Choosing the Right Dive Center on Gili Air: Why Community and Conservation Matter

Choosing the Right Dive Center on Gili Air

When it comes to scuba diving around the Gili Islands, Gili Air stands out as a favorite destination for divers from all over the world. This small, charming island offers an impressive variety of dive centers to choose from, ranging from small, family-run operations to larger and more established facilities. With so many options, divers often look at the obvious factors first: price, dive organization affiliation (PADI, SSI, RAID, etc.), size of the dive shop, the number of courses offered, or even the quality of the equipment.

But there is a deeper layer to this decision that many divers are beginning to consider: what is the dive center doing for the local community, and what efforts are they making to protect the Gili Matra Marine Park? These factors go beyond just diving—they are about shaping the future of the island and ensuring that its natural beauty and local culture remain for generations to come.

Beyond Price: Looking at the Bigger Picture

Yes, price matters, and travelers are often tempted to pick the cheapest option. However, cheaper doesn’t always mean better when it comes to diving. Diving is a life-support activity, and the quality of training, equipment maintenance, and staff professionalism play a huge role in keeping divers safe. The dive center you choose is responsible not just for giving you a memorable experience but for doing so in a way that respects the environment and supports the community you are visiting.

Dive shops that focus solely on being the cheapest often cut corners somewhere—whether in staff salaries, equipment servicing, or environmental responsibility. This may lower the immediate cost for customers, but it comes with hidden risks and long-term consequences. On the other hand, dive centers that invest in their staff, their facilities, and their community tend to create safer, higher-quality diving experiences and a more positive impact on the destination.

Oceans 5 Gili Air: A Different Kind of Dive Center

Oceans 5 Gili Air is not the cheapest dive shop on the island—and this is by design. Their philosophy has always been about prioritizing quality, sustainability, and fairness rather than competing in a race to the bottom on price.

One of the key differences is how Oceans 5 treats its staff. The majority of the team has been with the company for over 10 years. This kind of loyalty is rare on small tropical islands, where tourism jobs often have a high turnover rate. The reason so many staff stay long-term is that Oceans 5 pays fair wages, offers opportunities for professional growth, and treats its employees like family.

Over the years, local boat crew have been trained to become divemasters, divemasters have been encouraged to become instructors, and instructors have taken on management roles. This creates a stable, experienced team that provides consistent training quality for students and a welcoming, family-like environment for guests.

Supporting Local Education and Marine Science

Oceans 5’s commitment doesn’t stop with its own staff. The dive center is actively involved in supporting local education and marine research. Oceans 5 has partnered with the University of Mataram to give marine science students hands-on opportunities to conduct reef surveys, study coral health, and monitor marine biodiversity around the Gili Islands.

This support goes far beyond simply allowing students to tag along on dives. Oceans 5 provides them with full access to boats, dive equipment, experienced dive guides, lunches, and transport. The goal is to give these students the resources they need to grow into skilled marine scientists who can one day lead conservation efforts in Indonesia.

In 2025 alone, Oceans 5 is supporting 15 Indonesian divers in their journey to become PADI Divemasters. This is not just about building a workforce—it is about empowering local divers to take ownership of their marine resources and become role models for future generations.

A Commitment to Conservation

Another key factor that sets Oceans 5 apart is its commitment to environmental protection. Oceans 5 was the first foreign-owned company in Indonesia to be granted the SIUPKK, a special conservation license issued by BKKPN Kupang. This license is not simply a piece of paper—it is a recognition of Oceans 5’s commitment to sustainable operations and a legal agreement to contribute to data collection and protection of the Gili Matra Marine Park.

Only five dive centers on the Gili Islands have signed a partnership agreement with BKKPN Kupang, and Oceans 5 is proud to be one of them. This partnership means that Oceans 5 helps the government collect important data about reef health, fish populations, and marine park usage, which is crucial for long-term planning and conservation.

In addition to these official efforts, Oceans 5 has been organizing weekly beach cleanups since 2010—long before sustainability became a buzzword in tourism. Every Friday, staff, interns, and guests gather to collect rubbish from the main harbor beach, where thousands of visitors arrive and depart every day. These cleanups not only remove plastic and other waste from the environment but also create awareness among visitors, showing them firsthand the impact of human activity on a small island ecosystem.

Why Oceans 5 Costs More—and Why It’s Worth It

It’s true that some dive centers can offer cheaper prices. But those savings often come at the cost of things you might not immediately see: lower wages for staff, fewer resources for conservation, or neglected equipment maintenance.

Oceans 5 invests in quality equipment and proper servicing schedules to ensure safety. They also invest in people—currently employing four Indonesian instructors and six Indonesian divemasters on a full-time salary, which provides stable livelihoods for local families.

When you dive with Oceans 5, your money directly supports these initiatives. There are no donation boxes, no requests for charity, and no hidden “conservation fees.” All of Oceans 5’s community and environmental projects are fully funded by the business itself. The only thing guests are asked to do is dive or stay with them—because every course and fun dive contributes to keeping these projects alive.

Long-Term Thinking: Protecting Gili Air for the Future

Short-term profit is tempting for many businesses, especially in a competitive tourism market. But Oceans 5 believes in a different model—one that focuses on the long-term future of the Gili Islands.

By training and employing local staff, supporting education, collaborating with government conservation agencies, and continuously raising environmental awareness, Oceans 5 is investing in a future where Gili Air remains a thriving, beautiful destination for generations to come.

This forward-thinking approach benefits not just the business, but everyone who loves the Gili Islands—local residents, international visitors, and even future divers who haven’t yet discovered the magic of the Gilis.

Choosing Your Dive Center Wisely

When you are deciding where to dive, ask yourself a few questions:

• How are the staff treated? Do they have fair wages and opportunities for growth?
• How does the dive center protect the environment? Are they actively contributing to marine park conservation?
• What is their reputation on the island? Do they work together with the community and local authorities?
• Will your money have a positive impact? Or are you supporting a business that focuses only on taking from the island, not giving back?

The answers to these questions can help you make a choice that goes beyond cost and convenience. By diving with centers that care about the bigger picture, you become part of the solution—helping to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the Gili Islands while supporting fair and ethical business practices.

Final Thoughts: Your Dive, Your Impact

Diving is not just an activity—it is an opportunity to connect with the ocean and the people who depend on it. Where you choose to spend your money matters. Oceans 5 Gili Air has built its philosophy on the idea that diving should not just be about ticking off courses or logging as many dives as possible. It should be about learning, growing, and contributing to something bigger than yourself.

When you dive with Oceans 5, you are supporting a company that takes care of its staff, invests in the future of marine science, collaborates with government agencies, and works tirelessly to keep the Gili Islands clean and healthy.

So, next time you are looking for a dive center on Gili Air, think beyond price. Think about the community, the environment, and the kind of legacy you want to leave behind. By staying and diving with Oceans 5, you are not just enjoying a world-class dive experience—you are helping to secure a better future for the island, its people, and its marine life.