The Weekly Reef Clean-Up at Oceans 5 Gili Air
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 isn’t just another fun dive, nor a training session. It’s part of something much bigger—something that reflects a deep commitment to conservation, responsibility, and the protection of our marine ecosystems. It’s the weekly reef clean-up dive organized by Oceans 5 Gili Air, the island’s leading eco-conscious dive shop.
While beach clean-ups have long been a signature of Oceans 5’s environmental efforts—drawing tourists, locals, and conservation enthusiasts together every Friday—the Saturday reef clean-ups are a more intimate, focused initiative. Reserved exclusively for the Oceans 5 family, including Divemaster candidates, IDC (Instructor Development Course) participants, newly certified instructors, current students, and fun divers, these reef clean-ups are a powerful symbol of what Oceans 5 stands for: protecting the ocean not for show, but because it’s simply the right thing to do.
A New Layer to Conservation
Conservation at Oceans 5 Gili Air has never been a marketing trend or something that’s highlighted only when convenient. Instead, it’s embedded into the dive shop’s DNA. Since 2010, Oceans 5 has been pioneering conservation on Gili Air, long before sustainability became the industry buzzword it is today. Over the years, they’ve hosted weekly beach clean-ups, partnered with conservation organizations, supported research through the University of Mataram, and mentored dozens of local Indonesians into becoming professional divers and stewards of the sea.
Now, with the addition of a weekly reef clean-up, Oceans 5 is taking its commitment even further. This isn’t a public event for social media photos—this is hands-on marine conservation for those actively involved in the Oceans 5 training and diving ecosystem. It’s about education, awareness, and most importantly, action.
Why Reef Clean-Ups Matter
The reef surrounding Gili Air is not just a dive site—it’s a living organism, a biodiverse ecosystem, and a critical part of the local economy. Unfortunately, like many coral reefs across the globe, it faces constant pressure from human activity.
Plastic pollution, fishing gear, glass, discarded personal items, and even construction materials find their way into the water. Some float in from other islands; others are left behind by careless tourists. Some are washed in during the rainy season from mainland Lombok. Regardless of the source, the impact is devastating: coral smothered by plastic bags, marine life entangled in fishing lines, or microplastics breaking down and entering the food chain.
Oceans 5 Gili Air’s weekly reef clean-up dives directly combat this growing problem.
On the latest clean-up dive, divers collected a staggering 65 kilograms of rubbish from the reef in front of the island. Among the debris were everyday items like plastic bottles, cups, straws, and bags, but also surprising and unusual objects such as carpets, street marking signs, clothing, and even metal scraps.
A Team Effort Below the Surface
Every reef clean-up starts with a comprehensive briefing by one of the Oceans 5 Divemaster Candidates. The dive is carefully planned based on the ocean conditions, tides, and current. Safety is a priority, but so is maximizing the positive impact. Divemaster candidates and IDC students are taught how to collect trash in a way that doesn’t damage the coral, ensuring that the act of cleaning doesn’t create more harm than good.
Divers are paired into buddy teams, each equipped with mesh bags, cutting tools for tangled fishing lines, and gloves for handling sharp or hazardous materials. There’s a silent camaraderie among the team underwater. Everyone knows they’re not just picking up trash—they’re protecting their future dive sites, and setting an example for responsible diving worldwide.
Upon surfacing, the collected rubbish is sorted, weighed, and recorded. Items that can be recycled are separated, while others are responsibly disposed of. The data is added to Oceans 5’s ongoing environmental records, helping to track the most common types of pollution and informing future clean-up strategies.
Training the Next Generation of Ocean Advocates
What sets Oceans 5 apart is that conservation isn’t an afterthought or an extra-curricular activity—it’s integrated directly into their professional training programs.
Divemaster candidates at Oceans 5 don’t just assist on courses and learn dive theory—they actively participate in conservation workshops, beach clean-ups, and now, reef clean-ups. These sessions are more than environmental actions; they’re leadership opportunities, helping candidates develop skills in event coordination, group management, and public speaking. Instructors in training learn how to teach with minimal impact, practicing neutral buoyancy from day one and avoiding the outdated practice of kneeling on the sea floor.
And even after candidates pass their IDC, they are encouraged to remain involved in the clean-up initiatives. Many ex-IDC students who have stayed on the island—or returned to visit—continue to join these reef clean-ups. It’s a sign that the conservation philosophy taught at Oceans 5 truly stays with people.
Conservation as a Core Philosophy, Not a Marketing Tool
What makes this initiative unique isn’t just the organization or the number of participants—it’s the motivation behind it. In an age where “eco” can be just another buzzword, Oceans 5 Gili Air refuses to treat conservation as a branding strategy.
Owner and Course Director Sander Buis has long been outspoken about the importance of protecting the marine environment—not because it sells dive courses, but because it’s the ethical foundation on which the dive shop was built. The reef is his team’s office. And like any responsible professional, they believe it’s their duty to keep it clean.
Sander and his team have always invested their own resources into these efforts—without relying on outside funding, sponsorships, or temporary “green campaigns.” It’s not about likes or shares—it’s about action and responsibility. For them, every plastic bottle removed is a small win for the reef.
Creating a Ripple Effect on Gili Air
Though the Saturday reef clean-up is limited to Oceans 5’s community, the effect is far-reaching. Tourists who witness the post-dive sorting on the beach ask questions, become curious, and often return on Friday to join the weekly beach clean-up. Students who participate in the reef clean-up often continue their conservation journey, choosing to pursue PADI AWARE courses, or even specialize in marine conservation with Oceans 5’s eco internship programs.
By being consistent and genuine in their conservation efforts, Oceans 5 sets the standard not just for Gili Air, but for dive shops across Indonesia.
The Bigger Picture: A Cleaner, Healthier Marine Ecosystem
As the reef clean-up divers surface each Saturday, bags of waste in hand, they carry with them more than debris—they carry hope. Hope that the reef will thrive again. Hope that divers around the world will treat the ocean with the care it deserves. Hope that by educating just a few more divers each week, the ripple will become a wave.
The reef in front of Gili Air may not be the biggest or the most famous. But it’s home—to coral gardens, schools of fish, octopus, nudibranchs, and even turtles. And it’s home to Oceans 5 Gili Air. Protecting it isn’t just a program. It’s a promise.
Join the Movement
If you’re already part of the Oceans 5 family, you’re likely already diving with a purpose. But if you’re planning to join a course, start your Divemaster or Instructor journey, or simply fun dive while staying on Gili Air—know that you’ll be joining a team that puts conservation first.
Come on a Friday for the beach clean-up. Stay for the Saturday reef clean-up. Be part of a community where protecting the ocean is just another day at the office.
Because at Oceans 5 Gili Air, we don’t just dive—we dive for a better future.
For more information about joining Oceans 5’s Divemaster internships, Instructor Development Courses, or conservation workshops, contact:
📧 [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp: +62 853 3339 7823
🌍 www.oceans5dive.com
Oceans 5 Gili Air – Where Conservation Meets Professional Dive Training.