSI allows Basic Divers to dive to a maximum training depth of 12 metres under the required professional supervision.[3]
The minimum age is 10.[3]
An additional advantage is that the Basic Diver program can be credited toward the SSI Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver program when the applicable requirements are met within six months.[3]
That makes it ideal for someone thinking:
“I would love to try scuba diving, but I’m not sure yet whether I want to become certified.”
You can first experience diving and then decide.
If you already love snorkeling, enjoy being in the ocean or simply know that you want to become a diver, the SSI Open Water Diver course is usually the better option.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we offer Open Water Diver courses throughout the year.
The course combines digital learning, confined-water training and four open-water training dives. SSI describes Open Water Diver as its globally recognized entry-level scuba certification.[3]
But obtaining the card shouldn’t be the only objective.
The goal should be to finish your course feeling that you can actually dive.
That means developing good habits from your very first course:
These principles remain important long after your Open Water course. DAN similarly recommends equipment checks, pre-dive checklists, reviewing dive plans with your buddy or dive professional and regularly practicing fundamental skills such as buoyancy and emergency procedures.[4]
Being nervous before your first dive is completely normal.
Some people worry about breathing underwater. Others are concerned about their ears, removing their mask or simply being below the surface.
Tell your instructor.
There is no prize for pretending that you aren’t nervous.
A good instructor wants to know what concerns you because then they can work with you.
One of the advantages of starting in a proper training pool is that everything can happen gradually. You can stand up. You can put your face underwater and breathe. You can swim in shallow water. You can move deeper when you are comfortable.
Step by step, something that initially feels completely unnatural starts feeling normal.
Learning to dive isn’t only about what happens underwater.
Gili Air has developed into a popular holiday destination while maintaining a smaller-island atmosphere. There are restaurants, cafés, accommodation options and beaches around the island, while distances remain short.
That makes it easy to combine your diving course with a holiday.
You can complete your morning training, have lunch, relax around the pool or beach and review your SSI digital learning later.
For couples or families where not everyone wants to dive, this is particularly useful. One person can complete a diving course while others enjoy snorkeling, the beach or simply island life.
Oceans 5 Gili Air has been teaching scuba diving on Gili Air since 2010.
Today, Oceans 5 is an SSI Instructor Training Center, teaching everything from beginner programs through Divemaster and professional-level instructor education.
For beginners, however, the philosophy remains simple:
Don’t rush the student.
We have two dedicated training pools, experienced SSI instructors and small training groups. Our dive boats depart directly from Gili Air, and most dive sites around the three islands can be reached relatively quickly.
More importantly, Oceans 5 isn’t interested in becoming a diving factory.
Learning to scuba dive should be personal.
Some students need additional time.
Some students are nervous.
Some students learn quickly.
Some have dreamed about scuba diving for years.
The certification requirements may be standardized, but the people completing them aren’t.
Your first scuba course should also teach you something beyond diving skills.
It should teach you that you are entering an ecosystem.
Corals aren’t decorations. Turtles aren’t underwater attractions to chase for photographs. Marine animals shouldn’t be touched, moved or harassed.
As divers, we are visitors.
This is especially important around the Gili Islands because the reefs are part of a designated conservation area.[1]
Good buoyancy therefore becomes more than a diving skill. It becomes a conservation skill.
A diver who can control their position can observe coral without standing on it, photograph marine life without crashing into the reef and move through the underwater environment with minimal impact.
That is the type of diver we want our students to become.
Absolutely.
Gili Air combines warm tropical water, diverse dive sites, abundant marine life and the possibility of seeing turtles during your very first dives.
But what makes a destination good for beginners isn’t simply the number of turtles or the water temperature.
It is the quality of the training.
Choose a dive center where you feel comfortable. Ask about group sizes. Look at the training facilities. Talk to the instructors. Ask how much pool training you will receive and how they select dive sites when conditions change.
Your Open Water course isn’t just another holiday activity.
It is the beginning of your life as a diver.
And Gili Air is a pretty amazing place to begin.
Yes. Many people complete their first scuba experience or full Open Water certification on Gili Air. Beginners can first learn fundamental skills in a swimming pool before progressing to open water.
Currents do occur around the Gili Islands, and conditions vary between dive sites and throughout the day. This makes appropriate dive-site selection and professional supervision particularly important for beginners.
It is certainly possible. Turtles are commonly encountered around the Gili Islands, although marine-life sightings can never be guaranteed.
You don’t need to be a competitive swimmer, but entry-level certification involves water-comfort and swimming requirements. SSI requires students in entry-level programs such as Open Water Diver to complete a water-fitness evaluation.[3]
Tell your instructor. Nervousness is common among first-time divers. Starting in a controlled pool environment allows you to become comfortable with breathing, equipment and basic skills gradually.
SSI lists a minimum age of 10 years for programs including Basic Diver and Scuba Diver.[3][5] Age-related training and depth limitations apply to younger divers.
If you simply want to experience scuba diving before deciding whether to become certified, Basic Diver is a good introduction. If you already know that you want to continue diving, starting the Open Water Diver course usually makes more sense.
SSI specifies a maximum open-water training depth of 12 metres/40 feet for the Basic Diver program.[3]
No. SSI specifically identifies Basic Diver as an introductory recognition rather than an entry-level scuba certification. To become a certified diver, you need to complete an appropriate certification program such as Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver.[6]
Buoyancy allows you to control your position and depth while using less effort. It is important for both diving safety and protecting the underwater environment. DAN identifies good buoyancy control as a fundamental component of safe diving.[2]
[1] Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Republic of Indonesia (KKP) — Documentation concerning the Gili Matra conservation area covering the waters surrounding Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan.
[2] Divers Alert Network (DAN), The Importance of Buoyancy Control. Reviewed and updated March 2026.
[3] Scuba Schools International (SSI), Basic Diver Program — program requirements, minimum age, training sessions, depth limits and progression toward Scuba Diver/Open Water Diver.
[4] Divers Alert Network (DAN), Safe Diving Practices — equipment checks, pre-dive planning, checklists and fundamental diving skills.
[5] Scuba Schools International (SSI), Scuba Diver Certification — minimum age, training requirements and 12-metre certification limit under professional supervision.
[6] Scuba Schools International (SSI), Basic Diver Completion Record — clarification that Basic Diver is a recognition rather than an entry-level scuba certification.
Open Water Diver Course If you already love snorkeling, you probably know the feeling. You are floating at the surface, looking down at a beautiful coral reef. Below you are colorful reef fish, perhaps a turtle, a moray eel disappearing between the rocks, or something …
Where Every Tourist Is Valentino Rossi There was a time, not so long ago, when Gili Air was famous for something rather unusual in the modern world: there were no motorized vehicles. No cars. No motorbikes. No traffic jams. Just bicycles, cidomos, people walking barefoot along …
Are you an Indonesian citizen with a Rescue Diver certification who dreams of becoming a professional Divemaster?
Perhaps you want to guide divers around Indonesia’s incredible reefs. Maybe you dream about working in Raja Ampat, Komodo, Bali, the Gili Islands or another famous Indonesian diving destination. Or perhaps becoming a Divemaster is only the first step toward your ultimate goal of becoming a scuba diving instructor.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we believe motivated Indonesian divers should have the opportunity to build a professional career in their own country’s diving industry.
That is why Oceans 5 Gili Air offers a special four-month SSI Divemaster Internship scholarship exclusively for Indonesian citizens.
And when we say scholarship, we mean it.
There is no Divemaster course fee charged by Oceans 5 Gili Air. Candidates only need to pay the required SSI Divemaster digital learning materials and SSI professional registration/membership fees.[1]
There are no hidden Oceans 5 training fees.
There is no obligation to work for Oceans 5 after completing the program.
Most importantly, this is not a program where candidates work for months simply in exchange for receiving a certification at the end.
This is a proper professional SSI Divemaster course and internship.
Our objective is simple: to develop excellent Indonesian dive professionals who are ready to enter the diving industry.
Indonesia is one of the world’s most important scuba diving destinations.
The Indonesian archipelago sits within the Coral Triangle, an area internationally recognized for its extraordinary marine biodiversity.[2] Destinations such as Raja Ampat, Komodo, Bunaken, Bali and the Gili Islands attract divers from around the world.
That creates opportunities for Indonesian dive professionals.
However, becoming a professional diver requires training, experience and professional certification. For some talented Indonesian divers, the financial cost of professional-level education can make taking the next step difficult.
Oceans 5 Gili Air wants to help remove part of that barrier.
Instead of simply talking about supporting local employment, we decided to create a practical pathway into the diving industry.
Our Indonesian Divemaster Internship gives motivated Indonesian Rescue Divers the opportunity to spend approximately four months developing themselves into professional SSI Divemasters.
It is an investment in Indonesian dive professionals and, ultimately, in the future of Indonesia’s diving industry.
There is an important difference between a genuine Divemaster internship and using Divemaster candidates as free workers.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, our philosophy is clear:
You are here to learn.
Of course, part of becoming a Divemaster is understanding how a professional dive center operates. Candidates need experience with equipment preparation, dive organization, customer service, boat procedures, dive briefings, safety procedures and many other aspects of professional diving.
These activities are part of your professional education.
Candidates do not receive their Divemaster certification simply because they have spent four months at Oceans 5.
You have to train, study and develop.
You must demonstrate the required diving skills, knowledge, professionalism and leadership abilities and successfully meet the applicable SSI training standards.[1]
The objective is not to create someone who only knows how to carry tanks, prepare equipment or wash diving gear.
The objective is to create a knowledgeable, confident, safety-conscious and employable Indonesian dive professional.
That difference is extremely important.
Why does Oceans 5 make the Indonesian Divemaster Internship approximately four months long?
Because becoming an excellent Divemaster takes time.
A Divemaster certification should represent much more than completing a checklist of minimum requirements.
During four months at Oceans 5, candidates experience the daily reality of a professional dive center.
You meet beginner divers, experienced divers, instructors, Divemasters and professional candidates. You observe different diving situations and learn how experienced professionals organize and supervise activities.
You learn about briefings, dive planning, equipment, boats, customer service, safety and the responsibilities that come with becoming a dive professional.
Most importantly, you gain experience.
The Gili Islands provide an excellent environment for this type of training because diving conditions can vary. Currents are common around the islands, meaning Divemasters need to develop awareness of changing underwater conditions.
A professional Divemaster should not simply memorize a route around a dive site.
A good Divemaster observes the conditions, understands the environment, makes appropriate decisions and keeps the group together and safe.
Those abilities develop through training and experience.
The SSI Divemaster pathway represents an important transition from recreational diver toward becoming a dive professional.[1]
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we want candidates to understand that professional diving involves much more than simply being comfortable underwater.
Candidates develop their diving abilities, theoretical knowledge, leadership skills, environmental awareness and professional attitude.
You gain experience in areas such as:
You will also develop something that cannot simply be downloaded from a digital manual:
professional judgment.
When should a dive plan be changed?
How can you recognize that a diver is uncomfortable?
What should you do when the current is different from what you expected?
Where should you position yourself while guiding a group?
How do you manage divers with different levels of experience?
How do you make a dive enjoyable while still maintaining safety and control?
These are the details that separate someone who simply holds a Divemaster certification from someone who is genuinely ready to work as a professional Divemaster.
Oceans 5 Gili Air is an SSI Instructor Training Center, which means professional education is an important part of our daily operation.
Divemaster candidates train in an environment where future SSI instructors are also educated.
This creates an atmosphere where teaching, professional development and continuing education are part of everyday life.
Candidates have opportunities to observe experienced Divemasters, instructors and instructor trainers.
You are therefore not only learning how to become a Divemaster. You are surrounded by people at different stages of the professional diving pathway.
For candidates who eventually want to become instructors, this can be extremely valuable.
Getting certified is one thing.
Finding your first job is another.
Oceans 5 Gili Air therefore also tries to help Indonesian Divemaster graduates make the transition from training into employment.
When suitable opportunities become available, we are happy to help connect our graduates with dive centers looking for professional Indonesian Divemasters.
And the results of the program are something we are extremely proud of.
In 2025, 10 Indonesian candidates became Divemasters through Oceans 5 Gili Air.[3]
In 2026, we have already welcomed another eight Indonesian candidates into the pathway, with two more candidates graduating today.[3]
Our former candidates are now working in some of Indonesia’s most famous diving destinations.
Oceans 5 graduates have found opportunities in Raja Ampat, Komodo and the Gili Islands.[3]
The two Indonesian candidates graduating today have already found Divemaster positions here on Gili Air.[3]
That is exactly what we want this program to achieve.
Training should create opportunities.
There is another important principle behind the Oceans 5 Indonesian Divemaster Internship.
Once you have successfully completed your training, you are free to work wherever you want.
There is no obligation to stay at Oceans 5.
There is no employment contract requiring you to work for us because we provided your training scholarship.
You can look for opportunities on Gili Air, Gili Trawangan, Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat or elsewhere, subject to the professional and employment requirements applicable to the position.
We are proud when former candidates find jobs at other dive centers.
For us, that means the program is succeeding.
Indonesia does not only have some of the world’s best diving. It also has something international divers can never bring with them: local knowledge.
Indonesian Divemasters understand their country, culture, communities and marine environment.
Developing more highly trained Indonesian dive professionals strengthens the Indonesian diving industry.
It creates employment opportunities and career pathways.
Today’s Indonesian Divemaster could become tomorrow’s instructor, instructor trainer, dive-center manager or business owner.
Professional education can therefore have an impact far beyond a single certification.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we believe the future of diving in Indonesia should include strong Indonesian professionals at every level of the industry.
For some candidates, becoming an SSI Divemaster is the ultimate goal.
For others, it is only the beginning.
After working as a Divemaster, you may discover that you enjoy helping and teaching other divers.
Your next ambition could then be becoming an SSI Open Water Scuba Instructor.
As an SSI Instructor Training Center, Oceans 5 Gili Air can help suitable Divemasters understand the next steps toward instructor-level training.[1]
But there is no need to rush.
First, become an excellent Divemaster.
Gain experience.
Work with real divers.
Develop your confidence.
Learn from experienced professionals.
Then, when you are ready for your next step, we can help you explore the pathway toward becoming a dive instructor.
The Oceans 5 Gili Air scholarship is specifically designed for Indonesian citizens who are serious about developing a professional career in diving.
Candidates should already hold a Rescue Diver certification or recognized equivalent and meet the applicable SSI Divemaster entry requirements.[1]
But qualifications are only part of what we are looking for.
Attitude matters.
We want people who genuinely want to learn.
Being a professional Divemaster means accepting responsibility. It requires reliability, communication skills, professionalism, attention to safety and a willingness to continue learning.
You don’t have to arrive at Oceans 5 as the perfect diver.
That is why you are joining a training program.
But you should arrive motivated to become the best dive professional you can be.
We want to be completely transparent about the word free.
Oceans 5 Gili Air does not charge Indonesian scholarship candidates a Divemaster course/training fee for the four-month internship.
Candidates are responsible for paying the required SSI Divemaster digital training materials and applicable SSI professional registration/membership fees.[1]
There are no additional hidden Oceans 5 Divemaster course fees suddenly added halfway through the program.
The purpose of the scholarship is not to make money from Indonesian Divemaster candidates.
The purpose is to educate them.
Imagine where your Divemaster certification could take you.
Today you might be a Rescue Diver wondering whether a professional career in diving is realistic.
Four months later, you could be an SSI Divemaster preparing for your first professional job.
You could eventually find yourself guiding divers through the reefs of the Gili Islands, working in Komodo, exploring Raja Ampat or continuing your professional education toward becoming an SSI Instructor.
Oceans 5 Gili Air has already helped Indonesian divers make that transition.
Ten Indonesian candidates became Divemasters with us in 2025.[3] Eight more have already joined the pathway this year, and today two more Indonesian candidates are graduating and preparing to work professionally on Gili Air.[3]
Maybe the next success story will be yours.
Are you an Indonesian citizen?
Are you already a Rescue Diver?
Would you like to turn your passion for scuba diving into a professional career?
Then the four-month free SSI Divemaster Internship scholarship at Oceans 5 Gili Air could be your opportunity.
Come to Gili Air.
Train properly.
Gain real experience.
Become a professional.
And become part of the next generation of Indonesian dive professionals.
Yes. Oceans 5 Gili Air waives the Divemaster course/training fee for accepted Indonesian scholarship candidates. Candidates still need to pay the required SSI Divemaster digital learning materials and applicable SSI professional registration/membership fees.[1]
The scholarship program lasts approximately four months. We deliberately provide a longer training period because our goal is not simply to complete certification requirements. We want candidates to gain practical experience and develop into confident and employable dive professionals.
Yes. This particular free Divemaster scholarship is specifically designed for Indonesian citizens.
You should already hold a Rescue Diver certification or recognized equivalent and meet the current SSI Divemaster entry requirements.[1] Your previous certification does not necessarily have to be from SSI if it is recognized as an equivalent qualification.
No. This is a professional training program. Candidates participate in dive-center activities because learning how a professional dive operation functions is part of becoming a Divemaster. The purpose of the internship is education and professional development, not obtaining free labor in exchange for certification.
No. Once you successfully complete your program, you are free to look for work wherever you want. There is no obligation to work for Oceans 5 Gili Air.
Where possible, yes. We are happy to help connect successful graduates with opportunities in the Indonesian diving industry. Previous Oceans 5 Indonesian Divemaster candidates have gone on to work in destinations including Raja Ampat, Komodo and the Gili Islands.[3]
Yes. Becoming a Divemaster can be an important step in a professional diving career. Oceans 5 Gili Air is an SSI Instructor Training Center, so candidates interested in continuing their professional education can discuss the pathway toward becoming an SSI Instructor.[1]
The four-month program gives you time to gain experience instead of rushing through the certification. You train in a professional dive-center environment alongside experienced Divemasters, instructors and instructor trainers while experiencing real diving conditions around the Gili Islands.
Indonesian Rescue Divers interested in the scholarship can contact Oceans 5 Gili Air and introduce themselves, explain their diving experience and provide information about their current certifications.
WhatsApp: +62 853 3339 7823
Email: [email protected]
[1] Scuba Schools International (SSI) – SSI Training Standards, professional training requirements, Divemaster pathway, digital learning and professional education information. Current SSI standards and requirements should always be consulted when determining eligibility and certification requirements.
[2] Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) – Information on the Coral Triangle, marine biodiversity and the importance of Indonesia within one of the world’s most biologically diverse marine regions.
[3] Oceans 5 Gili Air internal training records (2025–2026) – Indonesian Divemaster scholarship participation, graduate numbers and employment destinations referenced in this article.
SSI training standards, fees and professional registration requirements can change. Candidates should contact Oceans 5 Gili Air for the latest requirements and costs before enrolling.
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When you join a dive at Oceans 5 Gili Air, one thing immediately stands out: every certified diver is guided by a local Indonesian SSI Divemaster. This is not a coincidence, nor is it simply a company preference. It is a conscious decision based on three important principles: complying with Indonesian law, supporting the local community, and providing guests with highly trained professionals who know the Gili Islands better than anyone else.
Many visitors to Indonesia are surprised to learn that foreign dive guides are generally not permitted to work as recreational dive guides. While foreign instructors can obtain the correct permits to teach scuba diving courses, Indonesian immigration and manpower regulations do not provide a work permit specifically for foreigners to work as recreational dive guides.[1][2] As a result, responsible dive centers follow these regulations by employing qualified Indonesian Divemasters to guide certified divers.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we have embraced this philosophy from the very beginning. Every guide is an Indonesian SSI Divemaster who has completed extensive professional training, knows the local environment intimately, and plays an important role in protecting the marine ecosystem surrounding Gili Air.
Some dive centers around the world use experienced recreational divers or Divemaster trainees to guide certified divers. At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we believe every guide should be a certified dive professional.
An SSI Divemaster is not simply someone with many logged dives. Becoming a Divemaster requires completing a professional-level training program that includes:
By completing this training, SSI Divemasters become capable of supervising certified divers safely while creating enjoyable underwater experiences.
Our guests can therefore relax knowing that every guided dive is led by a trained professional who meets international SSI professional standards.[3]
The Gili Islands are famous for their crystal-clear water, turtles, coral reefs and drift dives. However, currents around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan can change significantly throughout the day.
Local Divemasters understand:
Many of our Divemasters have spent hundreds—often thousands—of dives in these waters.
That experience simply cannot be replaced by reading a dive map.
Because they grew up in the area or have worked here for many years, they know where turtles usually sleep, where juvenile reef sharks can be found, when certain macro species appear, and how changing currents influence each dive site.
Tourism should benefit the people who live where tourism takes place.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we strongly believe that local people should have opportunities to build long-term careers within the dive industry.
Employing local Divemasters means:
Many of our Divemasters started as beginner divers before progressing through Open Water Diver, Advanced Adventurer, Rescue Diver and finally Divemaster.
Several have continued their education to become SSI Open Water Instructors and now teach new generations of divers.
Occasionally guests ask:
“Why is our dive guide Indonesian while the instructor teaching a course may be from another country?”
The answer lies in Indonesian immigration and manpower regulations.
Foreign nationals can obtain the appropriate work permits for specific professional positions, such as scuba instructor or instructor trainer, provided all legal requirements are met.[1][2]
However, guiding certified recreational divers is considered a position intended for Indonesian workers, and there is no standard work permit category allowing foreigners to work solely as dive guides.
This regulation has two important goals:
Responsible dive centres respect these regulations rather than attempting to circumvent them.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, compliance with Indonesian law is a fundamental part of how we operate.
This does not mean foreign professionals cannot work in Indonesian diving.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, our international SSI instructors focus on what they are specifically qualified and permitted to do:
Once divers are certified, they are guided by our experienced Indonesian SSI Divemasters.
This creates a professional division of responsibilities while fully respecting Indonesian regulations.
Some visitors initially assume they would prefer a guide from their own country.
After a few dives, most discover the opposite.
Our local Divemasters often know every rock, coral bommie and cleaning station on each dive site.
They know where turtles usually rest.
They know where frogfish hide.
They know where octopus emerge during different tides.
They know how to avoid stronger currents while still visiting the most exciting parts of a reef.
This local knowledge creates safer and more enjoyable dives.
Another important advantage at Oceans 5 Gili Air is our commitment to small dive groups.
Rather than placing large numbers of divers together, we organise groups according to:
This allows our Divemasters to focus on every diver while protecting the reef and ensuring everyone enjoys the dive at a comfortable pace.
Our Divemasters are also ambassadors for marine conservation.
During every dive they encourage responsible underwater behaviour, including:
These practices help protect the reefs surrounding Gili Air for future generations.
Many of our Divemasters also participate in beach clean-ups, reef conservation initiatives and marine education programs organised by Oceans 5 Gili Air.
One of the things we are most proud of is helping Indonesian divers become dive professionals.
Many talented young Indonesians dream of working in the dive industry but cannot afford the tuition required for professional training.
To help overcome this barrier, Oceans 5 Gili Air offers a unique opportunity.
Indonesian citizens who meet the entry requirements can join our SSI Divemaster Internship without paying course tuition.
Applicants must:
Instead of paying course fees, candidates only cover the mandatory SSI professional costs:
This allows aspiring professionals to receive comprehensive training while keeping the financial barrier as low as possible.
Throughout the internship, candidates develop real-world experience by working alongside our instructional team, assisting courses, guiding under supervision, improving dive skills, learning equipment maintenance, enhancing customer service, and gaining the confidence needed for a successful career in the diving industry.
Many graduates continue into the SSI Instructor Training Course and go on to work throughout Indonesia and internationally.
Indonesia is home to some of the world’s richest marine biodiversity. Developing local dive professionals helps ensure that this incredible natural heritage is protected by the people who know it best.
By investing in Indonesian Divemasters today, we are investing in the future of sustainable diving.
Our professional training philosophy focuses not only on producing excellent dive leaders but also on developing future instructors, conservation advocates and ambassadors for Indonesia’s underwater world.
When you dive with Oceans 5 Gili Air, you are diving with professionals who combine internationally recognised SSI training with local knowledge that can only come from years of experience in the Gili Islands.
Our certified Indonesian Divemasters know these reefs intimately, understand the changing conditions, care deeply about protecting the marine environment, and are passionate about sharing the beauty of Gili Air with divers from around the world.
For us, employing local SSI Divemasters is about much more than following regulations. It is about creating opportunities, supporting the community, protecting Indonesia’s reefs, and delivering the safest and most enjoyable diving experience possible.
Whether you are joining your first fun dive after certification or returning for another unforgettable underwater adventure, you can be confident that you are in capable hands.
Yes. Every guide leading certified divers is a fully certified SSI Divemaster or higher-level SSI professional.
Indonesian immigration and manpower regulations reserve recreational dive guiding positions for Indonesian citizens. Oceans 5 fully complies with these regulations by employing qualified local professionals.[1][2]
In general, foreigners cannot obtain a standard work permit solely to work as recreational dive guides. Foreign professionals may work in other approved roles, such as scuba instructors, if they meet all legal requirements.[1][2]
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, hold a Rescue Diver certification (or equivalent), have a minimum of 40 logged dives, and meet the medical requirements for professional diving.
Course tuition is free for eligible Indonesian citizens. Candidates only pay the mandatory SSI Digital Learning Kit and SSI Professional Membership fees.
Yes. Many of our Divemaster graduates continue into the SSI Instructor Training Course and build successful careers in the diving industry.
Because every dive is led by experienced local SSI Divemasters, groups are kept small, safety standards are high, and guests benefit from exceptional local knowledge of the Gili Islands.
If you are an Indonesian citizen with a Rescue Diver certification and at least 40 logged dives, we’d love to hear from you.
For more information about our Free SSI Divemaster Internship, contact Oceans 5 Gili Air:
WhatsApp: +62 853 3339 7823
Email: [email protected]
Becoming a Divemaster is much more than collecting a professional certification. It is about developing the confidence, experience, and knowledge to guide certified divers safely in a wide range of underwater environments. While the Divemaster internship itself provides an enormous amount of practical experience, combining …