Community in Action: 65kg of Rubbish Collected During Beach Cleanup at Oceans 5 Gili Air
Community in Action: 65kg of Rubbish
This week, a massive beach cleanup took place at the harbor of Gili Air, organized by Oceans 5 Gili Air’s very own divemaster, Zain. With the wind picking up in the afternoons and the swell carrying more and more rubbish to the shore, the timing could not have been better. The cleanup drew a large crowd of enthusiastic volunteers—tourists, locals, and dive professionals—who rolled up their sleeves and got to work along the stretch of beach right in front of the dive center.
Their combined efforts paid off. In just one afternoon, the team managed to collect an incredible 65 kilograms of rubbish. Plastic bags, bottles, packaging materials, fishing lines, and countless smaller items were removed from the coastline—items that would otherwise pollute the marine park and harm the fragile ecosystems that make the Gili Islands such a special place to visit.
Why Cleanups Matter Now More Than Ever
During this season, the Gili Islands are facing a recurring challenge: the ocean brings in more debris than usual due to strong afternoon winds and increased swell. As a result, the otherwise pristine beaches can quickly become lined with floating plastic, tangled fishing nets, and waste carried from nearby islands or even distant lands.
These conditions make beach cleanups a necessity—not just for aesthetic reasons but also for the health of marine life and the local community. Tourists travel from all over the world to experience the white sand beaches and vibrant reefs of Gili Air. Maintaining a clean environment isn’t just a matter of pride—it’s a duty for everyone who lives on or visits the island.
A Longstanding Commitment to Conservation
Oceans 5 Gili Air has been organizing beach cleanups since 2010, making them one of the longest-standing conservation contributors on the island. What makes their efforts unique is that they are entirely self-funded. There’s no support from NGOs or external donations—just a dive center that believes in doing the right thing.
Every cleanup is organized with simple tools: gloves, rubbish bags, tongs, and a positive attitude. After each cleanup, Oceans 5 rewards volunteers with cold drinks and a warm smile, thanking them for their support in protecting the coastline and keeping the Gili Islands clean and inviting.
How You Can Help
If you love the Gili Islands and want to support their conservation, there are a few simple things you can do:
- Join the Next Beach Cleanup: Oceans 5 Gili Air is hosting another cleanup next week. Everyone is welcome to join—divers, snorkelers, tourists, and residents. Meet at 17:00 in front of Oceans 5 in the harbor. All materials will be provided.
- Dive with Oceans 5: Your dives contribute directly to the environmental efforts of the center. A portion of every course and fun dive helps fund beach cleanups, reef restoration, and conservation education.
- Stay at Oceans 5 Resort: By choosing their resort, you’re supporting a business that reinvests in the community and the marine environment.
- Say No to Single-Use Plastics: Help reduce waste at the source. Carry reusable bags, bottles, and containers.
The Bigger Picture
Oceans 5 Gili Air isn’t just a dive shop—it’s a community hub for conservation and sustainability. Their beach cleanups are not isolated events, but part of a bigger effort to inspire responsible tourism and long-term environmental protection. Whether you live on the island or are visiting for just a few days, you can be part of the solution.
As the sun sets over the harbor, the freshly cleaned beach is a powerful symbol: that even with 65 kilograms of rubbish removed, there is still much more to do. But with people like Zain, the Oceans 5 team, and the incredible volunteers who showed up this week, there’s every reason to believe that the Gili Islands will continue to shine.
See you next week at 17:00 at Oceans 5 Gili Air. Let’s keep our island clean—together.