Using Air Faster Than Your Buddy?

You finish a beautiful dive around the Gili Islands and look at your pressure gauge.

You have 50 bar remaining. Your buddy still has 90 bar, and the Divemaster appears to have barely used any air.

Does that mean you are a bad diver?

No.

Air consumption varies considerably between divers. Body size, depth, experience, physical effort, current, equipment, buoyancy, stress and even how interested you are in what you see can all influence how much gas you use.

It is natural to want to improve, but air consumption should never become a competition.

The objective is not to return to the boat with more air than everyone else. The objective is to breathe normally, monitor your pressure, communicate honestly and complete the dive with a safe reserve.

Your pressure gauge provides safety information. It is not a scorecard.

Why Do Some Divers Use More Air Than Others?

Every diver is different.

A larger person will generally need more breathing gas than a smaller person because they have a larger lung volume and their body requires more oxygen. This does not automatically mean that the larger diver is less efficient or less experienced.

Air consumption can also be influenced by:

Body size and lung volume
Depth
Physical fitness
Swimming speed
Current and waves
Stress or anxiety
Water temperature
Buoyancy and trim
Excessive weighting
Equipment configuration
Experience and recent diving activity
How much physical work the diver performs

DAN notes that recreational divers’ breathing rates can vary widely depending on body size, stress and workload.[1] Comparing your remaining pressure directly with another diver therefore tells you very little unless you used identical cylinders and followed the same depth profile under similar conditions.

Even then, you are still comparing two different bodies.

Depth Makes a Major Difference

Divers often assume that they used more air because they were nervous or inefficient. Sometimes the main explanation is simply depth.

The deeper you dive, the greater the surrounding pressure. Your regulator must provide breathing gas at the pressure of the surrounding water. This means every breath taken at depth uses more gas from your cylinder than the same-sized breath at the surface.

At approximately 10 metres, the surrounding pressure is about twice the pressure at the surface. At 20 metres, it is about three times the surface pressure. At 30 metres, it is approximately four times greater.

A diver breathing 15 litres per minute at the surface would use the equivalent of approximately:

30 litres per minute at 10 metres
45 litres per minute at 20 metres
60 litres per minute at 30 metres

SSI explains that gas consumption increases with depth and that physical effort raises a diver’s breathing rate.[2] DAN uses the same relationship when teaching divers how to calculate their Surface Air Consumption rate and estimate the gas required for a dive.[3]

This is why a deep dive normally uses more air than a relaxed shallow dive, even when the diver’s breathing pattern feels exactly the same.

It is also why moving a little shallower can sometimes extend a dive without requiring the diver to do anything unnatural with their breathing.

Workload Increases Air Consumption

Swimming against a current requires more effort. More effort means the body needs more oxygen and produces more carbon dioxide. The diver must breathe more to meet this demand and remove the additional carbon dioxide.

The same can happen when a diver:

Swims too quickly
Uses their hands constantly
Struggles to maintain depth
Carries too much weight
Fights to remain horizontal
Chases the guide or marine life
Uses an inefficient finning technique
Has poorly positioned equipment
Becomes separated and rushes to catch the group

DAN explains that greater exercise and greater depth both increase breathing-gas requirements.[4]

If you are swimming hard at 25 metres while your buddy is relaxed at 18 metres, comparing the two pressure gauges is meaningless. You have not completed the same dive physiologically, even if you entered the water together.

Stress Can Empty a Tank Surprisingly Quickly

Breathing often becomes faster when a diver feels nervous.

This is common among:

Newly certified divers
Divers returning after a long break
Divers using unfamiliar equipment
Divers making their first current dive
Divers descending into deep or blue water
Divers who have difficulty equalizing
Divers worried about using too much air

The last example can create a frustrating cycle.

The diver notices that their pressure is dropping, becomes concerned, starts thinking constantly about breathing and becomes less relaxed. Their breathing rate then increases further.

Trying too hard to save air can have the opposite effect.

The best response is usually not to force your breathing. Slow down, establish neutral buoyancy, move a little shallower if appropriate, stay close to your buddy and guide, and allow your breathing to settle naturally.

Never Hold Your Breath to Save Air

Some divers try to make their air last longer by pausing for an unnaturally long time between breaths. Others begin skip-breathing: inhaling, holding the breath and then exhaling.

This is not a safe or effective solution.

Holding your breath can allow carbon dioxide to accumulate. An increased carbon-dioxide level can contribute to headache, breathlessness, anxiety and a feeling that you cannot get enough air. It may also create an even stronger urge to breathe.

Most importantly, scuba divers must never hold their breath while ascending. As the surrounding pressure decreases, gas inside the lungs expands. If it cannot escape, the expanding gas can damage lung tissue and potentially cause an arterial gas embolism.[5]

The safer approach is to maintain continuous, relaxed breathing.

SSI recommends a deep, balanced and rhythmic breathing pattern while diving.[2] Do not try to take the smallest breaths possible. Breathe normally and comfortably.

Efficient breathing is relaxed breathing—not restricted breathing.

Why More Diving Can Improve Air Consumption

Air consumption often improves as divers gain experience.

This does not happen because experienced divers develop smaller lungs or need less oxygen. It happens because many unnecessary movements, worries and corrections gradually disappear.

With more diving experience, you may become better at:

Assembling and using your equipment
Descending without stress
Equalizing early and comfortably
Establishing neutral buoyancy
Maintaining a horizontal position
Using your fins efficiently
Reading the current
Staying close to your buddy
Monitoring depth and gas without anxiety
Communicating with the guide
Anticipating changes during the dive
Remaining calm when a minor problem occurs

A beginner may inflate the BCD, rise too far, dump too much air, sink, kick upward and inflate again. Every correction requires movement and attention.

An experienced diver often makes much smaller adjustments. They use their breathing for fine buoyancy control, remain streamlined and allow the water to carry them during a drift dive.

The result is less physical work and usually lower gas consumption.

Consistency matters

Making ten dives during one holiday can produce more improvement than completing ten dives over several years.

When divers take long breaks, each new trip may begin with a period of readjustment. They must become comfortable with the equipment, buoyancy, breathing and underwater environment again.

Regular diving helps these skills become automatic.

This does not mean you need hundreds of dives before you can become efficient. Some divers develop excellent control quickly, particularly when they receive focused coaching. Others need more time.

The number in your logbook is less important than what you practise during those dives.

Simply making more dives while repeating the same inefficient habits may produce only limited improvement. Experience is most valuable when it is combined with feedback and purposeful practice.

Perfect Buoyancy Can Make a Major Difference

One of the best ways to improve air consumption is to improve buoyancy.

A diver who is correctly weighted and neutrally buoyant does not need to kick constantly to remain at the same depth. They do not need to inflate and deflate the BCD repeatedly, and they are less likely to contact the bottom or reef.

Good buoyancy reduces unnecessary effort.

It also helps the diver become more relaxed because they feel in control of their position. Less effort and less stress can both contribute to more efficient breathing.

How poor buoyancy wastes air

Poor buoyancy can increase gas use in several ways:

Repeated BCD adjustments: Every unnecessary inflation uses gas from the cylinder.
Constant swimming: A negatively buoyant diver may kick continuously to avoid sinking.
Vertical positioning: A vertical diver creates more resistance when swimming forward.
Uncontrolled depth changes: Moving deeper increases gas consumption because of the greater ambient pressure.
Stress: Feeling unable to control depth can increase the breathing rate.
Excessive weighting: Carrying too much weight often requires more air in the BCD, creating additional drag and larger buoyancy changes.
Contact avoidance: A diver approaching the reef without control may suddenly kick, use their hands or inflate the BCD aggressively to avoid contact.

Good buoyancy is therefore not only about looking comfortable underwater. It affects safety, gas efficiency and environmental behaviour.

The SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty

The SSI Perfect Buoyancy specialty is designed for divers who want focused coaching rather than hoping their buoyancy will improve automatically over time.

During the specialty, divers can work on:

Correct weighting
Weight distribution
Neutral buoyancy
Trim and body position
Streamlining
Controlled ascents and descents
Hovering
Using breathing for fine buoyancy adjustments
Efficient movement
Maintaining position without touching the bottom
Protecting the reef through better control

SSI recommends the Perfect Buoyancy specialty for divers who want additional buoyancy knowledge and repeated practical exercises.[6]

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, buoyancy is closely connected to our conservation philosophy. A diver can understand marine conservation, avoid deliberately touching coral and participate in beach clean-ups—but without adequate buoyancy control, their fins or equipment may still damage the reef.

Perfect buoyancy makes responsible intentions effective underwater.

It can also make diving feel completely different. Instead of constantly correcting your position, you can relax, observe marine life and move with much less effort.

For many divers, improved air consumption becomes a natural result of that increased control.

It should not be the only reason to complete the specialty, but it can be a valuable benefit.

Good Trim Reduces Resistance

Trim describes a diver’s position in the water.

A diver in a balanced horizontal position presents a smaller surface area in the direction of travel. This reduces resistance and makes movement more efficient.

A diver in a vertical or head-up position creates more drag. They may need to kick harder to move forward, and part of every kick pushes them upward rather than forward. They then release air or stop kicking, begin to sink and repeat the process.

Equipment positioning also matters. Hanging gauges, alternate air sources and accessories create drag and can damage the reef.

Improving trim does not require a single equipment configuration for every diver. Body shape, exposure protection, cylinder type and equipment choices all affect balance. Moving weights or adjusting cylinder position can make a significant difference.

This is another advantage of professional buoyancy coaching: the instructor can observe what is happening rather than expecting the diver to diagnose their own position underwater.

Slow Down and Let the Guide Set the Pace

Scuba diving is not a race.

Swimming quickly usually means:

Greater physical effort
Faster gas consumption
Less time to notice marine life
A greater chance of losing your buddy
More difficulty maintaining buoyancy
More disturbance to the environment

Around the Gili Islands, many dives are drift dives. When conditions are suitable, the current does much of the work. Divers can maintain position, avoid unnecessary finning and allow the reef to pass beneath them.

Stay behind or beside the guide as instructed during the briefing. Do not repeatedly swim ahead and then fight the current to return.

A slower diver often sees more.

Honest Gas Reporting Is Essential

Some divers feel embarrassed to tell the guide that they have used more air than the rest of the group. They may display the wrong number, wait too long to report their pressure or hope that nobody asks again.

This creates a safety risk.

Your Divemaster needs accurate information to decide:

Whether to continue along the planned route
Whether to move shallower
When to turn
When to deploy the surface marker buoy
When to begin the ascent
Whether a buddy team should end the dive

Using air faster is not a problem. Hiding it is.

At Oceans 5, divers are divided into small groups with a maximum of four certified divers per guide. Grouping divers by experience, air consumption and interests makes it easier to create a pace and profile appropriate for everyone.

Tell your guide before the dive if you know that you normally consume gas quickly. This information helps us plan; it does not create a negative judgment.

A Larger Tank Can Be a Practical Solution

Training and experience can improve efficiency, but divers do not all have the same physical gas requirements.

A larger, experienced diver may naturally consume more air than a smaller buddy. Even with excellent buoyancy and relaxed breathing, the difference may remain.

In this situation, using a larger cylinder can make sense.

Oceans 5 offers 15-litre tanks for divers who would benefit from additional gas. The current supplement is IDR 50,000 per tank.

A larger cylinder is not a substitute for monitoring gas or following the dive plan. It simply provides a larger supply and can help buddy teams with different consumption rates enjoy a similar dive time.

There is no shame in choosing the cylinder that best matches your needs.

Fitness Can Help—but You Do Not Need to Be an Athlete

Good general fitness can support relaxed diving, especially in current or when surface conditions require additional effort.

However, the relationship between fitness and air consumption is not always simple. A highly muscular athlete may still consume more gas than a smaller, less athletic diver. Anxiety, technique, depth and buoyancy can have a greater influence during a particular dive.

Useful areas of fitness for divers include:

Cardiovascular endurance
Leg and hip strength
Core stability
Mobility
Comfort in the water
The ability to recover after physical effort

The goal is not to become the strongest person on the boat. It is to avoid unnecessary exhaustion and remain comfortable within your personal limits.

If conditions require more effort than you are comfortable with, inform the guide. Changing the site or dive plan is better than trying to prove that you can keep up.

Practical Ways to Improve Your Air Consumption

If you want to use your gas more efficiently, focus on the complete dive rather than only your breathing.

Before the dive

Dive regularly when possible.
Complete a refresher after a long break.
Tell the guide about your experience and normal gas consumption.
Choose the correct cylinder size.
Check your weighting.
Secure loose equipment.
Listen carefully to the dive briefing.
Understand the planned depth, current and route.
Avoid rushing while preparing equipment.

During the dive

Breathe continuously and rhythmically.
Never hold your breath.
Descend slowly enough to remain comfortable.
Establish neutral buoyancy early.
Maintain a streamlined position.
Keep movements slow and deliberate.
Avoid using your hands for balance.
Stay close to your buddy and guide.
Let the current carry you when appropriate.
Move shallower when instructed.
Check your pressure regularly.
Report your gas honestly.

After the dive

Compare your consumption with your previous dives, not another person’s.
Consider the depth and conditions before judging the result.
Ask your guide for feedback on buoyancy and trim.
Record cylinder size, starting pressure, ending pressure, depth and time.
Identify one specific skill to improve on the next dive.
Consider completing the SSI Perfect Buoyancy specialty.

Progress is easier to see when you compare similar dives over time.

Compare Yourself with Yourself

There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve your air consumption.

Using gas more efficiently can lead to more relaxed dives, longer bottom times within safe limits and better compatibility with your buddy. It can also reflect improvements in buoyancy, trim and overall comfort.

But pressure remaining at the end of a dive does not define the quality of the diver.

A diver who surfaces with 70 bar after following the plan and communicating honestly has completed a better dive than someone who surfaces with 100 bar after holding their breath, hiding their pressure or ignoring their buddy.

More diving can help. Regular experience allows you to become calmer, reduce unnecessary movements and develop better awareness.

Focused training can help even more. The SSI Perfect Buoyancy specialty gives you the opportunity to work directly on weighting, trim, control and efficient movement with professional feedback.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we would rather help you become comfortable and controlled than tell you simply to “breathe less.”

Relax. Maintain your buoyancy. Stay close to your buddy. Report your pressure honestly and enjoy the dive.

Your air consumption will often improve naturally as the rest of your diving improves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal to use more air than my buddy?

Yes. Body size, depth, workload, stress, experience, fitness and cylinder size can all affect gas consumption. Two divers should not expect to finish every dive with identical pressure.

Does using more air mean I am a bad diver?

No. It may indicate areas that can be improved, such as buoyancy or relaxation, but some people naturally require more breathing gas. Safe monitoring and honest communication are more important than having the lowest consumption.

How can I reduce my air consumption safely?

Dive regularly, improve buoyancy and trim, slow down, avoid unnecessary movement, remain streamlined and breathe continuously in a relaxed rhythm. Do not restrict your breathing.

Will more diving improve my air consumption?

It often does. Regular diving can increase comfort, reduce stress and make equipment use, buoyancy and movement more automatic. Focused practice and instructor feedback usually produce better results than merely collecting dives.

Can the SSI Perfect Buoyancy specialty help?

Yes. The specialty focuses on weighting, neutral buoyancy, trim, streamlining and efficient underwater movement. These skills can reduce unnecessary effort and may therefore improve air consumption.

Should I hold my breath to save air?

No. Holding or skip-breathing can contribute to carbon-dioxide accumulation. Holding your breath during an ascent can cause serious lung injury. Maintain continuous, relaxed breathing.

Does diving deeper increase air consumption?

Yes. The regulator supplies gas at the surrounding pressure. As depth and pressure increase, each breath removes more gas from the cylinder.

When should I tell the Divemaster how much air I have?

Report your pressure whenever requested and at the limits agreed during the briefing. Never delay or give an inaccurate reading because you feel embarrassed.

Can I request a 15-litre tank at Oceans 5?

Yes. Oceans 5 offers 15-litre tanks for an additional IDR 50,000 per tank. Tell the team in advance so the correct equipment can be prepared.

Will nitrox make my tank last longer?

No. Nitrox changes the proportion of oxygen and nitrogen in the cylinder, but it does not significantly change how quickly you breathe the gas. Nitrox can offer decompression-related benefits when used correctly, but it is not a solution for high gas consumption.[7]

References

Divers Alert Network. “Tank Valves and Out-of-Air Emergencies.”
https://dan.org/alert-diver/article/tank-valves-and-out-of-air-emergencies/
Scuba Schools International. “Developing Proper Breathing Patterns.”
https://training.divessi.com/course/open-water-diver/owd-peg/owd-peg-2024-09-17/29-developing-proper-breathing-patterns
Divers Alert Network. “Estimating Your Air Consumption.”
https://dan.org/alert-diver/article/estimating-your-air-consumption/
DAN World. “How Much Air Do You Really Need?”
https://world.dan.org/health-medicine/health-resource/smart-guides/13-ways-to-run-out-of-air-how-not-to/how-much-air-do-you-really-need/
Divers Alert Network. “How to Avoid Rapid Ascents and Arterial Gas Embolism.”
https://dan.org/safety-prevention/diver-safety/divers-blog/how-to-avoid-rapid-ascents-and-arterial-gas-embolism/
Scuba Schools International. “Five Tips to Improve Your Buoyancy.”
https://www.divessi.com/ru/blog/blog/5-tips-om-je-drijfvermogen-te-verbeteren-8869.html
Divers Alert Network. “Nitrox.”
https://dan.org/alert-diver/article/nitrox/

Scuba Tips

by oceans5dive

August 28, 2026

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by oceans5dive

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Scuba Tips

by oceans5dive

August 26, 2026

Why the Best Dive Site in the Gili Islands Changes Every Day

Diving Gili Air Indonesia | SSI Instructor Training Center Oceans 5 Gili Air

The Best Dive Site in the Gili Islands

“What is the best dive site in the Gili Islands?”

It is one of the questions we hear most often at Oceans 5 Gili Air.

Some divers arrive with a famous name already written in their logbook: Shark Point, Deep Turbo, Turtle Heaven, Halik or the Bounty Wreck. They have seen photographs, watched videos or received a recommendation from another diver.

These are all excellent dive sites—but that does not mean they are automatically the best choice today.

The ocean is constantly changing. Currents, tides, wind, waves and visibility can transform a dive site within hours. A location that offered a gentle drift dive yesterday may have a much stronger current today. Another site that receives less attention online might suddenly offer calm water, excellent visibility and remarkable marine-life encounters.

That is why experienced dive centers do not simply choose the most famous name. They select the site that provides the best combination of conditions, safety, diver ability and underwater experience at that particular moment.

The Ocean Does Not Follow a Fixed Schedule

A dive site is not a swimming pool.

Conditions are influenced by tides, currents, weather and the movement of water between and around the three Gili Islands. Tides involve changes in sea level, while currents describe the movement of water. Tides can generate currents, but wind, waves and local underwater topography can influence water movement as well.[1]

This matters around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan because water must move around islands, across reef slopes and through the channels separating them.

The same dive site can therefore feel completely different from one dive to the next.

It may offer:

A relaxing drift in one direction in the morning
A stronger current later in the day
Excellent visibility on one tide
Reduced visibility after changing weather
Different marine-life activity depending on the conditions
A comfortable dive for experienced divers but an unsuitable dive for beginners

Understanding waves, tides and currents is an important part of evaluating a dive environment. SSI specifically teaches that these conditions can affect both the safety and enjoyment of a dive.[2]

A Famous Dive Site Is Not Always the Best Dive

Divers understandably want to visit the most famous locations.

However, choosing a dive solely because its name is popular can lead to disappointment. If the current is unsuitable, visibility is reduced or too many boats and groups are already present, the experience may not match the photographs that made the site famous.

Meanwhile, a less-publicized site may provide beautiful coral, abundant marine life and a much more relaxed dive.

The name of the site does not determine the quality of the dive. The conditions do.

A responsible dive center should be willing to change the plan when another location offers a safer or more enjoyable experience. This is not a failure to deliver what a guest requested. It is professional dive planning.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we listen to where our guests would like to dive and what they hope to see. We then consider whether that request matches the conditions and the experience of the group.

Sometimes the requested site is the right choice. Sometimes another site will provide a considerably better dive.

What Do We Consider When Selecting a Dive Site?

1. Current direction and strength

Current is part of diving around the Gili Islands. It can create an effortless drift dive and bring nutrients that support active marine ecosystems. However, current diving requires preparation, suitable skills and good judgment.[3]

Before selecting and entering a site, the dive team considers:

The expected direction of the current
Its likely strength
Where the group will enter
The planned route
Suitable areas for descent and ascent
Where the boat can safely collect the divers
Whether the conditions match the group’s experience

Predictions are helpful, but they are not the complete answer. Conditions must also be evaluated at the site. A local current check can confirm whether the original plan remains appropriate.

The willingness to change the site, entry point or route is part of good decision-making.

2. The experience of the divers

The best site for an experienced drift diver may not be the best site for someone who has recently completed an Open Water Diver course.

Certification level is important, but it does not tell the entire story. We also want to know:

How many dives has the person completed?
When was their last dive?
Are they comfortable in current?
How is their buoyancy?
Have they used a surface marker buoy before?
Do they consume air quickly?
Are they comfortable descending without holding a line?
Would they prefer a relaxed dive or a more adventurous one?

Two divers with the same certification can have very different abilities and comfort levels.

This is one reason Oceans 5 keeps its groups small, with a maximum of four certified divers per guide. Smaller groups make it easier to match divers according to their experience, interests and air consumption. They also allow the guide to give each diver more attention.

3. What the guests want to see

There is no single definition of a perfect dive.

One diver may dream of seeing reef sharks. Another may happily spend an hour searching for nudibranchs, frogfish or tiny crustaceans. Some want turtles, while others prefer coral landscapes, wrecks, deep reefs or underwater photography.

Around the Gili Islands, different sites offer different possibilities:

Turtle Heaven is famous for turtles.
Shark Point can offer reef sharks, turtles and schooling fish.
Halik combines reef scenery with opportunities for both larger and smaller marine life.
Deep Turbo and Simon’s Reef appeal to experienced divers who enjoy deeper reef formations.
The Bounty Wreck offers an accessible artificial structure covered with marine growth.
Muck-diving areas can reward patient macro enthusiasts.
Gili Air’s harbor can reveal surprisingly rich macro life, particularly during night dives.

Wild animals can never be guaranteed. However, local guides build knowledge through daily observation. Recent sightings, seasonal changes and familiarity with the habitats of different species help them select locations that offer realistic opportunities.

Local Knowledge Cannot Be Replaced by a Dive-Site Map

A map can show the name, depth and approximate location of a dive site. It cannot tell you exactly what the current is doing today.

Local knowledge develops through repeated experience.

Oceans 5’s certified Indonesian SSI Divemasters dive around the Gili Islands throughout the year. They observe how sites change with different conditions and learn where marine animals are frequently seen. They also understand suitable entry points, underwater routes, sheltered areas and potential exit locations.

That experience helps answer practical questions:

Which section of the site should we dive today?
Where should the boat drop the group?
Is the current running in the expected direction?
Which route offers the most protection?
Does the site suit beginners at this moment?
Would another location offer a better experience?
Where have sharks, turtles or interesting macro species recently been seen?

SSI training materials emphasize that knowledge of local tides, currents and underwater navigation features contributes to successful dive planning.[4] Local expertise is therefore not merely helpful—it is an important part of responsible diving.

Why We Sometimes Change the Plan

Imagine that a group requests Shark Point.

The weather looks good and the site was suitable during the previous dive. However, after arriving, the guide checks the current and discovers that it is considerably stronger than expected.

There are several possible responses:

Adjust the entry point or underwater route.
Assign more experienced divers to the site while offering beginners another option.
Wait or select a more protected location.
Change the dive site completely.

The least professional response would be to ignore the conditions simply because the site was promised.

Dive plans should be flexible. The objective is not to place a tick beside a famous name. The objective is to provide a safe and enjoyable dive.

DAN advises divers to obtain local information and evaluate site conditions when planning dives affected by currents.[5]Sometimes the best decision a dive professional makes is deciding not to follow the original plan.

Small Groups Make Better Site Selection Possible

Large, mixed groups make dive planning more difficult.

If beginners, photographers, experienced drift divers and people returning after a long break are placed together, the guide must choose a plan that attempts to accommodate everyone. This often means that nobody receives the experience best suited to them.

At Oceans 5, we organize small groups based on factors such as:

Certification
Experience
Comfort in current
Air consumption
Photography interests
Preferred marine life
Nitrox use
Desired depth and dive style

This makes it possible to send different groups to appropriate locations or allow them to follow different routes at the same site.

A photographer interested in macro life should not be rushed behind a group searching for sharks. A newly certified diver should not feel pressured to enter conditions intended for highly experienced drift divers.

The dive site should match the diver—not the other way around.

Several Dive Departures Create More Flexibility

Oceans 5 does not require every diver to commit to a compulsory two-dive, full-day package.

Our diving schedule provides several opportunities to dive during the day. Guests can choose the dives that fit their holiday plans, while our team can reassess the conditions and site choices throughout the day.

This flexibility has several advantages:

Divers can choose how many dives they want to make.
Different groups can visit different sites.
Conditions can be reassessed between departures.
Guests can balance diving with the rest of their Gili Air holiday.
A site that is unsuitable at one moment may become an option later.
Divers with different interests can be placed with suitable guides and groups.

Flexibility is not only convenient. It can improve the quality of dive planning.

The Best Dive Might Be the Site You Did Not Request

Some of the most memorable dives begin with a change of plan.

A diver may arrive determined to visit one famous reef but instead discover a quieter site with excellent visibility, a gentle current and very few other divers. A guest searching for large animals may unexpectedly become fascinated by a frogfish or a tiny nudibranch shown to them by a local guide.

This is part of the beauty of diving.

The ocean does not offer a fixed performance, and marine animals do not appear according to a timetable. Every dive is different. The more willing we are to respond to the conditions, the greater our chance of enjoying what the ocean offers that day.

Trust the Conditions, the Guide and the Process

It is perfectly reasonable to tell your dive center which sites you want to visit and what you hope to see. That information helps the team design an experience around your interests.

But it is equally important to remain flexible.

Ask your guide:

Why was this site selected?
What are the current conditions?
What marine life might we encounter?
What type of dive should we expect?
Is the site suitable for our experience level?
Could another site be better today?

A professional guide should be able to explain the decision.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we do not believe that the most famous site automatically produces the best dive. We believe the right site is the one that matches the ocean conditions, the group’s abilities and the interests of the divers.

Sometimes that will be Shark Point, Halik, Turtle Heaven, Deep Turbo or the Bounty Wreck.

Sometimes it will be somewhere you had never considered.

And that unexpected site may become the best dive of your holiday.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best dive site in the Gili Islands?

There is no single site that is best every day. The answer depends on currents, visibility, weather, diver experience and what marine life you hope to see. Famous sites such as Shark Point, Turtle Heaven, Halik and Deep Turbo can all offer excellent diving when the conditions are suitable.

Can I request a particular dive site?

Yes. At Oceans 5, guests are encouraged to tell us which sites they would like to visit and what they want to see. The final decision must also consider the conditions, safety, certification levels and experience of the group.

Why can the dive site change at the last moment?

Predictions do not always show exactly what is happening locally. The team may change the site, entry point or route after checking the current, waves, boat traffic or other conditions. This flexibility is part of responsible dive planning.

Are there strong currents around the Gili Islands?

Currents are common, but their direction and strength vary between sites and throughout the day. Many dives are enjoyable drift dives. The site and plan should always be matched to the experience and comfort of the divers.

Are the Gili Islands suitable for beginner divers?

Yes. The Gili Islands offer sites and sections of reef suitable for beginners, but conditions must be evaluated daily. Oceans 5 separates divers into small groups and chooses locations appropriate to their abilities.

Can Oceans 5 guarantee turtles or sharks?

No responsible dive center can guarantee encounters with wild animals. However, experienced local guides understand the habitats of different species and use recent sightings and local knowledge to improve the chance of appropriate encounters.

Why does Oceans 5 use local certified Divemasters?

Local Divemasters have extensive knowledge of the reefs, currents, underwater routes and marine life around the Gili Islands. Oceans 5 uses certified Indonesian SSI Divemasters to guide its certified divers, combining professional training with valuable local experience.

References

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Diving Deeper: Tides and Currents.”
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast/mar14/dd57-tides-currents.html
Scuba Schools International. “Waves, Tides and Currents Specialty.”
https://www.divessi.com/en/advanced-training/scuba-diving/waves-tides-and-currents
Divers Alert Network. “Current Dives.”
https://dan.org/alert-diver/article/current-dives/
Scuba Schools International. “Planning the Dive with Local Knowledge.”
https://training.divessi.com/index.php?id=22860709
Divers Alert Network. “Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.”
https://dan.org/alert-diver/article/washingtons-olympic-peninsula/

Scuba Tips

by oceans5dive

August 25, 2026

Why Coastal Development Is a Marine Conservation Issue

The Ocean Doesn’t Start at the Shore When people hear the words marine conservation, they usually look toward the ocean. They think about coral restoration, turtles, sharks, plastic pollution, fishing, anchor damage and divers touching coral. But there is a fundamental problem with that way of …

Scuba Tips

by oceans5dive

Recent Posts

The Main Legal Framework

Regional and Local Rules

Protection Requires Enforcement

Using Air Faster Than Your Buddy?

Why Do Some Divers Use More Air Than Others?

Depth Makes a Major Difference

Workload Increases Air Consumption

Stress Can Empty a Tank Surprisingly Quickly

Never Hold Your Breath to Save Air

Why More Diving Can Improve Air Consumption

Consistency matters

Perfect Buoyancy Can Make a Major Difference

How poor buoyancy wastes air

The SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty

Good Trim Reduces Resistance

Slow Down and Let the Guide Set the Pace

Honest Gas Reporting Is Essential

A Larger Tank Can Be a Practical Solution

Fitness Can Help—but You Do Not Need to Be an Athlete

Practical Ways to Improve Your Air Consumption

Before the dive

During the dive

After the dive

Compare Yourself with Yourself

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal to use more air than my buddy?

Does using more air mean I am a bad diver?

How can I reduce my air consumption safely?

Will more diving improve my air consumption?

Can the SSI Perfect Buoyancy specialty help?

Should I hold my breath to save air?

Does diving deeper increase air consumption?

When should I tell the Divemaster how much air I have?

Can I request a 15-litre tank at Oceans 5?

Will nitrox make my tank last longer?

References

The Best Dive Site in the Gili Islands

The Ocean Does Not Follow a Fixed Schedule

A Famous Dive Site Is Not Always the Best Dive

What Do We Consider When Selecting a Dive Site?

1. Current direction and strength

2. The experience of the divers

3. What the guests want to see

Local Knowledge Cannot Be Replaced by a Dive-Site Map

Why We Sometimes Change the Plan

Small Groups Make Better Site Selection Possible

Several Dive Departures Create More Flexibility

The Best Dive Might Be the Site You Did Not Request

Trust the Conditions, the Guide and the Process

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best dive site in the Gili Islands?

Can I request a particular dive site?

Why can the dive site change at the last moment?

Are there strong currents around the Gili Islands?

Are the Gili Islands suitable for beginner divers?

Can Oceans 5 guarantee turtles or sharks?

Why does Oceans 5 use local certified Divemasters?

References