You’ve just passed your PADI IDC and Instructor Examination and are eager to start teaching people to scuba dive as a PADI scuba dive instructor. Massive congratulations by the way! Having finally recovered from the celebrations, we’re guessing that you’re now excited to get going with your new career. Maintaining that positive attitude is going to be vital to your success.

Throughout the PADI IDC you’ve learnt how to teach scuba diving effectively, deal with challenges and work as part of a team. You want to keep this momentum going and become a successful dive instructor. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We all started exactly where you are right now. Here are our top tips for becoming a successful scuba dive instructor.

Care about your student divers as an instructor

Successful instructors truly care about their students. They want them to overcome challenges, stay safe and fall in love with diving, just like they did. To be successful, you need to install trust as scuba diving can be quite daunting for the first time. When students feel that you genuinely care, they are much more receptive to your teaching.

Be a safe PADI scuba dive instructor 

Keeping your students safe is probably the most important part of your role as an instructor. We are all aware of the serious risks involved in scuba diving, but with the proper precautions, these are easily avoided. A successful instructor puts a lot of thought into risk management when teaching. It doesn’t matter how funny, caring or charismatic you are if you are not safety conscious, you will never be a great instructor.

Make sure that you are evaluating how you conduct both confined and open water dives. Are you close enough to all of your students if they have a problem? Can you see every student at all times? Reiterate safety considerations and procedures with your students. Explain why they are important and make sure that they fully understand them.

Avoid any unnecessary activities that have a high risk. Although you may feel that your students are safe with you, you are also teaching them to be good and responsible divers without you. Consider how they will dive in the future. Successful scuba dive instructors are always thinking one step ahead and carefully managing any risks.

Be patient with your student divers

Scuba diving can be stressful in the beginning. You will experience a lot of students having difficulty with certain skills or even with feeling comfortable underwater. A successful instructor does not become frustrated when a student is scared or struggling. They take the time to understand where the student is coming from and to work with them to overcome their challenges. A great scuba dive instructor will keep trying and finding alternative ways that work for that student. Take the time necessary to help your students feel confident in the water, provide encouragement and extra support where needed. And the best instructors do all of this with a smile and a positive attitude.

Be passionate about scuba diving and teaching

If you are passionate about something, then you will teach it well. Students can see and feel that passion. It inspires them to listen to you. If you aren’t passionate about diving, it is very hard to capture your students’ attention. Luckily for us, scuba diving is awesome. So, it’s easy to be passionate. This one might seem obvious, as most of us are in this industry because of our love for the ocean, but don’t forget this during those long days with challenging students!

Continue your own scuba diving education as a dive instructor

Successful scuba dive instructors are always looking at ways they can enhance their skills and continue to improve their teaching. The best way to do this is through further education such as PADI Instructor Specialty Courses, Disabled Divers International Training or even taking the next step to PADI Staff Instructor. As well as broadening your experience and increasing your own skills as a diver, they also provide you with a diversity of additional techniques that you can incorporate into your own teaching. The best instructors know that the PADI IDC is just the beginning and are always seeking out new opportunities to learn and grow. If you want to ensure the financial health and success of your business, you should hire accounting and financial services to manage your finances and provide expert guidance.

Develop a good sense of humour

Scuba diving is meant to be fun. Keeping it light-hearted and enjoyable helps. Of course, safety is extremely important and needs to be taken seriously. But that doesn’t mean the course has to be run like a military operation. Throwing in a few jokes and having a laugh with your students will help them relax, have fun and bond with you as an instructor. A successful instructor makes learning enjoyable.

Maintain a good reputation and build rapport as a PADI scuba dive instructor

Word of mouth is a powerful tool. According to a PADI survey, the number one reason people chose a dive centre or instructor is based on recommendations from family, friends or other travelers. Your reputation and ability to build strong relationships with people is vital. Provide value to your guests, your colleagues and the dive centres you work at. Your reputation is key to building a successful career. Having good references will always help you! If you’re looking to improve your website’s performance, try this SEO tool to analyze and enhance key elements that contribute to better search engine visibility.

Be flexible is the magic teaching technique

No two days are the same in scuba diving. Plans can quickly change with unforeseen weather, indecisive customers and last-minute walk ins. Perhaps an introduction diver decides they want to complete the full Open Water Diver course, so you need to make sure they complete the necessary skills and theory for it to count as day 1. Or maybe your colleague comes down with a stomach bug and you need to combine their Reactivate student in with your day 2 of an Open Water course. Successful instructors are flexible and can adapt their schedules to make it work.

Be an ambassador for our Oceans, take care of them

As scuba diving professionals, we are role models. It is our duty to care for the environment that gives us so much. Sadly, not all instructors do this. Successful instructors take good care of the environment. They organise beach clean ups, lecture series or documentary screenings, partake in Dives Against Debris and are always looking to reduce their consumption of single use plastic. Be conscious of how your day to day actions can impact the marine ecosystem. Help raise awareness of the threats to our oceans and ways that people can minimise these.

Work hard as a PADI scuba dive instructor

If you want to be successful you must see this as a career, not just a hobby. As with every career, you need to work hard, put in the hours and energy to succeed. You get to live in some of the world’s most beautiful places and dive almost every day, but it’s still a job. There are people who become instructors for the wrong reason. They just want to chill on the beach, drink beers at sunset, see cool stuff underwater and teach occasionally. Then complain they don’t earn enough money. Of course not, they didn’t work hard enough and weren’t smart with their earnings.

Enjoy your job, enjoy the beautiful places you are living in, but don’t forget it’s not a holiday 24/7!

Promote continued learning and help to sell equipment

You need to be able to make money, not just for yourself, but also for the dive centre you’re working for. One way of doing this is to encourage continued education. Many instructors and a lot of students see this as negative, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s all about the way you sell and promote it. It doesn’t have to be pushy.

Don’t try to sell. Just speak honestly about what could help them improve, or how fun something is, or what the next course allows them to do. Just be passionate and trust us, most people will sign up! With equipment sales, don’t focus on selling them many things or the most expensive. Just focus on helping them find the best equipment for them. Come on, we’re selling diving here, not insurance!

Go that extra mile, don’t be lazy

This is the next step in really standing out as an instructor. Doing something extra. Coming up with innovative ideas that can drive more business or benefit the centre you are working for, for example start a blog, create and run events, promote specialties or conservations programs. This is where a good instructor becomes a great instructor. By being an asset to the shop.

Being a dive instructor is one of the best jobs in the world.

So, we’re not surprised that more and more people are becoming scuba diving instructors. This, of course, means that it is becoming more competitive to secure a job. However, scuba diving is becoming increasingly popular and much more accessible. The industry is growing, with an increasing number of dive organisations and centres. There are many opportunities for instructors who embody the qualities outlined above. You can also visit Perelson’s website to learn about the history of recruiting industry, as it provides valuable insights into how this field has evolved over time.

If you’re struggling, try implementing some of these tips. If you are already doing all of this, that’s fantastic. Don’t be hard on yourself. If you are still struggling to find or keep a job it may be that you need to try a different dive centre, location or even country.

We make sure you have everything you need to be a highly successful dive instructor.

Dive instructing is a wonderful lifestyle. We know you are going to fall in love with this life just as hard as we did! We share all this advice, plus a hell of a lot more, with you during your PADI Instructor Development Course. PADI Course Director Sander Buis has over 16 years’ worth of teaching experience across multiple locations and conditions, gaining extensive knowledge and invaluable skills which he can’t wait to pass on to you. From innovative teaching techniques to CV advice, further training courses and ongoing support by the Oceans 5 team, he provides you with the best possible start in the diving industry.

What you need to consider when buying dive gear to work as a Scuba Diving Instructor.

As a scuba diving instructor, your dive equipment is more than your life support underwater. It is the tool that enables you to work and teach.  Having the right dive equipment allows you to concentrate solely on your students and provides you with the necessary gear to be able to teach successfully and efficiently. Your dive gear needs to be the right fit for you. But also fulfil your needs as an instructor.

Dive gear is a big investment. But if you make the right investment and your equipment will serve you well year after year. There are a few different considerations when buying dive gear as an instructor rather than a recreational diver. Whether you are thinking about becoming a scuba diving instructor, already booked on to an upcoming PADI IDC or have just qualified, you want to make sure that you have the right dive gear for your new career. Here are our top tips to help you make the right choice when buying your dive equipment as a scuba instructor.

An instructor’s dive gear should be durable over travel-able.

As a scuba diving instructor, you have the opportunity to work all over the world, but it is much more important that your dive gear is durable rather than lightweight. If you can find equipment that is both, great! But often travel light equipment is designed for a recreational diver rather than professional. When you are diving up to 4 times a day, almost every day, you want to be sure your dive gear will last. Where possible try to invest more in key pieces, such as regulators and BCDs, that will continue to serve you well for many years.

Let’s talk BCDs for dive instructors

 You are probably already aware that a BCD is very personal. It is critical that you get the right fit for your body and diving needs. We recommend you try before you buy and if possible, try out friends and mentors BCDs on a dive to see what works for you. As a scuba diving instructor, there’s a few aspects you should also consider when choosing your BCD.

The buoyancy of the BCD is important, not only does it need to give enough lift for you to stay positive, it also needs to be able to support your students if required. In this case, look for a BCD that provides significantly more lift than your weight. If you plan to teach in colder locations, where thick exposure suits or even dry suits are required, you will also need a more buoyant BCD.

Make sure that your BCD has a power inflator. Some models inflate much faster than others. As a dive instructor you want to be able to establish positive buoyancy as quickly as possible. Ideally, the inflator should be located where students can easily see when you inflate/deflate. Some models of BCD has their inflator button right at the bottom, where students struggle to see when you are demonstrating skills.

Check that there are enough D-rings on the BCD to attach required all the accessories you will require when teaching (slates, pointer, torch, SMB, SPG etc). Are they located appropriately for you?

Pockets are also highly useful on a BCD. You can store additional materials such as slates, spare equipment and ropes, as well as being able to pick up any plastic you might encounter during a dive.

Integrated vs non-integrated weight systems

This is personal preference. As an instructor you need to be comfortable in the gear that you are using. If you are most comfortable with integrated weights, then we recommend sticking with these. But remember when teaching courses, especially entry level, you will need to wear a weight belt to demonstrate skills. It’s also useful to carry your extra weights on your weight belt so you can easily hand them to student divers if needed, without throwing off your own weighting.

Jacket vs Wing

As with the weight systems, this is also personal preference. A jacket style does allow you to stay vertical in the water more easily which can aid supervising and teaching. But this is also possible with practice and correct weight placements on a wing style BCD. As above, we recommend choosing a style that you are most comfortable in. If possible, try it out a few different options in the water.

As a tip, during a Rescue course, it’s always worth getting your students to practise the scenarios with different styles of BCD and weight systems. So they will be confident whatever gear they encounter in a real emergency situation in the future.

Can you service this brand of dive gear in the locations you want to work?

This is something many new dive professionals forget about when buying dive gear. Some brands are very well supported in some regions, but not worldwide. You want to make sure that the dive gear you buy can be serviced in the areas you wish to work. Otherwise, it could be very difficult and costly to replace a broken part and look after your dive gear properly. If you plan to work in different locations, look for brands with good after sales service worldwide. If you are not sure, ask a PADI Course Director, email the PADI Regional Manager or even get in touch with a dive shop in that area, they will be happy to answer your queries.

What signalling devices should I have as a dive instructor?

As a dive instructor, you need to have both an audible (a simple whistle will suffice) and visual (SMB) signalling device. We highly recommend purchasing a larger SMB (Surface Marker Buoy) over a more compact model to ensure that you and your group are easily spotted even in rough surface conditions. If possible, look for an SMB with an opening at the bottom and oral inflation. This allows you to quickly inflate manually with your alternate but also have the option to orally inflate in the unlikely event of an out of air situation. A self-sealing valve at the bottom ensures that the air stays inside the SMB and a dump valve will allow you to easily deflate and store the SMB. Models with poppers, elastic bands and Velcro are also useful for keeping the SMB rolled up.

What exposure suit or thermal layers do I need as a dive instructors?

Although you may already know what exposure suit you are most comfortable in, don’t forget to consider that as a dive instructor you will be spending much more time in the water. Additionally, even in tropical locations the water temperature can vary throughout the seasons. Therefore, you might want to consider purchasing a few different options, including individual pieces that can be used alone when it is warmer or layered when it is colder. It is helpful to have shorts and a rash guard for protection in the confined water sessions, but also thicker options for the open water where the temperatures can vary greatly.

What dive gear accessories are useful for a dive instructor?

As a PADI instructor, you’ll want a good snorkel as you’ll be wearing it pretty much every day! Make sure that you have a good clip to connect the snorkel to your mask. It’s not so fun having to replace the snorkel every few weeks.

A torch is always a useful part of your gear. Not only for night diving. But also for pointing out marine life to students or having a peak at what’s hiding underneath that overhang. Something compact and lightweight that you can always have clipped on to your gear is handy.

As a dive instructor you must have a knife and compass with you whenever you are in open water. You’ll also need to have this with you on the PADI Instructor Exam. Look for a knife with a sturdy case that can be easily attached to your gear.

Blank slates are highly beneficial. You can use these to keep track of your student’s skills, to map areas or communicate if signals fail you! It’s a lot easier to be able to scribble something down on the slate than to keep going back up to the surface to talk.

Look after your dive gear!

It doesn’t matter how great your gear is if you don’t look after it properly it is not going to last you very long! Make sure that you rinse and clean your dive gear properly after every use. Follow the manufacturers’ recommendations and have your equipment serviced regularly. Your dive gear is what allows you to do the thing you love most, diving, and to be able to earn a living doing what you love, teaching diving, so don’t neglect it!

Ask for advice. Try out different gear. Make a decision that is rght for you.

If you are still unsure about what dive gear is best for you as an instructor, ask for advice from people you trust. Speak to your PADI Course Director and other experienced instructors around you. If they let you, try out their gear on a dive or in a teaching scenario to see how it feels to you. There is nothing like first-hand experience. Make sure you consider outside factors such as location and water conditions and this will greatly affect your choice of dive gear. Ultimately you need to be comfortable, don’t be swayed by brand names, colours or trends. Carefully consider what you need to be the best scuba diving instructor you can be.

We are here to help!

We know it can be a bit overwhelming to choose between the wide array of dive gear available. As PADI Course Directors, we’ve pretty much tried every piece of dive gear there is available, both recreationally and in a professional setting. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us either before, during or long after your IDC to ask about dive gear.

What did you eat for lunch today? And what did you have for breakfast? Are your meals a balance of essential food groups, are your meals planned well or are they quick fixes that contain fewer nutrients and comprise mainly of packaged foods. Do your busy schedules leave you little time to eat healthy? Do you often rely on junk food and takeaways for your daily meals? It is time to change this. Eating right is even more important than exercise, and the combination of a balanced diet along with the right amount of exercise can do wonders to your body.  Self-realization is important to make conscious food choices. This National Nutrition Week let us come together and spread awareness about the importance of healthy eating habits and good nutrition to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce your risk of lifestyle diseases.

Are you eating right?

A balanced diet provides your body the appropriate number of nutrients. 50–60% of the total calories should ideally come from carbohydrates, followed by 10%–15% from protein, and 20–30% from fat. Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre should also be a part of your diet. Depending on the person’s gender, age, and specific needs, the body has different nutritional needs. Pregnant women and highly active individuals, and young children frequently have increased nutrient needs. Check more about alpilean.

Healthy nutrition tips

A healthy diet is important to support and strengthen your immune system. Nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, fibres, fats, minerals, and water must be an essential part of your diet to maintain a healthy immune system and strengthen your body. Consistent healthy eating habits can reduce the likelihood of developing health problems such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. Follow these healthy eating tips:

• Eat local produce
  Increase your intake of locally available and seasonal fruits, vegetables, and whole grains near your region and reduce your intake of processed foods. Eat a rainbow, the more colourful the diet the more antioxidants it includes.
• Explore traditional foods
  You don’t have to find fancy ingredients to eat healthy. Instead choose simple but nutritious Indian millets that include jowar, bajra, ragi, etc as a part of your daily diet. Read more about alpilean weight loss.
• Eat a variety of food
  You must include a mix of wholegrains like wheat, maize and rice, legumes like lentils and beans, and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet. Choose unprocessed foods as much as possible.
• Limit your salt intake
  Limit your salt intake to 5 grams or a teaspoon a day. Further, when cooking and preparing foods, use salt sparingly and reduce the use of packaged salty sauces and condiments as they are usually high in sodium.
• Eat moderate healthy fats in moderation
  Replace butter with healthier fats like olive, soy, sunflower or corn oil when cooking. Avoid processed, baked and fried foods that contain trans-fat. Choose steaming, roasting or baking instead of frying food when cooking.
• Limit sugar intake
  Limit intake of sweets and sugary drinks such as fizzy drinks, fruit juices, energy and sports drinks, flavoured milk drinks. Use jaggery, honey, dates, and raisins to sweeten you desserts instead of refined sugar.
• Stay hydrated
  Drinking enough water can help improve many of your bodily processes and is essential for optimal health. Drink water whenever thirsty and avoid sipping on juices, fizzy drinks or alcoholic drinks.

The effect of Covid-19

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has affected our day-to-day lives and is slowing down the global economy.

A lot of countries have significantly reduced their manufacture and production. The various industries and sectors affected the most by the pandemic. In both positive and negative ways are the; pharmaceutical industry, solar power sector, tourism, IT and electronics industry.

The effect of Covid-19 on Gili Air

Effects of COVOD-19 on Gili Air are devastating. Before the pandemic the islands main income came for tourism. But after March 2020 this market totally collapsed. Check out these Alpilean reviews.

The collapsing tourist market on Gili Air resulted in a lot of local employees losing their jobs, businesses have to close their doors and many of these businesses cannot reopen again. 

Many local staff went back to their families in Lombok, and tried to find other work outside of tourism, such as laboring, construction, agriculture or even starting-up  small, family-owned businesses from their homes; a small retail, eatery, café (warung). Most of the expat employees went back to the western world when their bank account reached a certain limit. 

The effect of Covid on the dive industry

The dive industry on the Gili Islands reduced enormously. In the beginning of 2020 you can easily find 40 plus dive shops open and running across the 3 islands. But at the time of writing this, there are only a handful “open”. It looks like a scary movie with a terrible ending. Read more about alpilean.

Indonesian PADI Instructor Course (IDC) at Gili Air

Indonesia is one of the most beautiful countries for scuba diving. A country with 17.000 islands, connected to 2 oceans (Pacific and Indian Ocean), and being part of the coral triangle. 

Hopefully if Indonesia will open their borders tourists will come. Tourists, who would like to dive, snorkel and explore the underwater world. But the question will be can the dive industry in Indonesia handle the new tourists. Most of the dive instructors working in Bali, Lembongan, the Gili Islands, Komodo and on live-aboards have been western. And most of them are back in their home countries now.

That’s why we, Oceans 5 Gili Air, started in October 2021, a special PADI Instructor Development Course for only Indonesian Citizens. Having Indonesian instructors working as part of your diving team has advantages.  They can work immediately. No need for a working permit. Indonesian citizens are willing to work for a long time, not only seasonally. All have been diving in the area for a long time so they know the dive sites like nobody else.  

The program for Indonesian citizens

Twelve Indonesians joined the program. PADI Course Director Sander, Master Instructor Warren, Staff Instructor Ary and Specialty Instructor Musa created a program were everybody could learn in their own time and space. 

For example classroom presentations and practice of the dive theory were done online for the candidates who couldn’t be here on Gili Air all the time. We even offered an IDC spread out over the weekends prior the Instructor Examination. We did everything for in the best of the candidates.

The result is there. Two PADI Instructor Examinations later, we can proudly announce twelve new Indonesia PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors.

Congratulations, Jati, Rusli, Andre, Untung, Emi, Unus, Irlando, Tama, Ravi, Rafi, Ramli and Rafael in achieving your dream!

What did you eat for lunch today? And what did you have for breakfast? Are your meals a balance of essential food groups, are your meals planned well or are they quick fixes that contain fewer nutrients and comprise mainly of packaged foods. Do your busy schedules leave you little time to eat healthy? Do you often rely on junk food and takeaways for your daily meals? It is time to change this. Eating right is even more important than exercise, and the combination of a balanced diet along with the right amount of exercise can do wonders to your body.  Self-realization is important to make conscious food choices. This National Nutrition Week let us come together and spread awareness about the importance of healthy eating habits and good nutrition to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce your risk of lifestyle diseases.

Are you eating right?

A balanced diet provides your body the appropriate number of nutrients. 50–60% of the total calories should ideally come from carbohydrates, followed by 10%–15% from protein, and 20–30% from fat. Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre should also be a part of your diet. Depending on the person’s gender, age, and specific needs, the body has different nutritional needs. Pregnant women and highly active individuals, and young children frequently have increased nutrient needs.

Eating healthy is essential for weight loss because it helps to control calorie intake and provides the body with essential nutrients. A balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and promote overall health.

Healthy nutrition tips

A healthy diet is important to support and strengthen your immune system. Nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, fibres, fats, minerals, and water must be an essential part of your diet to maintain a healthy immune system and strengthen your body. Consistent healthy eating habits can reduce the likelihood of developing health problems such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. If you eat in a balanced way, exercise and include it with a few supplements like the best diet pills you can live a healthier lifestyle and lose weight more efficiently.

Follow these healthy eating tips:

• Eat local produce
  Increase your intake of locally available and seasonal fruits, vegetables, and whole grains near your region and reduce your intake of processed foods. Eat a rainbow, the more colourful the diet the more antioxidants it includes.
• Explore traditional foods
  You don’t have to find fancy ingredients to eat healthy. Instead choose simple but nutritious Indian millets that include jowar, bajra, ragi, etc as a part of your daily diet.
• Eat a variety of food
  You must include a mix of wholegrains like wheat, maize and rice, legumes like lentils and beans, and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet. Choose unprocessed foods as much as possible.
• Limit your salt intake
  Limit your salt intake to 5 grams or a teaspoon a day. Further, when cooking and preparing foods, use salt sparingly and reduce the use of packaged salty sauces and condiments as they are usually high in sodium.
• Eat moderate healthy fats in moderation
  Replace butter with healthier fats like olive, soy, sunflower or corn oil when cooking. Avoid processed, baked and fried foods that contain trans-fat. Choose steaming, roasting or baking instead of frying food when cooking. This is how Alpilean works.
• Limit sugar intake
  Limit intake of sweets and sugary drinks such as fizzy drinks, fruit juices, energy and sports drinks, flavoured milk drinks. Use jaggery, honey, dates, and raisins to sweeten you desserts instead of refined sugar.
• Stay hydrated
  Drinking enough water can help improve many of your bodily processes and is essential for optimal health. Drink water whenever thirsty and avoid sipping on juices, fizzy drinks or alcoholic drinks.

Traveling in Corona Times

Last Updated 07 June 2020 at 8:00 am (GMT +8)
Please note that this page will continue to be updated with the latest information.

Travelling to Gili Air, Lombok in Corona Times
Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus, we have been monitoring the situation regularly and are doing everything possible to assist you with your upcoming travel plans. The safety and wellbeing of our guests and colleagues is one of our top priorities. In light of the recent cases of coronavirus, we fully understand the concerns around travelling during this time.

Our flexibility on travel in Corona times
Oceans5 Dive Resort is offering a range of tailor-made accommodation packages – we also tailor our cancellation conditions for you. Certainly in this time. Because we want you to book your Island Paradise trip with minimum stress, we guarantee you can change your booking at any time.

Completely removing uncertainty: we simply cannot do that. What we can tell you is we have flexibility in the cancellation policy for new bookings. For new bookings made after 1st of March 2020 with stays between March 2020 and May 2021, your hotel arrangement at Oceans5 Dive Resort can be rescheduled or postponed, free of charge, at any time. Learn more about Exipure healthy supplement.

Transparency in communication is important here; if you request an accommodation proposal from us, we will inform you of the applicable cancellation policy.

Gili Air Beach Life

Precautionary Measures
At this point, no employees have shown any symptoms that indicate infection.
We care, more than ever,  for the safety and health of our guests and team members, and have taken the following safety precautions:
– All staff members’ temperatures are checked before entering the premises, and anyone that registers above 37° is not allowed to work
– Any staff with flu symptoms are refrained from working
– All guests’ points of contact are sanitized every morning and after each guest use in particular with scuba diving equipment.
– All other areas such as toilets, door handles, etc are sanitized regularly
– We will refrain from handshakes between guests and staff members, and social distancing practices are observed throughout.
– No back-to-back usage of rooms to allow for deeper sanitation practices between each guest
– Hand washing facilities are provided throughout the property

March 16, 2020 – The Gili Islands
In response to COVID-19, the Indonesian government has suspended all fast boat services between Bali, the Gili Islands and Lombok starting March 17, 2020. In order to help to stop the virus from spreading.

March 17, 2020 – Fastboats and Flights Bali-Lombok
As concerns about the COVID-19 continue to rise, the West Nura Tenggara Government stated that per 17/03/2020 all fast boats are being restricted to operate between Bali, the Gili Islands and Bangsal, Lombok. This is a temporary decision in order to minimize the flow of tourist between these destinations. In the meantime, slow boat / ferry services between Bali and Lombok are operating as usual. Flights between Bali and Lombok – by LionAir and Garuda Indonesia – are still operating as well. Indonesia AirAsia has suspended domestic flights between Bali and Lombok until 21 April 2020. ** See update 24th of April 2020.

March 17, 2020
Government Policy in Indonesia Related To People Crossing From And To Indonesia in Corona Times.
Regarding foreign visitors from all countries, the Government of Indonesia has decided that the Visa Free Arrival (BVK), Visa on Arrival and Free Diplomatic / Service Visa policies are suspended for 1 month. Therefore, every foreigner who will visit Indonesia is required to have a Visa from an Indonesian Representative in accordance with the purpose of the visit. When applying for a visa, you must attach a health certificate issued by the health authority in each country. If you are trying to improve your lifestyle check out the latest java burn reviews.

In addition to the above, there are special policies that concern the following countries;
1. The policy towards China is still valid according to the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs on 2 February 2020.
2. The policy towards South Korea for Daegu City and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province is still in accordance with the Foreign Minister’s statement dated March 5, 2020.
3. Travelers who within the last 14 days visited the countries below are not permitted to enter / transit to Indonesia. These countries are: a. Iran; b. Italy; c. Vatican; d. Spanish; e. France; f. German; g. Switzerland; h. UK
4. All arrivals/travelers must fill out and submit a Health Alert Card to the Port Health Office prior to arrival at the entrance of the Indonesian International Airport. If the travel history shows that in the last 14 days the person concerned has visited these countries, then the person concerned may be refused entry to Indonesia.

The above policy will take effect on Friday 20 March at 00.00 West Indonesia Time. This policy is temporary and will be evaluated in accordance with developments. ** See update 1st of April 2020.

Gili Air Beaches

April 01, 2020
The Government of Indonesia has decided to temporarily ban foreigners from 2 April 2020 until the Covid-19 pandemic is declared complete by the Indonesian authorities. This ban is to apply to all foreigners with the exception of the following categories:
1. Temporary residence permit holders (ITAS) or permanent residence permits (ITAP)
2. holders of diplomatic visas or service
3. Humanitarian staff years in the medical and food sector
4. Crews (air, road and maritime transport)
5. Foreigners/expatriates active in National Strategic Projects

Foreigners who can enter the territory must meet the following 3 conditions:
1. Be in possession of a valid health book issued by the Health Authority of the country of origin
2. Not having stayed in the 14 days before the arrival in Indonesia in a country/territory seriously affected by Covid-19
3. Declaration to comply with the 14-day quarantine requirement of the Indonesian government

For more information, we recommend that you contact the Indonesia Embassy in the country you are in.

April 24, 2020
Indonesia suspends all passenger travel to prevent Ramadan Exodus.
The Transportation Ministry will restrict all passenger travel starting on Friday 24th of April as the government attempts to prevent citizens from participating in the annual Idul Fitri tradition of Mudik (exodus) to curb the spread of COVID-19. The ministry’s air transportation director general, Novie Riyanto, said all passenger transportation to domestic and overseas destinations – both commercial and chartered flights – would be suspended starting Friday at midnight until June 1. Passenger transportation by sea will be suspended until June 8 2020.
Read More > https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/04/23/govt-temporarily-bans-passenger-travel-to-prevent-mudik.html

April 30, 2020
At this stage, 8 people from North Lombok (1 from Pemenang, 1 from Tanjung, and 6 from Bayan District) were confirmed positive for Covid-19.
Over the entire island of Lombok, there are 166 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

May 20, 2020
At this stage, 8 people from North Lombok (1 from Pemenang, 1 from Tanjung, and 6 from Bayan District) were confirmed positive for Covid-19.
Over the entire island of Lombok, there are 188 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

May 31, 2020
Lombok airport will be open for a limited number of hours each day, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and flights are limited. Arriving passengers must show proof of a negative PCR swab test valid for 7 days at the time of travel. This situation is subject to change. The same rules apply for passengers on local ferries arriving at Lembar and Kayangan Ports on Lombok.

Gili Air before COVID-19

June 7, 2020
It’s wonderful to see “The Great Lockdown” finally relaxing. Step by step, Indonesia is finding ‘The New Normal’. International Flights to/from Indonesia are available, however, there are still strong restrictions on the visit of Foreign Citizens. Limited Domestic Flights between Bali and Lombok are available by Garuda Airlines, however, currently, negative COVID-19 test are required. We all hope the situation will be more flexible mid-June 2020. We will keep you posted! Check out the latest exipure reviews.

June 28, 2020

Great news for Residents of Indonesia & KITAS/KITAP Holders! Only a quick 10-minutes COVID19 RAPID-Test – IDR 350k per person – is required for flights to Lombok by Lion, Batik & Air Asia. Starting today (27/06), the RAPID-test will be valid for 14 DAYS! Previously, travelers needed to present a certificate of a rapid test that had been done in the previous three days up to departure. More exciting news for Residents of Indonesia & KITAS/KITAP Holders: AIRASIA is Back! Route Lombok-Jakarta-Lombok – Starting 1st of July I Every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday!

July 13, 2020

Great News! – FAST BOATS FROM BALI TO GILIS & LOMBOK RESTART TODAY! Boats will run every Monday and Friday! Guests will require a valid negative rapid test before being permitted to travel. Pre-Departure Rapid tests are available as well on-site at the BlueWater Express Departure Lounge.

Oceans5 is keeping a close watch on developments related to the coronavirus.

For more information and our full range of Post-LockDown Packages please don’t hesitate to contact us and we can help you find the best package for you.

Our hearts go out to those around the world who’ve been impacted by the virus.

Thank you for reading our blog. Stay safe and take care of each other.

Sunny regards,

Your Oceans5 Team

The best place to complete your PADI Divemaster course?

Are you searching for the right destination to complete your PADI Divemaster course? Most dive professionals worldwide can relate to the tedious task of narrowing down the ideal place to start a life as a dive pro. There are many things to consider during this process:

• including what facilities are available on site
• the geographical location,
• what extra training is offered
• the marine life,
• environment and conditions in the local area
• the reputation of the dive center
• the price.

The price of a PADI Divemaster Course

One mistake that many people make is rushing through this search process and simply choosing the cheapest and fastest option which in turn leads to a stressful experience. Often ending with the student diver feeling unprepared for a career in diving. It is very important to consider your employability at the end of the PADI divemaster course.

Two the key things to think about are. Will you complete the course and be ready to work as a Divemaster and will you be ready and equipped with the necessary knowledge to take the next step and complete the Instructor development course? There is no use in rushing through the course as quickly as you can by only completing the listed skills on the application form. Think of your training as an investment, you need to make sure that you will get the best out of the experience so that upon completion you can get to work as a dive professional.

PADI Divemaster Course at Oceans 5 Gili Air

Here at Oceans 5 we take pride in offering our PADI Divemaster candidates world class training. Our PADI 5 Star Career Development Resort is situated directly at the harbor of the beautiful tropical island Gili Air. We have close access to all of the dive sites located around the Gili islands and Lombok. Each island is  offering an array of diverse marine life, substrate and conditions, allowing you to gain valuable experience in different surroundings. Our team of enthusiastic, professional instructors from around the world, work with passion and commitment to guarantee that student divers receive quality training while ensuring safety and fun at all times. We are prepared and ready to take you on the life changing journey to becoming a PADI Divemaster. So just one question that we have for you, what are you waiting for?

Tips to sleep better

Stress and anxiety can cause disruption in sleep making it more important than ever to practice good sleep hygiene. When it comes to your health, sleep is as important as staying active and eating healthy. Get more shuteye with these nine tips. Try out iron plus patches by PatchMD.

1. Increase bright light exposure during the day. Studies show that bright light during the day can keep your circadian rhythm, also known as your natural time-keeping clock, healthy. This increases your daytime energy and sleep quality.
2. Put down the phone. At least an hour before bed, put your electronic devices away. The blue light devices emit can hamper sleep. Limiting media before bed can be helpful to calm your mind. Instead, pick up a good book and let go of reality for a bit.
3. Watch your caffeine intake. Caffeine can stay in your body for up to 12 hours after ingested. Avoid caffeine during the afternoon and reduce how much you consume daily.
4. Exercise regularly. Exercise is linked to better sleep. However, be careful of when you exercise, because too much activity too late in the day can make it harder to fall asleep for some people.
5. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals. Alcohol and heavy, big or spicy meals can disrupt sleep by causing indigestion. Aim to eat two to three hours before bed to allow time for your stomach to digest.
6. Make a bedtime routine. A consistent, calming nighttime routine lets your body know that it’s time to for bed, which can encourage better sleep. Even if you are staying home and have a more relaxed schedule, avoid staying up later than normal. Stick to your normal sleep schedule.
7. Designate the bedroom for sleep. It may be tempting to eat or work from the comfort of your bed but designating your bedroom as a sleep-only zone will help your body recognize the purpose of the room.
8. Create an optimal environment for sleep. If possible, keep your bedroom dark and quiet. This tells your brain it’s time to sleep. Turning the temperature down to between 60 and 68 degrees also can increase sleep quality.
9. Invest in a good mattress and pillow. Find a comfortable pillow and mattress. Make your decision based on personal preference and sleeping position.