A New Chapter for Oceans 5 Gili Air
A New Chapter for Oceans 5 Gili Air: Change, Growth, and the Same Heartbeat
If you’ve seen our recent social media posts, heard whispers around the island, or caught a few rumors online, you might already know: after 15 incredible years, Oceans 5 Gili Air is officially transitioning to a new international diving organization.
And yes—the rumors are true.
But before any panic, assumptions, or misunderstandings begin to spread, here is the full story.
This isn’t the time yet to reveal the name of the new agency. That announcement will come around 1 January 2026, once our team has completed the final steps of the transition. But today, we want to give you the clarity and reassurance you deserve.
First and Most Important: Oceans 5 Gili Air Is NOT Sold
Let’s clear up the biggest rumor immediately.
Oceans 5 Gili Air remains fully owned and operated by Sander—just as it has been for the last 15 years.
Nothing in the ownership, leadership, mission, or management structure is changing.
This transition to a new diving organization is a strategic upgrade, a deliberate choice, and a move we believe will make Oceans 5 stronger for the next decade and beyond.
Our Team Stays Exactly the Same
Another worry we’ve heard:
“Will there be new instructors?”
“Are the old faces leaving?”
Absolutely not.
Every single professional at Oceans 5 will cross over to the new agency.
That includes:
- 6 main instructors
- 6 local divemasters
- 2 Course Directors
- plus our in-house managers and support staff
In total, 15 people with professional certifications are transitioning with us.
That means when you walk into the dive center tomorrow, next month, or next year, you will see the same familiar faces, the same smiles, the same personalities, the same passionate divers who know your name, your certification history, and your favorite dive sites.
Our Teaching Quality Will Not Change—Because We Are the Quality
This is the question most guests and students ask:
“Will the courses stay the same?”
And the answer is simple:
Yes, absolutely. Nothing changes in the way we teach.
The quality of a course does not come from the logo printed on the certification card. It comes from:
- the passion of the instructor,
- the dedication of the dive shop,
- the safety culture of the team,
- and the philosophy behind the training.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, that philosophy has never changed—and it will never change:
- Small groups
- Personal attention
- No cutting corners
- Teaching at the student’s pace
- Environmental awareness in everything we do
- Strict compliance with the rules and standards of the agency we work with
We have taught this way since day one. We will continue to teach this way tomorrow.
So What Will Change?
There will be some visible changes, of course—but cosmetic ones:
- New banners
- Updated website
- New certification cards
- New social media branding
- New course names
- New materials
You might notice new colors, a new agency name, some new logos around the shop.
But behind the scenes?
Same instructors. Same systems. Same training structure. Same safety standards. Same heart.
What About Professional Training?
For many of you, our Instructor Development Courses have been the highlight of Oceans 5 Gili Air.
That doesn’t change either.
**Starting mid-January 2026, we will announce our full schedule of Instructor Courses.
There will be one Instructor Training Courses every month.**
Just like before, our future instructor candidates will train under:
- the same Course Directors,
- the same teaching philosophy,
- the same focus on confidence, skill mastery, and real-world teaching ability.
Oceans 5 Gili Air will continue to be a leader in professional dive training in Indonesia—just under a new banner.
Why Are We Changing Agencies?
That story will be shared soon.
For now, what you need to know is this:
We chose this change because we believe deeply in improving the future of diving on Gili Air.
We want to offer our divers and future instructors:
- a more modern training structure,
- a community-focused learning journey,
- a global system that matches Oceans 5’s long-term vision,
- and a dive organization that supports sustainable, ethical, and environmentally responsible diving.
This change is not a reaction.
It is a long-thought-out, carefully planned step into the next chapter.
What You Should Remember
If you take one message from this article, let it be this:
Oceans 5 Gili Air is not changing who we are—only the logo on the wall.
- We are still the same family.
- We are still the same professionals.
- We still love this island, this ocean, and this community.
- Our mission remains unchanged:
To create confident, safe, environmentally-aware divers and instructors, trained with passion and integrity.
You do not need to worry about your course, your certification, your training, or your fun diving holiday.
Oceans 5 Gili Air is here, stronger than ever, preparing for a new era.
A Final Message to Our Guests and Students
Thank you—for the trust, the questions, the curiosity, and the love you’ve shown us over the last 15 years.
This next chapter is exciting.
It is positive.
And it allows Oceans 5 Gili Air to grow even deeper roots on the island and in the diving community.
So stay tuned.
On January 1st, 2026, we will officially announce the new organization, new branding, and our monthly Instructor Course schedule.
Until then, the ocean is waiting.
And so are we—same team, same spirit, same Oceans 5.