Marine Conservation Gili Air

Protecting the islands we call home

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, our connection with the ocean extends beyond the dives we organise. The reefs, beaches and marine life around Gili Air are part of our home, our working environment and the experience we share with our guests.

Since opening in 2010, we have connected diving with practical conservation, community participation and education. Our efforts include beach clean-ups, responsible diver training, support for Indonesian university research and opportunities for Indonesian dive professionals.

Our dedicated website, Gili Conservation Dive — Marine Conservation Society , brings together our programmes, partnerships and articles about the environmental challenges facing the Gili Islands.

Explore our conservation work

Conservation begins with how we dive

Every dive is an opportunity to treat the marine environment with care. At Oceans 5, we teach neutral buoyancy and a no-touching approach. Students practise controlling their position without using the seabed for support, while divers are encouraged to keep fins, gauges and other equipment clear of coral.

We give marine animals space. Turtles, sharks and other wildlife should be observed without chasing, feeding, touching or blocking their movement for a photograph.

Develop your control through our Perfect Buoyancy Specialty , or put responsible habits into practice on our guided fun dives around the Gili Islands .

Weekly beach clean-ups on Gili Air

Our beach clean-ups bring together staff, Divemaster candidates, university students, residents and visitors. Removing rubbish is practical work, and it also creates conversations about waste, consumption and the pressures facing a small island.

Join us every Friday at 17:00 at Oceans 5 Gili Air, near the harbour. Everyone is welcome, including non-divers. We weigh the rubbish collected to document our activities.

Clean-ups are one part of the effort. Reducing waste and improving how it is managed remain essential to preventing rubbish from reaching the sea.

Learn about our clean-ups and community activities

Local children joining a beach clean-up with Oceans 5 Gili Air — Local children joining the beach clean-up at Oceans 5 Gili Air. Conservation brings our community together.

Supporting Indonesian marine research

Understanding the marine environment requires evidence. Through the Indonesian Marine Research Scholarship , Oceans 5 works with the University of Mataram and Marine Conservation Indonesia to support Indonesian university students conducting underwater fieldwork.

Established in 2024, the programme helps accepted students access diving preparation, scuba equipment, tanks, boats and professional diving support. Participating students pay nothing for the programme.

Before collecting data, students develop the control needed to manage research equipment while respecting the reef. Academic research design, analysis and conclusions remain the responsibility of the students and their university supervisors.

University students conducting an underwater reef survey in the Gili Islands — University students carrying out a reef survey as part of their marine research.

Marine education for divers and non-divers

Recognising marine life can change the way you experience the ocean. A reef becomes more interesting when you understand the animals living there and the relationships between them.

Our SSI Ecology courses on Gili Air cover subjects including coral and fish identification, marine ecology, sharks, sea turtles, manta rays and other marine animals.

These classroom-based courses are suitable for divers and non-divers. They offer a way to learn about the marine environment without entering the water.

University of Mataram student research interns at Oceans 5 Gili Air — University of Mataram student interns at Oceans 5 Gili Air, connecting academic study with practical marine research experience.

Creating opportunities for Indonesian dive professionals

Local knowledge and participation matter to the future of the Gili Islands. Our tuition-free Indonesian Divemaster internship helps eligible Indonesian citizens develop professional diving, teamwork and leadership skills.

Environmental awareness and involvement in clean-ups connect professional training with responsibility for the places where we dive. Candidates remain responsible for applicable SSI fees and personal expenses.

Explore our wider Divemaster training programmes or learn about the next stage of professional development through SSI instructor training at Oceans 5 .

Looking beyond the waterline

Marine conservation also means paying attention to what happens on land. Wastewater, rubbish, coastal development and changes to beaches can influence the surrounding marine environment.

We use our websites to share observations, discuss environmental pressures and explain why prevention deserves attention alongside clean-ups and restoration. We aim to distinguish observations from established findings and identify where further research is needed.

Our conservation work combines practical action with learning, questions and cooperation. No single activity can address every pressure facing the islands.

Explore the Oceans 5 network

Our activities connect through one dive centre on Gili Air. Choose the website that matches what you would like to learn or experience.

Diving and staying

Discover recreational diving, courses and accommodation at Oceans 5 Gili Air .