Weekly Beach Cleanup at Oceans 5 Gili Air Collects 47 kg of Rubbish

A Massive Success: Weekly Beach Cleanup at Oceans 5 Gili Air Collects 47 kg of Rubbish Despite Winds

Every Friday at 17:00, something extraordinary happens in front of Oceans 5 Gili Air. While many visitors to the island are wrapping up their diving adventures or heading off to enjoy the sunset, a group of dedicated divers, instructors, volunteers, and local supporters gather for one purpose: to clean the beach. This weekly beach cleanup is not just a routine—it’s a tradition deeply rooted in the values of Oceans 5 Gili Air, and this week’s event once again proved the power of community and conservation.

On Friday, at exactly 17:00, the dive center’s divemaster candidates took the lead as they do every week. With confidence, purpose, and a strong sense of responsibility, they distributed reusable gloves and large collection bags to the group of participants. Their task was clear: to clean the entire beach area directly in front of Oceans 5, which borders the harbor jetty where tourists first step onto the island. It’s not just any patch of sand—it’s the front yard of Gili Air and often the very first impression travelers get when arriving.

Despite strong winds blowing in from the northeast in the days prior, making the cleanup more challenging, the group managed to collect an impressive 47 kilograms of rubbish. From discarded plastic bags and food wrappers to broken glass, cigarette butts, and lost flip-flops, the beach was transformed from a littered shoreline to a welcoming, pristine stretch of sand.

Why This Beach Cleanup Matters

The beach in front of Oceans 5 Gili Air is not just a recreational area. It’s the island’s main arrival and departure zone. Every day, hundreds of tourists disembark at the jetty, their cameras ready, looking around for their first impressions of this idyllic island paradise. A clean, inviting beach sets the tone. A dirty one? It sends the wrong message and can easily become the subject of negative reviews and complaints online.

In today’s digital world, it only takes a few minutes—and a smartphone—for a disappointed traveler to share their dissatisfaction with thousands of potential visitors. Clean beaches are not just an environmental concern, but also a crucial aspect of the island’s tourism economy. That’s why Oceans 5 Gili Air has taken the responsibility to clean this beach every single week, regardless of the conditions.

“We believe the beach next to the harbor should be the cleanest part of the island,” says Chelle, Oceans 5’s Operational Director. “It’s the first thing tourists see. If we want to protect Gili Air’s image and reputation, this is where we start.”

Led by the Next Generation of Dive Professionals

One of the most inspiring aspects of the weekly beach cleanup is that it is organized and led by Divemaster candidates at Oceans 5 Gili Air. As part of their internship, these candidates are not only trained in guiding certified divers and assisting with courses—they also learn about marine conservation, leadership, and public engagement.

The cleanup offers them a chance to develop their public speaking skills, organizational abilities, and teamwork—all essential for their future roles as PADI professionals. They learn how to welcome volunteers, provide clear instructions, assign cleanup zones, and later thank everyone for their participation.

This week, the candidates performed flawlessly. After handing out gloves and bags, they led the volunteers to key collection zones, focusing not just on the obvious debris, but also on micro-trash like bottle caps, candy wrappers, and straws—small items that can have big consequences for marine life.

When the cleanup was done, the rubbish was weighed, sorted, and recorded—an important part of tracking the types of waste found and identifying long-term solutions for reduction. Volunteers were then treated to cold drinks and snacks back at Oceans 5, a chance to share stories, bond, and enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.

The Role of the Wind and Ocean Currents

The last few days before the cleanup saw persistent winds from the northeast, which is a common weather pattern for this time of year. These winds stir up the ocean and can carry floating rubbish from neighboring islands, the mainland, or even far beyond. Often, trash that is not properly disposed of in coastal areas ends up in rivers, which then feed into the ocean. From there, currents carry it across the sea until it washes up on beaches like Gili Air’s.

While Gili Air doesn’t generate a significant amount of local waste compared to bigger islands, it receives a disproportionate amount of oceanborne rubbish. That’s why local cleanup initiatives are so critical—not just for aesthetics, but also for protecting marine ecosystems and wildlife.

Floating plastic is often mistaken for food by sea turtles, while bottle caps and straws pose a choking hazard to birds and fish. And when plastic breaks down into microplastics, it enters the food chain, affecting everything from plankton to large predators—and even humans.

A Community of Ocean Advocates

What makes the beach cleanups at Oceans 5 Gili Air unique is the community spirit. It’s not just about picking up trash—it’s about creating a culture of environmental responsibility. Volunteers are not only dive professionals and candidates, but also tourists, local residents, business owners, and even school children. Everyone is welcome.

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve been on the island for years or if you arrived this morning,” says Waz, one of Oceans 5’s in-house PADI Course Directors. “If you want to help, we’ll put a pair of gloves in your hand and make you part of the team.”

Oceans 5 also uses these weekly cleanups as a platform to educate participants on marine conservation. Often, brief talks are given before or after the cleanup, explaining why certain types of rubbish are more dangerous than others, how to reduce single-use plastic consumption, and how marine protected areas like the Gili Matra Marine Park play a vital role in preserving Indonesia’s underwater heritage.

A Legacy of Conservation

Oceans 5 Gili Air has been running these cleanups since 2010, long before the words “eco-tourism” and “sustainability” became trendy. Over the past 15 years, thousands of kilograms of rubbish have been removed from the island’s beaches thanks to this consistent effort. Many other dive centers have followed suit, and today Gili Air has a growing community of environmentally conscious operators.

The beach cleanups are just one part of a larger environmental initiative at Oceans 5, which includes:

• A dedicated Conservation Department that runs 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day marine ecology courses
• A partnership with the University of Mataram for reef surveys and coral health monitoring
• Participation in Dive Against Debris programs and support for the PADI AWARE Foundation
• Strict adherence to Gili Matra marine park rules
• Teaching all dive skills neutral buoyant to prevent reef damage

What’s Next?

The success of this week’s cleanup has only strengthened Oceans 5 Gili Air’s commitment to keeping Gili Air beautiful, healthy, and welcoming. Next Friday at 17:00, another beach cleanup will take place, and everyone is invited to join. Whether you’re a divemaster candidate, a certified diver, a curious tourist, or someone who simply loves the ocean—your help is welcome and appreciated.

Volunteers are encouraged to arrive a little before 17:00 to sign up, grab gloves and a bag, and meet the team. The cleanup usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour, followed by a casual debrief and refreshments. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, give back to the island, and do something truly meaningful with your Friday afternoon.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning a beach might seem like a small act, but when done consistently and collectively, it becomes a powerful force for change. The 47 kilograms of rubbish collected this week won’t just make the beach look nicer. It will prevent injuries to marine animals, reduce plastic entering the ocean, and enhance the experience for tourists visiting Gili Air.

Oceans 5 Gili Air continues to lead by example—training the next generation of dive professionals not only to be skilled underwater guides, but also to be ambassadors of the ocean. Their weekly beach cleanups are not just about removing trash. They’re about creating awareness, building community, and protecting what we all love: the sea.

So if you’re planning a visit to Gili Air, or if you’re already here and looking for something meaningful to do—come down to Oceans 5 on Friday at 17:00. Bring your passion, your energy, and your love for the ocean. Together, we can make a difference—one cleanup at a time.