Why Oceans 5 Invests Its Own Money in Marine Conservation
Marine Conservation
Marine conservation has become an increasingly important part of the diving industry. Dive centres organise beach clean-ups, participate in coral restoration projects, share conservation messages on social media and encourage divers to behave responsibly underwater.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we believe all of these things are important. But we also believe conservation has to go further.
For us, conservation is not something we do only when funding is available. It is not something we organise because it creates a good photograph for social media. And it is not something that should stop when a project or grant ends.
Oceans 5 invests its own money, boats, equipment, facilities and staff time into marine conservation because the ocean surrounding the Gili Islands is directly connected to everything we do.
Our business depends on a healthy marine environment.
So why shouldn’t protecting that environment be part of the cost of running our business?
The Ocean Is Part of Our Business
Oceans 5 Gili Air is located inside one of Indonesia’s most popular diving destinations. Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan are surrounded by the Gili Matra marine conservation area, which covers approximately 2,268 hectares.[1]
Thousands of visitors come to the Gili Islands because of the ocean.
They come to see turtles.
They come to dive coral reefs.
They come to snorkel.
They come because they want to experience the underwater world.
Without a healthy marine environment, the Gili Islands would be a very different tourism destination.
For a dive centre, the connection is even more obvious. Almost everything we do depends on the ocean. Our Open Water students train there. Our certified divers explore it. Our Divemaster candidates learn to guide there, and our SSI Instructor Training Course candidates learn how to introduce future generations of divers to it.
The reef is therefore not something separate from our business.
It is one of the foundations of our business.
That creates responsibility.
Conservation Should Not Depend Only on Donations
Many conservation organisations depend on grants, donations and sponsorships. There is nothing wrong with that. Large scientific and conservation projects can require significant funding, and external financial support can make important research possible.
But there is also a problem if every conservation activity has to wait until somebody provides money.
Sometimes action is needed now.
A researcher may need access to a boat.
University students may need diving equipment.
Scientists may need tanks, guides or logistical assistance.
A survey may need to be conducted.
An environmental problem may need to be investigated.
A beach needs cleaning whether there is a sponsor or not.
At Oceans 5, we don’t believe our first question should always be:
“Who is going to pay for it?”
Sometimes the better question is:
“What can we do?”
And if we have the boat, tanks, equipment, people and facilities available, why wouldn’t we use them?
Our Partnership With the University of Mataram
One of the best examples of this philosophy is our cooperation with the University of Mataram.
Oceans 5 has worked with the university to support marine research and education around the Gili Islands. The partnership has enabled university students and researchers to conduct surveys around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan.[2][3]
For Oceans 5, supporting this work isn’t simply about providing money.
A dive centre has resources that can be extremely valuable to marine scientists.
We have boats.
We have compressors.
We have scuba tanks.
We have diving equipment.
We have experienced dive professionals.
We have classrooms.
We have swimming pools.
And, perhaps most importantly, we operate on the ocean every day.
Providing access to those resources can significantly reduce the practical barriers to marine research.
That is where a dive centre can make a real contribution.
Supporting the Next Generation of Indonesian Marine Scientists
We also believe conservation should help develop local knowledge.
Indonesia contains some of the most biologically important marine ecosystems on Earth. Long-term protection of those ecosystems requires Indonesian marine scientists, conservationists, dive professionals and local communities to be directly involved.
This is why Oceans 5 supports Indonesian university students in developing practical marine knowledge.
Students don’t only need textbooks.
They need to see coral reefs.
They need to identify species underwater.
They need to understand diving.
They need to conduct surveys.
They need to understand how scientific methods work in real marine environments.
Combining academic education with practical underwater experience can create a much stronger connection between science and conservation.
For Oceans 5, investing in these students is an investment in the future of Indonesian marine conservation.
Working With BKKPN
The waters surrounding the three Gili Islands are not simply recreational dive sites. They form the Gili Matra national marine conservation area, managed under Indonesia’s marine conservation framework. Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries identifies Gili Matra as a national marine conservation area under BKKPN Kupang.[1]
Oceans 5 believes dive operators working inside a marine protected area should cooperate with the organisations responsible for managing it.
That means communication.
It means following regulations.
It means reporting observations.
And when possible, it means helping.
Dive centres have something extremely valuable: daily eyes underwater.
Our instructors and Divemasters dive the reefs constantly. We can notice changes.
Maybe there is unusual algae growth.
Maybe coral conditions change.
Maybe rubbish appears at a particular location.
Maybe there is fishing activity where it shouldn’t be.
Maybe something simply looks different from six months earlier.
Observations are not automatically scientific conclusions. That distinction is extremely important.
But observations can create questions.
And those questions can lead to research.
The Halimeda Situation Around Gili Trawangan
The recent expansion of Halimeda around parts of Gili Trawangan demonstrates why this approach matters.
We observed areas where Halimeda had expanded considerably. Together with other stakeholders, we investigated affected areas and experimented with removing algae from selected locations to observe what happened.
But as the affected area expanded, something became increasingly clear:
Simply removing the algae isn’t a realistic long-term solution.
The important question is not only how to remove it.
The important question is:
Why is this happening?
We currently should not pretend that we know the answer.
There may be different environmental factors involved, and determining those factors requires proper scientific research.
That is why Oceans 5 supports further research, including investigation of water quality and environmental conditions around the affected reefs.
Research costs money.
Boats cost money.
Fuel costs money.
Tanks need filling.
Equipment requires maintenance.
People need transportation.
But waiting until somebody somewhere creates a grant doesn’t help us understand what is happening today.
If we can help research happen sooner, we believe we should.
Conservation Is More Than Coral Restoration
There is sometimes a tendency to associate marine conservation mainly with coral planting.
Coral restoration can certainly play a role in conservation, but healthy reefs depend on a much larger system.
Water quality matters.
Waste management matters.
Coastal development matters.
Boat activity matters.
Fishing pressure matters.
Tourism numbers matter.
Diver behaviour matters.
Education matters.
Scientific monitoring matters.
Government regulation matters.
A coral nursery cannot solve every environmental problem.
Sometimes conservation means restoring something that has already been damaged.
But conservation should also mean understanding why the damage happened in the first place.
Prevention can be much more effective than repairing damage afterwards.
Our Weekly Beach Clean-Ups
Not every conservation activity requires scientists or research projects.
Sometimes conservation is much simpler.
Every Friday, Oceans 5 organises a beach clean-up around Gili Air.
Our Divemaster candidates help organise these activities, and staff, tourists, divers, local residents and volunteers can participate.
Over time, these clean-ups remove significant quantities of plastic, glass, fishing equipment, metal, clothing and other rubbish from beaches and coastal areas. Previous Oceans 5 clean-up activities have removed dozens of kilograms of waste at a time.[4]
Does one beach clean-up solve the global plastic problem?
Of course not.
But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it.
If everyone waited for someone else to solve a problem completely, very little would ever happen.
Conservation Starts With How We Teach Diving
Financial support is only one part of our conservation philosophy.
How we teach scuba diving is equally important.
Oceans 5 teaches students to perform skills neutrally buoyant in open water rather than routinely kneeling on the seabed.
Why?
Because this is how divers should actually dive.
Green Fins environmental guidelines encourage divers to maintain good buoyancy, avoid stirring sediment and stay clear of reefs. They specifically discourage touching, kicking, kneeling or lying on coral.[5]
So why would we build dependency on the bottom into someone’s initial diving education?
If we want divers to protect reefs, responsible behaviour should begin during their first course.
The same philosophy applies during our SSI Instructor Training Courses.
Instructor candidates should be able to control themselves neutrally buoyant while demonstrating skills. They should learn to position students without relying unnecessarily on the seabed and should understand their responsibility as future role models.
Green Fins recommends that dive professionals promote good buoyancy, environmentally responsible diving and regular participation in marine monitoring and clean-ups.[6]
For us, those ideas belong inside diver education.
A Beach Clean-Up Isn’t a Marketing Campaign
There is another reason Oceans 5 invests directly in conservation.
We want conservation to continue even when nobody is watching.
It is easy to organise an environmental event when cameras are present.
It is easy to post a photograph of people holding bags of rubbish.
It is much harder to make conservation part of normal business operations year after year.
That is the difference we are trying to create.
Of course we communicate about conservation. We actually believe dive centres should talk about it. Sharing information can encourage divers and other businesses to become involved.
But communication should follow action.
Not replace it.
Dive Centres Have More Power Than They Sometimes Realise
A dive centre might think:
“We aren’t scientists. What can we really do?”
Actually, quite a lot.
A dive centre already has much of the infrastructure needed to support marine conservation.
We have access to dive sites.
We have boats.
We have people underwater.
We have compressors and cylinders.
We have experienced professionals.
We meet hundreds or thousands of divers every year.
We train new divers.
We train Divemasters.
We train instructors.
That creates an enormous opportunity.
Imagine if every dive centre in a marine protected area dedicated even a small percentage of its resources to monitoring, education, research support and environmental activities.
The combined effect could be significant.
Marine Conservation Is Also Protecting Our Business
There is no reason to pretend that conservation has no economic dimension.
Healthy reefs are good for our business.
We want turtles.
We want healthy coral.
We want abundant fish.
We want clean beaches.
We want good water quality.
We want future generations to travel to the Gili Islands and experience the underwater world that divers enjoy today.
Protecting the marine environment therefore protects both nature and the long-term future of tourism.
Green Fins itself recognises the relationship between environmentally responsible diving and sustainable marine tourism, establishing standards designed to reduce the negative impacts of diving and snorkelling operations on marine ecosystems.[6][7]
For a dive centre, environmental responsibility and economic sustainability don’t have to compete with each other.
Over the long term, they depend on each other.
Why Oceans 5 Pays
So why does Oceans 5 invest its own money in marine conservation?
Because we live here.
Because we dive here.
Because our staff work here.
Because our business depends on these waters.
Because the Gili Matra Marine Park gives us an extraordinary environment in which to operate.
And because waiting for somebody else to take responsibility isn’t enough.
We will continue cooperating with universities, government organisations, conservation groups, students, researchers and the local community.
Sometimes that means providing a boat.
Sometimes tanks.
Sometimes diving equipment.
Sometimes staff.
Sometimes education.
Sometimes money.
And sometimes it simply means showing up and helping.
Conservation Is Not an Expense. It Is an Investment.
Businesses normally understand investment.
We invest in boats because we need them in the future.
We maintain compressors because we need reliable air.
We train staff because we want better instructors and Divemasters.
We maintain our swimming pools because they are essential for teaching.
So why wouldn’t we invest in the environment on which our entire diving operation depends?
For Oceans 5 Gili Air, marine conservation isn’t separate from running a dive centre.
It is part of running a responsible dive centre.
The reefs around the Gili Islands have provided Oceans 5 with a place to teach, dive, work and build a business.
Investing some of what we earn back into protecting and understanding that environment isn’t charity.
It is responsibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Oceans 5 use its own money for marine conservation?
Oceans 5 believes that a dive centre benefiting economically from the marine environment also has a responsibility to help protect it. Instead of making every conservation activity dependent on grants or donations, Oceans 5 can contribute boats, tanks, equipment, staff time, facilities and direct financial support when appropriate.
Does Oceans 5 work with scientific organisations?
Yes. Oceans 5 cooperates with the University of Mataram and supports students and researchers conducting marine surveys and conservation-related activities around the Gili Islands.[2][3]
Does Oceans 5 cooperate with the Gili Matra Marine Park authorities?
Yes. Gili Matra is a national marine conservation area managed within Indonesia’s marine conservation system under BKKPN Kupang.[1] Oceans 5 believes communication and cooperation between dive operators, scientists, authorities and local stakeholders are essential for effective marine conservation.
Why doesn’t Oceans 5 simply plant coral?
Coral restoration can be valuable, but it addresses only part of the problem. Reef health is influenced by water quality, pollution, coastal development, tourism pressure, fishing, temperature, diver behaviour and many other factors. Sometimes understanding and preventing the cause of degradation is more important than repairing the visible damage afterwards.
What is Oceans 5 doing about the Halimeda expansion around Gili Trawangan?
Oceans 5 has participated in observations and practical interventions in affected areas. However, because the affected area has become extensive, simply removing Halimeda isn’t considered a realistic long-term solution. Oceans 5 supports further scientific investigation to better understand environmental conditions and potential causes. Until research provides evidence, Oceans 5 does not want to speculate about the cause.
Can tourists participate in Oceans 5 conservation activities?
Yes. One of the easiest ways is to participate in the regular beach clean-ups. Divers can also contribute simply by following environmentally responsible diving practices: maintaining good buoyancy, keeping equipment away from the reef, avoiding contact with marine life and respecting marine park regulations.
Why does Oceans 5 teach skills neutrally buoyant?
Because neutral buoyancy is how divers should behave underwater. Teaching skills without unnecessary contact with the seabed helps students develop buoyancy control from the beginning and reduces their potential impact on the marine environment. This approach is consistent with environmental best practices promoted by Green Fins.[5][6]
Is conservation part of the Oceans 5 Divemaster and Instructor training philosophy?
Yes. Oceans 5 believes dive professionals should be environmental role models. Divemaster and instructor candidates are not simply learning how to pass assessments. They are learning how to lead and educate future divers. Environmental awareness, good buoyancy, responsible behaviour and respect for the marine environment should therefore be part of professional dive education.
Why is scientific research important for marine conservation?
Because observation and scientific evidence are different things. Divers may notice changes underwater, but determining why those changes are happening requires systematic research. Monitoring programmes such as Reef Check demonstrate how long-term data collection can help scientists and managers understand changes in reef ecosystems.[8]
What does Oceans 5 mean when it says conservation is an investment?
The future of scuba diving around the Gili Islands depends on healthy marine ecosystems. Investing in research, education, monitoring and responsible diving practices helps protect the natural environment while also supporting the long-term sustainability of the local diving and tourism economy.
References
[1] Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Republic of Indonesia. National Marine Conservation Areas – Gili Matra / BKKPN Kupang. The Indonesian government’s marine conservation information identifies Gili Matra as a national marine conservation area and provides information regarding permits and activities within conservation areas.
[2] Oceans 5 Gili Air. Diving Into the Future: Universitas Mataram and Oceans 5 Gili Air Create a Novel Route in Marine Conservation. November 2023. Describes the partnership between Oceans 5 and Universitas Mataram and Oceans 5’s sponsorship of marine conservation activities.
[3] Oceans 5 Gili Air. Oceans 5 Gili Air Partners with University of Mataram for Expanded Marine Surveys. September 2024. Describes expanded marine surveys around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan involving University of Mataram students and Oceans 5 support.
[4] Oceans 5 Gili Air. Reef CleanUp Gili Islands. Documents Oceans 5 clean-up activities and its wider cooperation with organisations including the University of Mataram and BKKPN.
[5] Green Fins / The Reef-World Foundation. Environmental Best Practice for Divers. Guidelines encourage good buoyancy, keeping fins away from reefs, avoiding sediment disturbance and not touching, kicking, kneeling or lying on coral.
[6] Green Fins / The Reef-World Foundation. Green Fins Code of Conduct and Guidelines. Environmental standards for dive and snorkel operators include no-touch policies, environmental education, marine-life monitoring, clean-ups and responsible waste management.
[7] Green Fins / The Reef-World Foundation. Certified Membership. Green Fins describes its certification framework for dive and snorkel operators committed to environmental standards and continuous reduction of their environmental impact.
[8] Reef Check Foundation. Reef Check Indonesia and Global Reef Monitoring Data. Reef Check’s long-running monitoring programme demonstrates the importance of systematic data collection for understanding coral reef condition and environmental change.