Why Marine Scientists Must First Become Responsible Divers

Responsible Divers

Nine Indonesian university students have begun their Conservation Internship at Oceans 5 Gili Air. Over the coming months, they will collect underwater data inside the Gili Matra Marine Protected Area and gain practical experience that can help prepare them for careers in marine science and conservation.

However, the internship does not begin with collecting data.

It begins with becoming a better diver.

Before students can accurately observe marine life, conduct surveys or record changes to the reef, they must be comfortable and controlled underwater. That is why the first stage of the Oceans 5 Conservation Internship focuses on refreshing fundamental scuba skills, improving buoyancy and developing responsible diving behaviour.

Marine research should never damage the environment it is intended to study.

From the University Classroom to the Ocean

University students can learn a great deal about marine biology, ecology and research methods in a classroom. However, collecting information underwater introduces an entirely different set of challenges.

A marine scientist working underwater may need to:

• Maintain a stable position while recording information.
• Follow a survey line without touching the reef.
• Identify species while monitoring depth, time and air.
• Use a slate, camera or other research equipment.
• Communicate with a buddy or research team.
• Work safely in currents and changing conditions.
• Observe marine life without influencing its behaviour.

These tasks become difficult when a diver is struggling with buoyancy, trim, breathing or equipment. Instead of concentrating on the research, the student’s attention is divided between the survey and simply controlling their position underwater.

Good diving skills are therefore not separate from marine science. They are part of the foundation on which reliable underwater research is built.

Why Buoyancy Matters for Marine Research

Neutral buoyancy allows a diver to remain at a chosen depth without sinking onto the bottom or continually swimming to remain in position.

For recreational divers, good buoyancy makes a dive more relaxed and enjoyable. For an underwater researcher, it is essential.

A student who is neutrally buoyant can observe a quadrat, photograph coral or write information on a slate while remaining stable. A student with poor buoyancy may repeatedly move away from the survey area, stir up sediment or accidentally touch the reef.

These actions can affect both the environment and the quality of the information being collected.

The Green Fins guidance on weighting and buoyancy identifies correct weighting as one of the most important ways to reduce diver-related damage to coral reefs. Overweighted divers are more likely to collide with coral and often find it harder to control their position underwater.[1]

This is why Oceans 5 does not immediately send new interns into the ocean with survey equipment.

First, we look at their diving.

Refreshing the Students’ Diving Skills

The September 2026 Conservation Internship begins with a scuba-skills refresher for all nine students.

The purpose is not simply to check whether they can complete standard diving exercises. The training helps the Oceans 5 instructors assess how comfortably the students can apply their skills in realistic conditions.

The students work on:

• Correct weighting.
• Neutral buoyancy.
• Horizontal trim.
• Controlled descents and ascents.
• Position awareness.
• Efficient finning techniques.
• Air and depth monitoring.
• Buddy communication.
• Equipment management.
• Calm responses to underwater problems.

At Oceans 5, skills are practised while neutrally buoyant whenever possible. We do not want students to depend on kneeling on the bottom because that is not how they will conduct research or behave during a normal dive.

A marine researcher must be able to stop, think and perform a task while maintaining control in mid-water.

A Strict No-Touching Policy

Oceans 5 has a strict no-touching policy.

Divers should not touch, chase, feed or manipulate marine life. They must also keep their hands, fins, gauges and other equipment away from the reef.

Corals are living animals, and even apparently minor contact can cause damage. NOAA advises divers to keep their hands and fins away from reefs, avoid touching coral and prevent sediment from being disturbed because it can settle on and smother coral.[2]

For a marine science student, responsible behaviour is especially important. Researchers should observe natural conditions without unnecessarily influencing the animals or habitats they are studying.

If a diver chases a turtle, moves an animal for a photograph or touches coral to maintain position, the observation is no longer completely natural. The diver may have changed the behaviour or environment being recorded.

Responsible research starts with responsible diving.

Developing Greater Depth Awareness

After completing their skills refresher, the students continue with a Deep Adventure Dive.

During their internship, some research activities may take place at deeper dive sites. The students therefore need experience with the additional considerations involved in deeper diving, including:

• Increased air consumption.
• Reduced no-decompression time.
• Changes in buoyancy as depth changes.
• Careful depth and time monitoring.
• Clear buddy communication.
• Controlled ascent procedures.
• The possible effects of nitrogen narcosis.
• Proper safety-stop procedures.

Completing the required training prepares eligible students to participate safely in internship activities at sites down to a maximum depth of 30 metres, within the limits of their training, certification and the planned research activity.

The purpose is not to go deep simply for the experience. It is to give the students the knowledge and practical ability needed to work responsibly at a wider range of research sites.

Reliable Data Requires Controlled Divers

A scientific survey must be repeatable and consistent.

Imagine that students are comparing coral cover at several locations. If one student remains at the correct distance above the reef while another moves constantly up and down, their observations and photographs may not be directly comparable.

Poor buoyancy can also disturb sediment and temporarily reduce visibility. This may make it more difficult to identify species or document the condition of the seabed accurately.

Divers who are calm and controlled can concentrate on following the agreed survey method. They are better able to maintain their position, communicate with their team and record observations consistently.

Better divers can therefore become better underwater data collectors.

Diving ability does not replace scientific knowledge, but it allows that knowledge to be applied underwater more safely and accurately.

Learning to Observe Without Interfering

One of the most important skills for any marine scientist is learning how to observe.

Underwater, that means slowing down, maintaining an appropriate distance and allowing marine life to behave naturally.

A responsible researcher should ask:

• Am I changing the animal’s behaviour?
• Are my fins or equipment close to the reef?
• Am I stirring up sediment?
• Am I maintaining the correct position for the survey?
• Can I complete this task without touching anything?
• Are my actions safe for me, my buddy and the environment?

These questions help students develop the awareness needed for professional fieldwork.

Conservation is not only about knowing the names of species. It is also about understanding how our presence can affect them.

Cooperation Between Diving and Science

The Conservation Internship is organised through cooperation between Oceans 5 Gili Air, the University of Mataram and Marine Conservation Indonesia.

Each partner contributes different knowledge and experience. The university provides an academic foundation, conservation specialists contribute scientific knowledge and Oceans 5 provides the diving facilities and operational support needed to work underwater.

Oceans 5 supports the students with access to:

• Scuba-diving instruction.
• Training pools.
• Diving equipment.
• Cylinders and air fills.
• Boats and experienced crews.
• Local knowledge of the Gili Matra dive sites.
• Experienced dive professionals.
• Ecology education.
• Support during underwater data collection.

This cooperation helps bridge the gap between classroom education and real-world marine fieldwork.

Conservation Without Grants or Sponsorship

Oceans 5 provides this support without relying on grants or external sponsorship.

The program is funded through the normal activities of the dive centre and resort. When visitors choose to dive, complete a course or stay at Oceans 5, part of that business activity makes programs like this possible.

This creates a direct connection between responsible tourism and local education.

Our guests are not asked to make donations. The best way to support the program is simply to dive or stay with us.

Investing in Indonesia’s Future Marine Scientists

Indonesia contains some of the most important and biodiverse marine environments in the world. Protecting these environments requires Indonesian scientists who possess academic knowledge, practical field experience and a strong understanding of responsible diving.

The nine students beginning this internship may become marine biologists, environmental researchers, conservation managers or government advisers. The skills they develop today could influence how Indonesia’s marine environments are studied and protected in the future.

But before they collect their first data, they must learn how to enter the underwater environment without unnecessarily disturbing it.

That is why, at Oceans 5 Gili Air, the journey towards becoming a marine scientist begins by becoming a responsible diver.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Oceans 5 Conservation Internship?

The Oceans 5 Conservation Internship is a practical program that supports Indonesian university students as they develop diving, ecology and underwater research skills around the Gili Islands. It combines academic knowledge with supervised field experience inside the Gili Matra Marine Protected Area.

Who participates in the internship?

The September 2026 intake includes nine Indonesian university students. The program is organised in cooperation with the University of Mataram and Marine Conservation Indonesia.

Why do students complete a scuba refresher before collecting data?

A refresher allows instructors to assess and improve the students’ weighting, buoyancy, trim, equipment control and general diving awareness. These skills help the students conduct research safely without damaging the environment or compromising the quality of their observations.

Why is neutral buoyancy important for marine scientists?

Neutral buoyancy helps researchers maintain a stable position while observing marine life, taking photographs or recording information. It also reduces the risk of touching coral, disturbing sediment or influencing the area being studied.

Why does Oceans 5 teach skills without kneeling?

Marine researchers need to complete tasks while remaining controlled in the water. Practising skills while neutrally buoyant prepares students for realistic diving conditions and helps prevent unnecessary contact with the seabed.

What is the Oceans 5 no-touching policy?

Divers at Oceans 5 must not touch, chase, feed or manipulate marine life. They must also control their fins and secure their equipment to prevent contact with coral or the seabed.

Why do the students complete a Deep Adventure Dive?

Some research locations may be deeper than standard Open Water Diver limits. The Deep Adventure Dive introduces students to the planning, awareness and safety considerations associated with greater depth. Subject to their training, certification and the planned activity, this prepares them for internship dives down to a maximum of 30 metres.

When will the students begin collecting data?

Data collection begins after the initial diving-skills development and depth training. This ensures the students are properly prepared before beginning their underwater research activities.

Does Oceans 5 receive grants for the internship?

No. Oceans 5 supports the internship through its own business activities rather than relying on grants, donations or external sponsorship.

How can visitors support the internship?

Visitors can support the program by diving, completing a course or staying at Oceans 5 Gili Air. Revenue from the dive centre and resort helps Oceans 5 continue providing facilities, equipment and practical support to Indonesian students.

Can international students join the same internship?

This particular initiative focuses on supporting Indonesian university students. Anyone interested in other conservation training opportunities should contact Oceans 5 directly to ask about currently available programs and eligibility.

References

[1] Green Fins. Weighting and Buoyancy. Guidance explaining the relationship between correct weighting, buoyancy control and the prevention of diver-related damage to coral reefs.
https://greenfins.net/topic/weighting-and-buoyancy/

[2] NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Tips for Being a Responsible Diver. Guidance covering proper buoyancy, avoiding reef contact, securing equipment and respecting marine life.
https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/visitor_information/things-to-do/responsible-diving.html

[3] NOAA Fisheries. Shallow Coral Reef Habitat. Information about coral-reef ecosystems, threats to reefs and responsible reef etiquette for divers.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/shallow-coral-reef-habitat

[4] The Reef-World Foundation and Green Fins. Guiding Guests Towards Environmental Best Practice. Practical recommendations for improving buoyancy, preventing contact and reducing the environmental effects of diving.
https://greenfins.net/blog/guiding-guests-towards-the-environmental-best-practice/

[5] Oceans 5 Gili Air. Why Oceans 5 Invests Its Own Money in Marine Conservation. Information about Oceans 5’s cooperation with the University of Mataram and its support for Indonesian marine-science students.
https://www.oceans5dive.com/blog/marine-conservation/

Support Marine Conservation Through Responsible Tourism

Would you like your visit to the Gili Islands to support practical marine education?

Come diving or stay with Oceans 5 Gili Air. Your booking helps us provide training, equipment, boats and field experience to the next generation of Indonesian marine scientists.

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Email: [email protected]