PADI IDC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Blog Posts
Protecting the Reef, One Dive at a Time: The Weekly Reef Clean-Up at Oceans 5 Gili Air Every Saturday afternoon, just as the sun starts to soften over the waters of Gili Air, a dedicated team of divers gears up for a mission. But this …
Your Discover Scuba Diving Program In today’s highly competitive dive industry, many dive centers are racing against each other—sometimes not to be better, but simply to be cheaper or faster. The focus often shifts from education and experience to volume and turnover. Price cuts and …
One of the most frequently asked questions we get at Oceans 5 Gili Air is, “Is scuba diving dangerous?” And it’s a fair question—when people imagine diving, they often think of the deep blue sea, unfamiliar marine life, and the reliance on equipment to breathe underwater. To someone new to the underwater world, it may seem like an inherently risky activity.
But here’s the truth: like any adventure sport, scuba diving comes with inherent risks. However, when practiced correctly, within training limits, and following established safety procedures, scuba diving is statistically one of the safest adventure sports in the world.
Let’s explore this topic in-depth and show you how professional training, safety awareness, and responsible diving practices—especially those emphasized here at Oceans 5 Gili Air—can make diving not only safe but life-changing.
Adventure sports—from skiing to paragliding, rock climbing to scuba diving—are all about exploring the extraordinary. They offer a thrill that comes from stepping outside the everyday and immersing yourself in the unknown. This unknown, however, is also what introduces a level of risk.
Scuba diving is no different. You’re entering a completely foreign environment where you can’t breathe without the help of gear, and you have to manage variables like depth, time, and buoyancy. Yet, what sets diving apart is that divers are thoroughly trained before ever descending into the ocean.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, a PADI Career Development Centre, safety is embedded in everything we do—because we understand that great diving experiences begin with proper education and responsible practices.
Let’s start with the good news. Statistically speaking, scuba diving has a lower injury rate than activities like running, soccer, or even golf. The Divers Alert Network (DAN), a globally recognized dive safety organization, reports that the rate of fatalities in recreational scuba diving is around 1 in every 200,000 dives—a remarkably low figure when compared with other sports.
So what makes scuba diving safe?
The foundation of dive safety is laid during your PADI Open Water Course. At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we emphasize not just checking the boxes for certification but truly understanding and mastering the essential skills. Here are just a few life-saving techniques you will learn:
These aren’t just checkmarks on a course form—they’re real-world skills that prepare divers to handle emergencies confidently.
One of the most common problems we see at the dive shop is certified divers wanting to push beyond their training. An Open Water Diver wanting to descend to 30 meters without having taken the Advanced Open Water Course, or someone without deep diving experience requesting dives to wrecks and walls far below their qualification level.
We always use this analogy: Just because someone has a driver’s license doesn’t mean they should race a Formula 1 car.
Training exists for a reason. It prepares you not just in terms of what to do, but also how to react calmly under pressure. Diving beyond your training is not only illegal under PADI standards—it’s dangerous. Deeper dives involve:
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we make sure every diver is matched to a dive appropriate for their certification. And if you’re interested in going deeper, we encourage you to enroll in the Advanced Open Water Course, which includes deep and navigation dives and expands your diving ability safely.
Another important element of dive safety that’s often overlooked is regular practice. If you haven’t dived in six months or more, you’re likely rusty. Muscle memory fades, and critical safety protocols may be forgotten. That’s why Oceans 5 Gili Air has a strict policy:
If you haven’t dived in the last six months, you must complete a refresher course.
The refresher takes just half a day. You’ll review theory, practice essential skills in our 25-meter training pool, and finish with a relaxed dive in the ocean. It’s a small investment of time that can make the difference between a safe dive and an unsafe one.
Remember, this isn’t just about you. It’s about your dive buddy, your guide, and the other divers in your group. A responsible diver considers everyone’s safety.
At Oceans 5, we don’t cut corners. That’s because our instructors know that the ocean doesn’t care if your logbook has ten pages or a hundred. What matters is that you respect the limits, respect your training, and stay current with your skills.
We’ve seen too many cases globally of “certified” divers who panic at depth or who struggle with equipment they should know how to use. That’s why our team emphasizes confidence, not just certification.
When students leave our dive center, we want them to feel ready, calm, and informed—not just qualified on paper.
Here’s the honest answer: It can be, if you dive untrained, ignore safety rules, or go beyond your limits. But under proper supervision, with the right training and preparation, scuba diving is one of the safest, most enriching activities you can do.
It connects you to nature in a way few other sports can. It teaches you patience, breathing control, and humility. It gives you the chance to witness ecosystems that are rapidly disappearing, and to become part of a global community that’s passionate about marine conservation.
Located on beautiful Gili Air, within the Gili Matra Marine Park, Oceans 5 is more than just a dive shop—we are a PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre that believes diving should be safe, sustainable, and educational.
Here’s what sets us apart:
Whether you’re taking your first breaths underwater or advancing your dive education, safety and quality are our top priorities.
When approached responsibly, scuba diving is not just safe—it’s life-changing. It can open your eyes to the beauty of the underwater world, deepen your understanding of marine life, and even change the way you interact with nature above water.
But like every rewarding activity, it starts with respect—for the ocean, for the sport, and for the process of learning.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we’re here to guide you through every step of that journey. So, if you’re wondering whether scuba diving is dangerous, our answer is simple:
Not if you do it right. And we’ll show you how.
Upcoming PADI IDC at Oceans 5 Gili Air Embrace Excellence: PADI IDC Starting July 2nd, 2025 Are you ready to elevate your scuba diving career and become an exemplary PADI Instructor? Oceans 5 Gili Air invites aspiring dive professionals to join the upcoming Instructor Development …
Jellyfish—graceful, translucent drifters of the ocean—can bring a moment of wonder when spotted underwater. But for many divers and swimmers, an encounter with a jellyfish is far from magical. A sting from these gelatinous creatures can lead to anything from a mild itch to a …
It was an amazing evening in the harbor of Gili Air. As the sun began to set and painted the sky in soft hues of orange and pink, a dedicated team of divers gathered for a mission that went beyond exploration—it was about action, care, and commitment. This time, the cleanup dive was initiated by a passionate team of three IDC (Instructor Development Course) candidates and one Divemaster candidate from Oceans 5 Gili Air.
Their goal? To clean the underwater world right in front of the island, and to inspire others through action. What they achieved in just one dive was remarkable: they surfaced with 38 kilograms of marine debris, removing threats to the reef and marine life that call the harbor home.
This was no ordinary dive. It was a reflection of Oceans 5’s values: that every diver has a responsibility to protect the environment, and that even one dive—especially at the right moment—can make a difference.
The Gili Air harbor is a bustling place during the day, full of fast boats, snorkelers, divers, and beachgoers. But in the evening, as the activity slows and the water calms, it reveals another side—one that often goes unseen. That’s when the Oceans 5 team slipped below the surface.
Even though the area is part of the Gili Matra Marine Park, trash still finds its way into the water. Seasonal currents, tides, and runoff from nearby islands funnel debris into the harbor—making it a hotspot for marine litter. Conducting the cleanup in the early evening not only gave the team better visibility but also highlighted the peaceful and rewarding experience of giving back to the ocean at dusk.
As the light faded and dive torches clicked on, the team got to work. They didn’t dive for fun or training—they dove for impact.
With mesh bags in hand, they navigated the sandy bottom of the harbor, collecting everything from discarded plastics to fishing lines and rusted metal. The mood was focused but joyful. Every piece of trash recovered meant one less danger to the ocean.
And as they surfaced just after sunset, their bags heavy and their smiles wide, they knew they had done something meaningful. The total? 38 kilograms of harmful debris removed from the marine park. It was a dive that left everyone with a sense of pride—and a stronger connection to the underwater world they’ve pledged to protect.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, conservation isn’t an add-on. It’s a way of life. Every diver who trains at the center, whether as a beginner or future instructor, is taught that respect for the marine environment is just as important as mastering buoyancy or navigation.
This cleanup dive was part of a larger philosophy: that dive professionals should lead by example. At Oceans 5, environmental ethics are built into every course and every briefing. There’s a strict no-touch policy, a focus on neutral buoyancy, and a clear message that the ocean is not our playground—it’s our responsibility.
The decision to let IDC and Divemaster candidates lead the cleanup was intentional. As future dive professionals, these individuals are the next generation of underwater ambassadors.
They didn’t just dive—they organized. They planned the cleanup, led the safety briefing, delegated roles, and motivated others. In doing so, they embodied the leadership and environmental values that Oceans 5 Gili Air strives to instill in every professional-level candidate.
By taking ownership of the project, they gained real-world experience that goes far beyond the pages of the PADI Instructor Manual. They became role models.
The timing of the cleanup—just before and during sunset—gave the dive a magical quality. And it didn’t go unnoticed. Locals and tourists walking along the harbor stopped to ask questions, take photos, and even offer to help.
Once the team surfaced and laid out the trash they’d recovered, people gathered to look at what had been pulled from the sea. Flip-flops, plastic bottles, glass shards, bits of rope—it was a stark reminder of how much human waste ends up in our oceans. But it was also a powerful demonstration of what a few dedicated people can accomplish.
Inspired? You don’t have to wait for the next organized cleanup to make a difference.
At Oceans 5, cleanup dives are open to anyone—certified divers, students, and even non-divers who want to join the Friday beach cleanups at 17:00. And if you’d like to do an underwater cleanup dive, just ask at the dive shop. The team will gladly help organize a safe, impactful experience for you.
Cleanup dives can also count toward the PADI Dive Against Debris Specialty or be part of the Eco Divemaster Internship, which integrates conservation into professional dive training.
Whether you want to organize a personal cleanup dive, join the next event, or simply learn more about how to dive sustainably, Oceans 5 is ready to help.
The 38kg of collected trash included:
Each item collected represents potential danger for marine life—from entanglement and ingestion to habitat damage. That’s why every cleanup, no matter how small, matters.
Oceans 5 doesn’t stop at cleanups. They actively partner with:
Together, these partnerships help create a culture of continuous conservation—both on land and underwater.
Too often, divers think of value in terms of visibility, marine life, and dive site fame. But dives like this evening’s harbor cleanup remind us of another kind of value: impact.
By cleaning the harbor, the IDC and Divemaster candidates made their mark not just as divers—but as stewards of the sea.
And they left behind more than a clean dive site. They left inspiration. They left awareness. And they sparked the kind of evening that reminds us why we fell in love with diving in the first place.
Join us for a cleanup dive. Whether you’re a newly certified diver, a seasoned instructor, or someone who simply cares about our oceans, your effort makes a difference.
Together, we can ensure that Gili Air—and the world’s reefs—remain healthy, beautiful, and thriving for generations to come.
Next cleanup: Every Friday at 17:00
Underwater cleanup? Just request one at the Oceans 5 Dive Shop!
Let’s dive into action—because the ocean needs more than just visitors. It needs protectors.
Divemaster Internship Embarking on a Divemaster internship marks the first major step toward becoming a dive professional, transforming your passion for diving into a rewarding career. Choosing the right dive center to undertake this internship is crucial for your professional growth, skill enhancement, and future …
The Newest Development on Gili Air: A Safe Haven for Island Cats The tranquil island of Gili Air is often praised for its white sand beaches, welcoming locals, and laid-back atmosphere—but beneath the postcard-perfect surface lies a growing movement of sustainability, community care, and compassion. …
The island of Gili Air, known for its turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs, and laid-back atmosphere, is undergoing a quiet revolution. Not in politics or tourism, but in waste management—specifically in how it tackles one of its most persistent environmental challenges: glass waste.
For years, glass bottles from beer, wine, sauces, and condiments piled up at bars, restaurants, and resorts. While organic waste, plastic, and cardboard were being sorted, shipped off, or reused, glass remained the island’s Achilles heel. That is, until a team of young, local entrepreneurs stepped in to change the narrative.
Since 2022, a passionate team of local youths took over the reins of Gili Cares, a community-led initiative originally founded to address waste collection and sustainability on the island. Under their stewardship, Gili Cares evolved into a dynamic and structured operation. What started as an environmental movement is now a fully operational waste logistics system, supported by local businesses and run by island residents who care deeply about the place they call home.
Gili Cares currently operates six pickup carts, each one making daily rounds to collect waste from registered partner businesses. The waste is then transported by boat to Lombok, where it is sorted for recycling or disposal. This logistical improvement alone significantly reduced the accumulation of garbage on the island, but one major issue still loomed: glass bottles.
While plastic, paper, and organic waste could be sorted and processed, glass posed a unique challenge. Beer bottles, wine bottles, condiment jars—these were too heavy and fragile to be shipped in bulk affordably, and dangerous to leave unattended. So they accumulated. Year after year.
The result? A mountain of glass—literal tons of bottles—piled up at the Gili Cares headquarters. They couldn’t be disposed of with the regular waste, nor reused easily. As more tourists arrived and more businesses opened, the island’s glass problem grew larger and more urgent.
In June 2024, something changed. Several environmentally conscious businesses on Gili Air pooled their resources and donated funds to Gili Cares, specifically earmarked to tackle the glass issue. Their goal: purchase a glass cutting machine that could begin to process the mountain of bottles into something useful.
It wasn’t an easy journey. Importing specialized equipment to a small island off the coast of Lombok isn’t straightforward. It took nearly a year of waiting, shipping delays, and regulatory hurdles before the glass cutter finally arrived. Even then, Gili Cares had to navigate through layers of bureaucracy to secure the permits to operate it safely and legally.
But as of early 2025, the glass cutter is operational, and the mountain of bottles is finally being reduced—one bottle at a time.
Here’s where the story gets exciting. Gili Cares didn’t stop at cutting glass bottles. In a true example of island innovation, the team also acquired a brick-making machine.
By combining:
Gili Cares has created a formula for eco-friendly, durable bricks. These bricks are:
And they’re made using materials that would otherwise pollute the island.
This initiative is not just about solving a garbage problem. It’s about creating a sustainable, circular economy on Gili Air—where waste becomes a resource, not a burden.
Once fully operational, the program offers a series of incredible benefits:
In a place where most construction materials have to be brought from the mainland, having locally produced bricks made from recycled materials is a game-changer.
While the vision is promising, the brick-making project is still in its development phase. Gili Cares is currently testing different glass-to-sand ratios, curing techniques, and molds. The team is consulting with construction professionals to refine the brick quality, ensuring they meet the standards needed for building homes, walls, and commercial structures.
At the same time, efforts are underway to scale up production and streamline operations. Eventually, Gili Cares plans to make these bricks available for sale to both private builders and commercial developers. Imagine building your dream villa or guesthouse on Gili Air—using materials that helped clean the island.
There are very few true win-win situations in waste management. But this is one of them.
Gili Cares has once again shown that island-scale sustainability is possible—but only when the community works together.
This project wouldn’t have been possible without the collective effort of the Gili Air community. From the young leadersrunning Gili Cares, to the businesses that funded the equipment, to the government offices that approved the permits, and the residents and volunteers who show up every day to sort, lift, and build—every bottle recycled is a small victory for the island.
Special thanks go out to:
With the success of the glass-to-brick project on the horizon, Gili Cares is already looking at what comes next. Possible future developments include:
As the island continues to grow, the importance of sustainable infrastructure grows with it. Gili Cares is paving the way—literally—with bricks made from yesterday’s bottles.
Whether you’re a resident, a traveler, or just someone who loves the Gili Islands, there are ways you can support this initiative:
Every small action helps build a better future for Gili Air.
The challenges faced by Gili Air are not unique. Islands across Indonesia and Southeast Asia are struggling with the same waste management issues. But what’s happening here could serve as a blueprint for island-based recycling innovation.
Rather than exporting their problems, Gili Air is finding solutions at home—turning waste into resources, and obstacles into opportunities.
The story of glass bottles on Gili Air is no longer one of environmental burden. It’s becoming a story of innovation, collaboration, and resilience.
The mountain of glass that once seemed impossible to tackle is slowly disappearing—transformed into bricks that will help build homes, schools, shops, and dreams.
All thanks to a group of young visionaries who believed their island could do better.
So next time you sip a cold drink on Gili Air, take a moment to think about where that bottle will go. Thanks to Gili Cares, it might just be part of the next wall that rises on this beautiful island.
Celebrating 15 Years of Oceans 5 Gili Air: A Vision Realized Since 16 April 2010 On 16 April 2010, Oceans 5 Gili Air received an email from PADI that would change the future of diving on Gili Air forever. That message officially confirmed Oceans 5 as …