Marine Conservation in the Gili Islands
A Guide for Responsible Divers
The Gili Islands are famous for scuba diving.
Every year, divers travel to Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan to explore warm tropical waters, coral reefs, walls, wrecks and dive sites where encounters with sea turtles are part of everyday diving.
But there is another side to diving around the Gili Islands that deserves just as much attention.
Marine conservation.
The underwater environment that attracts divers from around the world cannot simply be taken for granted. Coral reefs face pressure from climate change, coastal development, pollution, marine debris, irresponsible tourism and the cumulative impact of thousands of people using a relatively small marine environment.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we believe divers can be part of the solution.
Marine conservation doesn’t necessarily begin with a major scientific project. It can start with something as simple as controlling your buoyancy, keeping your fins away from coral, refusing to touch marine animals and understanding the protected area in which you are diving.
For divers visiting the Gili Islands, responsible diving should simply be part of good diving.
The Gili Islands Are Part of a Marine Protected Area
Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan are surrounded by the Gili Matra marine conservation area.
This means that when we go diving around the three islands, we aren’t simply visiting recreational dive sites. We are entering a marine environment that has been designated for conservation and managed through regulations and zoning.
For a deeper introduction to the area, read our guide to the Gili Matra Marine Park.
Understanding this is important.
Marine protected areas don’t protect themselves.
A line on a government map cannot stop somebody standing on coral. A regulation cannot physically prevent a diver from chasing a turtle. A protected status cannot remove plastic from a beach or automatically prevent pollution from reaching the ocean.
Protection depends on people.
That includes government authorities, local communities, businesses, dive centres, scientists, conservation organisations and visitors.
It also includes you as a diver.
For more information about conservation, regulations and environmental issues affecting the three islands, visit Gili Conservation Dive.
Responsible Diving Is Marine Conservation
Sometimes we make conservation sound complicated.
It can involve scientific surveys, water-quality analysis, coral monitoring, species identification and long-term datasets.
Those things are important.
But there is another form of conservation happening every day on the reefs around the Gili Islands:
responsible diving.
Imagine hundreds of divers visiting the same reef every week.
One diver accidentally touching coral may seem insignificant. One pair of fins kicking the reef might appear to cause little damage. One person holding onto coral for a photograph may not look like a major environmental problem.
Multiply those actions by thousands of dives.
Suddenly, diver behaviour matters enormously.
That is why Oceans 5 places so much emphasis on neutral buoyancy.
Our students are taught skills while neutrally buoyant rather than routinely kneeling on the bottom. Certified divers are expected to maintain good buoyancy and avoid contact with the reef.
The philosophy is simple:
Look, enjoy and photograph — but don’t touch.
Divers who want to understand this approach in greater detail can read the guide to responsible diving in the Gili Islands.
Good Buoyancy Protects Coral
One of the most valuable conservation skills a diver can develop is excellent buoyancy.
A diver who has good control can hover comfortably above the reef without using the bottom for stability.
This protects coral, but it also makes you a better diver.
You use less energy.
Your breathing becomes more relaxed.
Your air consumption can improve.
Your photographs become easier to take.
And you are much less likely to accidentally damage the environment.
This is one reason Oceans 5 doesn’t see buoyancy as something students should learn after becoming certified.
It should be part of learning to dive from the beginning.
Marine conservation and good diver training are directly connected.
Don’t Touch the Marine Life
The Gili Islands are particularly well known for sea turtles.
For many visitors, seeing a green or hawksbill turtle underwater becomes one of the highlights of their holiday.
But seeing an animal doesn’t give us the right to interfere with it.
Divers should never chase, touch, grab, feed or block marine animals for photographs.
The same applies to sharks, rays, octopuses, moray eels, nudibranchs and every other animal we encounter.
A good wildlife encounter is one where the animal can continue behaving naturally.
Instead of asking:
How close can I get?
Try asking:
How can I observe this animal without changing its behaviour?
That small change in attitude makes a considerable difference.
Know the Marine Park Rules
Responsible divers should also understand that marine conservation isn’t based solely on voluntary behaviour.
Protected marine areas have rules.
These can relate to zoning, fishing, anchoring, tourism activities, environmental protection and the ways different parts of the marine area can be used.
Visitors don’t need to become experts in Indonesian environmental law before going diving.
But understanding the basic principles of the protected area you’re visiting is part of responsible tourism.
You can learn more through the Gili Matra Marine Park rules and conservation information.
The important point is that marine park rules exist for a reason.
The Gili Islands are simultaneously a home, tourism destination, business environment and protected marine ecosystem.
Finding the balance between those different uses is essential for their future.
Conservation Doesn’t Stop at the Waterline
It is easy for divers to think of marine conservation as something that happens underwater.
Unfortunately, the ocean doesn’t work that way.
What happens on land can eventually affect the sea.
Waste management, wastewater, coastal construction, groundwater, rubbish and development can all potentially influence the surrounding marine environment.
That is why Oceans 5 believes marine conservation should include prevention, not simply repairing environmental damage afterwards.
We explored this subject in detail in From Reaction to Prevention: Why Marine Conservation Must Start Before a Reef Collapses.
Coral restoration can be valuable.
Beach clean-ups can be valuable.
Reef restoration can be valuable.
But we should also be asking:
Why was the ecosystem damaged in the first place?
If we can identify and reduce environmental pressures before major damage occurs, that can be far more effective than trying to repair an ecosystem afterwards.
The Coral Reefs Are Changing
People who have been diving around the Gili Islands for many years have seen changes underwater.
Some are natural.
Others may be connected with global or local environmental pressures.
Climate change, increasing sea temperatures, coastal development, tourism pressure, pollution and extreme weather can all influence coral reef ecosystems.
Oceans 5 has been operating on Gili Air since 2010, which means our team has had the opportunity to observe the reefs over many years.
We discussed some of those observations in Why Coral Reefs Around the Gili Islands Are Changing.
Observation isn’t the same as scientific proof.
That distinction matters.
Seeing algae somewhere doesn’t automatically tell us why it appeared. Seeing coral decline doesn’t immediately identify the cause.
But observations can create questions.
And questions can lead to research.
Why Scientific Research Matters
Marine conservation needs evidence.
Without data, it becomes very easy for discussions about environmental problems to become based on assumptions, anecdotes or personal interests.
That is why Oceans 5 supports marine research around the Gili Islands.
Our cooperation with the University of Mataram gives Indonesian university students opportunities to gain practical experience collecting marine data around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan.
Oceans 5 can provide resources that would otherwise be expensive for students and researchers to access: boats, scuba equipment, tanks, compressors, facilities and experienced dive professionals.
You can read more about the development of this cooperation in Oceans 5’s partnership with the University of Mataram.
Supporting research doesn’t mean deciding what the research should conclude.
Quite the opposite.
Good conservation requires independent data.
Supporting the Next Generation of Indonesian Marine Scientists
Indonesia contains some of the world’s most extraordinary marine ecosystems.
Their long-term future should involve Indonesian scientists, students, conservationists and dive professionals.
This is one reason education has become such an important part of Oceans 5’s conservation philosophy.
Indonesian university students participating in conservation programs at Oceans 5 receive opportunities to improve their diving abilities and marine-species knowledge while developing practical experience in the field.
Oceans 5 has supported students with SSI Ecology training covering subjects such as coral identification, shark ecology and sea turtle ecology.
You can read more about how Oceans 5 is supporting future Indonesian marine scientists.
For more information about the broader education and community programs connected with conservation around Gili Air, visit Community & Education at Gili Conservation Dive.
Conservation Should Also Create Opportunities Locally
Conservation isn’t only about coral.
Long-term conservation works best when local communities are involved and benefit from protecting their environment.
Education, professional dive training and access to employment can therefore be part of a broader conservation strategy.
Oceans 5 provides a Divemaster internship opportunity for Indonesian citizens, helping Indonesians develop professional-level diving experience and potentially build careers within Indonesia’s diving industry.
More information about this initiative can be found through Gili Conservation Dive’s Indonesian Divemaster Internship information.
Developing local dive professionals matters.
People who live and work around Indonesia’s marine environments can become some of their strongest long-term advocates.
Weekly Beach Clean-Ups on Gili Air
Not every conservation action requires a university, laboratory or research vessel.
Sometimes you simply need a pair of gloves and a rubbish bag.
Oceans 5 has been organising beach clean-ups on Gili Air since 2010.
Every Friday at 17:00, our team, Divemaster candidates, visitors and volunteers meet at Oceans 5 and clean sections of the beach and surrounding areas.
Sometimes we collect relatively small amounts.
Sometimes we collect tens of kilograms.
The next week, we do it again.
And again.
And again.
That consistency matters.
A single beach clean-up makes a beach cleaner for a day.
A conservation culture can change people’s behaviour for much longer.
If you’re on Gili Air on a Friday, you’re welcome to join us.
A Dive Centre Has a Responsibility
There is another issue that the diving industry shouldn’t avoid.
Dive centres make money because people want to experience the ocean.
We sell scuba courses.
We organise fun dives.
We train Divemasters.
We train SSI instructors.
We take people to coral reefs.
Healthy marine ecosystems are therefore economically valuable to our industry.
At Oceans 5, we believe that creates responsibility.
This is why we invest our own resources into conservation activities rather than making every project dependent on outside donations or grants.
We explain that philosophy further in Why Oceans 5 Invests Its Own Money in Marine Conservation.
Our boats, tanks, compressors, swimming pools, classrooms, equipment and staff exist primarily because we’re a dive centre.
But those same resources can also support students, scientists and conservation activities.
For us, the two shouldn’t be separated.
What Can You Do as a Diver?
You don’t need to become a marine biologist to make a difference.
Start with your own diving.
Develop excellent buoyancy.
Keep your fins away from coral.
Don’t kneel on the reef.
Don’t touch marine animals.
Don’t chase turtles or sharks for photographs.
Don’t take anything from the ocean.
Reduce unnecessary plastic.
Listen carefully to environmental information in your dive briefing.
Respect marine park regulations.
Choose dive operators that take environmental responsibility seriously.
Participate in a beach clean-up.
And perhaps most importantly:
Stay curious.
Ask questions about the environment you’re diving in.
Learn what you’re looking at.
Understand why the marine area is protected.
The more divers understand the underwater world, the stronger the connection becomes between enjoying it and protecting it.
Marine Conservation Is a Long-Term Commitment
Oceans 5 opened on Gili Air in 2010.
Since then, conservation has increasingly become integrated into how we operate, teach and think about diving.
We don’t believe one beach clean-up will save the ocean.
We don’t believe one research project will answer every question.
And we don’t believe putting the word “eco” or “conservation” on a website automatically makes an organisation sustainable.
Marine conservation requires consistency.
It requires education.
It requires research.
It requires responsible tourism.
It requires government.
It requires local communities.
And it requires businesses to accept responsibility for the environments from which they benefit.
Most of all, it requires time.
Learn More About Marine Conservation in the Gili Islands
We have created Gili Conservation Dive as a dedicated resource for people who want to learn more about marine conservation around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan.
The website brings together information about the Gili Matra Marine Park, responsible diving, conservation rules, marine ecosystems, environmental issues, education, research and community initiatives.
Visit Gili Conservation Dive – Marine Conservation in the Gili Islands to explore the project.
Because protecting the Gili Islands shouldn’t only matter while we’re underwater.
It should matter long after the dive is over.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is marine conservation in the Gili Islands?
Marine conservation around the Gili Islands involves protecting coral reefs, marine animals and the wider coastal ecosystem surrounding Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. It includes marine protected-area management, responsible diving, research, education, pollution prevention, waste reduction and community participation.
Are the Gili Islands inside a marine protected area?
Yes. Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan form part of the Gili Matra marine conservation area. Divers and visitors should respect the applicable zoning, regulations and environmental protections.
How can scuba divers help protect the Gili Islands?
Divers can maintain good buoyancy, avoid touching coral and marine life, never chase animals for photographs, reduce waste, follow marine park rules and choose environmentally responsible dive operators.
Can tourists participate in conservation activities on Gili Air?
Yes. Oceans 5 organises a beach clean-up every Friday at 17:00, and visitors are welcome to participate.
Where can I learn more about conservation around the Gili Islands?
Visit Gili Conservation Dive for information about responsible diving, Gili Matra Marine Park, conservation rules, marine ecosystems, education and conservation initiatives around the three Gili Islands.