Diving in a tropical paradise

Home ยป Diving in a tropical paradise

Your SSI ITC Dive Resort, Oceans 5 Gili Air

Why Oceans 5 Gili Air Is the Best Dive Shop on Gili Air

If you search for the best dive shop on Gili Air, you will quickly discover that there are many dive centers on the island. Some focus on fun diving, some focus on certifications, and others focus on volume. But when you look beyond the price list and start comparing teaching quality, facilities, safety standards, equipment maintenance, conservation efforts, and professional training opportunities, one name consistently stands out: Oceans 5 Gili Air

1. SSI Instructor Training Center on Gili Air

Anyone can teach an Open Water Course. The real question is: who trains the instructors?

Oceans 5 Gili Air is a SSI Instructor Training Center on Gili Air. This means the center does not only train beginner diversโ€”it trains the next generation of dive professionals. Instructor Trainers work daily with Divemasters and Instructor Candidates, creating an environment where teaching quality is constantly evaluated and improved.ย 

When you learn from instructors who are themselves trained and mentored by Instructor Trainers, you benefit from a higher standard of education.

2. World-Class Facilities

Many divers choose a dive center based on the cheapest price. Experienced divers know that facilities matter.

Oceans 5 offers:

  • Two large training pools
  • Spacious air-conditioned classrooms
  • Professional equipment room
  • Dedicated dive boats
  • On-site accommodation
  • Modern teaching technology
  • Large outdoor areas for briefings and debriefings

These facilities allow courses to be conducted properly and comfortably, regardless of experience level. Whether you are trying scuba diving for the first time or completing a professional course, the infrastructure is designed to support quality education. 

3. Small Groups, Big Difference

One instructor with ten students may be profitable.

One instructor with four students creates better divers.

Oceans 5 believes that divers should receive personal attention. Small groups mean instructors have more time to help students improve buoyancy, solve problems, and build confidence underwater.

Instead of rushing through skills to finish a course quickly, students learn at their own pace. This creates safer and more competent divers. 

4. Experienced Instructors

A beautiful building does not make a great dive center.

People do.

The instructor team at Oceans 5 includes highly experienced professionals who have taught thousands of dives and certifications. Their experience ranges from beginner programs to professional-level instructor training.

The teaching philosophy is simple:

Don’t just certify divers. Create confident divers.

That philosophy is visible in every course, from introductory dives to professional training programs. 

5. Safety Comes First

When choosing the best dive shop on Gili Air, safety should always be your number one priority.

At Oceans 5, safety is not treated as a marketing slogan.

The center follows structured teaching systems, detailed briefings, proper supervision ratios, and continuous staff training. Students are encouraged to master skills instead of simply completing minimum requirements.

This approach creates divers who are comfortable and confident underwater rather than divers who are merely certified. 

6. Equipment That Is Properly Maintained

Many first-time divers do not know what good diving equipment should look like.

A quality dive center invests heavily in equipment maintenance because reliability underwater matters.

Oceans 5 continuously maintains and services its equipment, ensuring regulators, BCDs, cylinders, and safety equipment remain in excellent condition.

Professional divers understand that well-maintained equipment is not a luxuryโ€”it is a necessity.

7. Conservation Is Not Just a Buzzword

The Gili Islands exist because of the ocean.

Without healthy reefs, turtles, fish, and coral, there would be no diving industry.

Oceans 5 has built its reputation around environmental responsibility. The dive center organizes weekly beach cleanups, reef cleanups, and supports marine conservation projects and university research programs around the Gili Islands. Conservation is integrated into courses rather than being treated as a separate activity. 

Students are encouraged to become ambassadors for the ocean and learn how their diving behavior directly impacts the marine environment.

8. A Dive Center That Is Part of the Community

The best dive shop on Gili Air should contribute to the island that supports it.

Oceans 5 has spent years supporting local conservation initiatives, educational programs, and community projects. The center works with local organizations and Indonesian universities to improve understanding and protection of the marine ecosystem around the Gili Islands. 

This commitment extends beyond diving and helps create a more sustainable future for the island.

9. Courses From Beginner to Instructor

One of the biggest advantages of Oceans 5 is that divers can complete their entire diving journey in one place.

You can start with:

  • SSI Basic Diver
  • SSI Open Water Diver
  • SSI Advanced Adventurer
  • SSI Stress & Rescue
  • SSI Divemaster
  • SSI Instructor Training Course

This complete educational pathway means students learn within a consistent system and teaching philosophy from their first dive all the way to becoming professional instructors. 

The Real Question

The best dive shop on Gili Air is not necessarily the cheapest.

The best dive shop is the one where:

  • You feel welcome.
  • The instructors genuinely care about your progress.
  • The equipment is maintained.
  • The facilities are professional.
  • Safety standards are high.
  • Conservation matters.
  • You leave as a better diver than when you arrived.

That is exactly why so many divers choose Oceans 5 Gili Air.

If you are looking for the best dive shop on Gili Air, don’t just compare prices. Visit the dive center, meet the instructors, look at the facilities, ask about their teaching philosophy, and see how they treat their students.

The answer will quickly become obvious.

 

SSI ITC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air | Accommodation Gili Islands | Family Bungalow
SSI ITC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air

Gili Air in Indonesia

The three Gili Islands are small paradises located east of Bali. They are easily reachable by a fast boat from Bali, with the journey taking approximately one hour and thirty minutes.

Each of the three islands has its own unique characteristics. Gili Air, in particular, is known for its relaxed and tranquil atmosphere, distinguishing it from the busier Gili Trawangan. Despite its serene environment, Gili Air still offers a variety of bars, restaurants, and activities. It is the closest of the three Gili Islands to the coast of Lombok.

The name “Gili Air” translates to “Water Island,” a reference to its lush vegetation. The island is adorned with white sandy beaches and is free from motorized transport. The only modes of transportation available are horse carts and bicycles, adding to the island’s charm. Friendly local villagers contribute to the welcoming atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy a diverse selection of restaurants and accommodations, ranging from basic homestays to luxury private villas. All these elements make Gili Air an ideal destination for a relaxing yet adventurous holiday.

Sunset view Gili Air | Oceans 5 Gili Air | Scuba Diving Gili Islands
Sunset from our SSI ITC Center

Diving around the Gili Islands

Our dive resort is situated in the harbor of Gili Air and has access to more than 20 different dive sites around the Gili Islands. Our house reef is located right in front of the dive shop and all the other dive sites are only a short boat ride away. Multilingual SSI instructors can teach you in Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish and Bahasa Indonesia

SSI ITC Instructor Training Center Indonesia | Oceans 5 Dive Resort Gili Air
SSI ITC Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air

Our Environment

Every week our dive resort at Gili Air organizes free beach and reef clean ups. Divers and non-divers are helping us to clean the harbor of Gili Air. It is a fantastic way to meet new people while helping us to preserve our beautiful island.

We organize presentations about marine life. Last few years Manta Watch, Shark GuardianGili Eco Trust, Aquatic Alliance and Mola Research Lembongan came to visit us. We are also a supporter of the Ocean CleanUp project, a fantastic project that will hopefully help to  solve the plastic problem in our oceans.

SSI ITC Indonesia: Oceans 5 Gili Air’s SSI Instructor Training Course

Welcome to Oceans 5 Gili Air, the starting point of your thrilling underwater adventure and successful career as a scuba diving instructor. Our SSI Instructor Training Course (ITC) is your first step towards becoming a competent and confident SSI Instructor if you want to turn your love of diving into a career. Our ITC program, under the direction of the skilled SSI Instructor Trainers Sander Buis and Warren Beyers , is created to not only give you the fundamental know-how and abilities, but also to ignite a passionate passion for marine conservation.

Discover Our Skilled Course Directors

Sander Buis and Warren Beyers, the SSI Instructor Trainers, are the brains behind our ITC. Sander and Waz are bringing a wealth of knowledge to the training table and have a distinguished history in scuba diving teaching and marine conservation. Their commitment to encouraging ecologically aware divers inspired them to create a particular conservation philosophy, which not only helped form the SSI Instructor Training Center but also acts as the foundation for our ITC program.

New! Our SSI Instructor Training dates are out!

We are conducting in 2026 nine SSI ITC’s! 

SSI Gili Islands in Indonesia

Oceans 5 gives love to

Ask us a question

See what our customers think on Tripadvisor