Explore Oceans 5 Gili Air

One dive centre. Five ways to explore.

Your first dive, a professional course, technical training or a deeper understanding of marine conservation: each journey starts with different questions.

We developed five focused websites to help you find the information that matters to you. Each connects to Oceans 5 Gili Air, our dive resort and SSI Instructor Training Center on Gili Air, Indonesia.

Find your starting point ↓

Why did we develop five websites?

A holiday diver may want to choose a course and find somewhere to stay. A future instructor needs detailed training information. A technical diver wants to understand prerequisites and equipment. Someone interested in conservation may be looking for marine park rules, research or ways to participate.

Giving these subjects their own space lets us explain them clearly, while keeping the connections between diving, education and conservation easy to follow.

Easier to explore

Start with your interests and find relevant information without searching through every programme.

Room for detail

Specialist courses and conservation topics deserve more explanation than a short introduction.

Connected learning

Discover how your diving skills can grow and how responsible diving connects with the marine environment.

Meet the five Oceans 5 websites

01

Oceans 5 Gili Air

oceans5dive.com

Our main website introduces diving and staying with Oceans 5. Explore recreational courses, fun dives around the Gili Islands, accommodation and our dive centre on Gili Air.

We developed it as the starting point for visitors planning a diving holiday, learning to dive with an Open Water course or getting to know Oceans 5.

Start here for: your first dive, recreational training, fun diving and accommodation.

Explore fun diving →

02

Divemaster Internships Indonesia

divemaster-internships-indonesia.com

Discover the SSI Divemaster internship at Oceans 5, including international, Indonesian and Eco Divemaster options. For a first overview, visit our SSI Divemaster course page.

We created a dedicated website because becoming a dive professional takes preparation. Candidates need space to explore the training, daily life, entry requirements and programme options.

Start here for: Divemaster training and life as an intern on Gili Air.

Explore Divemaster internships →

03

SSI Instructor Training Indonesia

idc-indonesia.com

Our instructor training website focuses on becoming an SSI Instructor at Oceans 5. Find course information, upcoming dates, fees and the Instructor Trainer team.

We developed it to help future instructors plan their training and understand how they will develop their teaching skills.

Start here for: the SSI Instructor Training Course and further professional education.

Explore SSI instructor training →

04

Oceans 5 Dive Tech

oceans5divetech.com

Explore TDI courses, sidemount training, technical instructor education and guided technical dives for qualified divers.

Technical diving involves specialist planning, equipment and training. Its own website gives divers space to understand course pathways and choose training appropriate to their experience.

Start here for: technical diving skills, TDI courses and guided technical dives.

Explore technical diving →

05

Gili Conservation Dive

giliconservationdive.com

Learn about the Gili Matra Marine Protected Area, responsible diving, conservation activities, marine research and community education connected to Oceans 5.

We developed this website to give environmental topics their own space and make them accessible to divers, visitors, students and local businesses.

Start here for: marine park information, conservation stories and ways to get involved.

Explore marine conservation →

How does the network fit together?

You might discover Oceans 5 while planning an Open Water course, continue with advanced recreational training, then return for a Divemaster internship or instructor training. You might develop your diving skills through technical training, or learn more about the reefs through conservation activities.

These are different opportunities within the same Oceans 5 network. You can follow the areas that interest you, at your own pace.

Responsible diving connects every part of Oceans 5. Our ocean training focuses on neutral buoyancy and respect for the marine environment. Understanding the place where we dive is part of becoming a better diver.

A few common questions

Are these websites connected to Oceans 5?

Yes. Each website focuses on a different part of the diving, training or conservation work connected to Oceans 5 Gili Air.

Do I need to visit all five websites?

Start with the one that matches your interests. The other websites are there when you want to explore another course, activity or subject.

Can the team help me choose a programme?

Yes. Tell us about your diving experience, interests and plans, and our team can help you find the relevant information.

Dive Sites

“Where will we dive today?” is one of the first questions guests ask at Oceans 5 Gili Air.

It is a good question, but the answer depends on more than a list of famous sites. The best dive for you depends on your experience, what you hope to see, and the conditions on the day. A relaxed reef dive may be exactly what you want after a long journey. On another day, you might be ready for a drift dive, a wreck or a slow search for tiny marine life.

Here are a few ways to think about your next dive around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan.

If You Want a Relaxed First Dive

Your first dive of the holiday is a chance to get comfortable with your equipment, check your weighting and settle into the local diving conditions. You do not need to begin at the deepest or most demanding site to have a memorable dive.

A gentle reef or slope can give you time to find your rhythm while still enjoying fish, coral and perhaps a turtle. The right choice depends on the current and conditions that day. If you have not dived recently, tell the team when your last dive was; a skills update may help you feel more confident.

Read more about why your first dive of the holiday should be the easiest one and returning to diving after six months or more.

If You Hope to See Turtles

Turtle Heaven near Gili Meno is one of the best-known turtle dive sites in the area. Meno Slope is another option, but turtles are found around all three islands. You might encounter one at Hans Reef, Halik or Shark Point, too.

No dive centre can promise a turtle sighting. When you do see one, give it space. Hover calmly, keep your fins clear of the reef, and let the turtle decide where it wants to go.

If You Love Small Marine Life

Some of the most rewarding Gili dives happen when you slow down. Hans Reef and sites around Gili Air can be particularly interesting for divers who enjoy searching for nudibranchs, pipefish, frogfish and other small animals.

These dives often suit photographers and patient observers. Tell your guide if you would rather spend time exploring a small area than cover a long stretch of reef. Good buoyancy helps you look closely without stirring up sand or touching marine life.

Our article Neutral Buoyancy Is Marine Conservation explains why that skill matters on every dive.

If You Want Reef Sharks or a Drift Dive

Shark Point and Halik, around Gili Trawangan, are popular with divers hoping to see reef sharks and explore larger reef landscapes. Currents can add another dimension to the dive, but they can also make a site unsuitable for a particular group on a particular day.

Be honest with your guide about your experience in current. Listen carefully to the briefing, stay with your group and make sure you understand the ascent and boat pickup plan. Our post on why every Gili Islands diver should know how to use a surface marker buoy is useful preparation.

If You Want Something Different

The Gili Islands offer more than coral reefs. The Bounty Wreck near Gili Meno provides a chance to explore an underwater structure that has become habitat for marine life. A dive there feels different from a turtle reef or a slow search for macro life.

If you have several days to dive, try a mix of sites. Variety can make your trip more rewarding than visiting the same famous location repeatedly.

The Right Site Can Change During the Day

A dive site that suited one group yesterday may not suit yours today. Current, visibility, weather, certification levels and comfort in the water all affect the decision. That is why your guide’s local knowledge matters as much as the name on the dive-site map.

At Oceans 5, we ask about your experience and interests so we can plan an appropriate dive. Tell us whether you want a relaxed return to the water, turtles, macro photography, a wreck or more experience in current. Then stay open to the team’s recommendation based on the conditions.

Read Your Dive Guide Matters More Than the Dive Site for a closer look at how guides match people, sites and conditions.

Enjoy the Dive and Protect the Reef

Whichever site you visit, you are diving inside the Gili Matra Marine Protected Area. Maintain neutral buoyancy, secure loose equipment and observe animals without chasing or touching them. You can learn more in our guide to responsible diving in the Gili Islands.

Interested in learning how professionals evaluate dive sites, brief guests and guide divers? Explore the SSI Divemaster internship on Gili Air.

The best Gili Islands dive site is the one that gives your group an enjoyable dive under today’s conditions. Tell the Oceans 5 team what you hope to experience, and we will help you plan your next dive.

Responsible Diving in the Gili Islands

The Gili Islands are one of Indonesia’s best-known scuba-diving destinations. Warm tropical water, coral reefs, sea turtles, reef sharks and a huge variety of marine life attract divers to Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan throughout the year.

But enjoying this underwater world comes with a responsibility.

The three Gili Islands are surrounded by the Gili Matra marine conservation area. When we enter the water here, we are not simply visiting another dive site. We are diving inside a protected marine environment.

So what does responsible diving in the Gili Islands actually mean?

It is much more than not throwing plastic into the ocean.

Responsible diving begins with how we control our bodies underwater, how we interact with marine animals, how dive professionals lead their groups and how the diving industry contributes to protecting the environment on which it depends.

Responsible Diving Starts With Buoyancy

One of the simplest ways a diver can protect a coral reef is also one of the most fundamental scuba skills:

Good buoyancy.

A diver who is neutrally buoyant can move over a reef without touching it. There is no need to stand on the bottom, hold onto coral or use the reef to maintain position.

Unfortunately, poor buoyancy can have consequences.

A fin kick can hit coral. A dangling pressure gauge can drag across the reef. A diver concentrating on a camera can slowly descend until their knees or fins make contact with the bottom.

One accidental contact might seem insignificant.

But imagine hundreds of divers making the same mistake.

That is why we believe neutral buoyancy is marine conservation.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, this philosophy starts during diver training. Skills are taught with an emphasis on neutral buoyancy rather than making kneeling on the bottom the normal position for learning scuba skills.

Conservation doesn’t have to begin with a major environmental project.

Sometimes it begins with learning how to hover.

Look at Marine Life — Don’t Interfere With It

One of the great attractions of diving around the Gili Islands is marine life.

Sea turtles are particularly common.

For many divers, swimming alongside a turtle becomes one of the most memorable moments of their holiday.

But there is an important distinction between observing an animal and interfering with an animal.

A responsible diver doesn’t chase a turtle to get closer for a photograph.

They don’t block its direction of travel.

They don’t touch its shell.

They don’t attempt to feed it.

They simply watch.

The same principle applies to sharks, rays, octopuses, moray eels, nudibranchs and every other animal we encounter.

If you are interested in why turtle encounters are so common here, read Why Do the Gili Islands Have So Many Turtles?.

A good wildlife encounter should end with the animal behaving exactly as it was before we arrived.

Your Dive Guide Matters

Responsible diving isn’t only the responsibility of the customer.

Dive professionals have an enormous influence on how divers behave underwater.

Imagine following a Divemaster who grabs coral to stop in current, kneels on the reef while looking for marine life or chases a turtle to show it to the group.

What message does that send?

Now imagine following a guide who maintains excellent buoyancy, keeps an appropriate distance from the reef, approaches animals calmly and intervenes when somebody in the group is about to damage coral.

That behaviour also sends a message.

Dive professionals are role models.

This is one reason we believe your dive guide can matter more than the dive site.

A great dive guide doesn’t only find interesting marine life.

A great guide helps protect it.

The Gili Islands Are a Marine Conservation Area

It is easy to forget that the famous dive sites around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan aren’t simply tourism attractions.

They are part of Gili Matra, a nationally protected marine conservation area.

This means conservation should influence the way tourism operates around the islands.

Divers should understand that coral reefs, seagrass, marine animals and coastal ecosystems are not unlimited resources.

For visitors wanting to understand the area in greater depth, Marine Conservation Society provides information about marine conservation, responsible diving, environmental issues and the protection of the Gili Islands.

You can also learn more specifically about responsible diving in the Gili Islands and why everyday diver behaviour matters inside a protected marine environment.

Responsible Diving Starts Before You Enter the Water

A responsible dive doesn’t begin when you descend.

It starts with preparation.

Equipment should be correctly fitted and streamlined. Gauges, alternate air sources and accessories shouldn’t hang below the diver where they can drag across coral.

Weights should be appropriate.

A diver carrying far too much weight may find buoyancy control more difficult and is more likely to make contact with the bottom.

The dive briefing also matters.

Divers should know what environmental conditions to expect, what marine life may be encountered and how to behave around it.

A briefing isn’t just about maximum depth, dive time and hand signals.

It is an opportunity to establish the environmental standards expected during the dive.

Don’t Kneel on Coral

This sounds obvious.

Yet contact with the bottom remains one of the most preventable impacts of recreational diving.

There is generally no reason for a certified diver to kneel on a coral reef.

Even during training, divers can learn many skills while neutrally buoyant.

This creates an important habit.

Instead of thinking:

“I go to the bottom when I need stability.”

The diver learns:

“I control my position using buoyancy.”

That makes them a better diver while simultaneously reducing their environmental impact.

At Oceans 5, this approach is integrated into diver education from beginner courses through professional-level training.

If you’re considering learning to dive or continuing your education, you can explore the scuba-diving courses at Oceans 5 Gili Air.

Responsible Photography

Underwater cameras have transformed recreational diving.

Almost everyone can now return from a dive with photographs and video.

That’s wonderful.

But cameras can also change diver behaviour.

A photographer concentrating on a tiny nudibranch may stop paying attention to their fins.

Some divers become so focused on getting a photograph that they approach an animal repeatedly.

Others try to move animals or touch the reef to create a better composition.

No photograph is worth damaging the reef.

No Instagram Reel is worth stressing a turtle.

No close-up of a shark is worth changing the animal’s behaviour.

The best underwater photographers combine excellent buoyancy with patience.

If the animal doesn’t cooperate, accept it.

There will always be another dive.

Don’t Judge a Dive Only by What You See

Divers sometimes evaluate dives according to a checklist.

Turtle: yes.

Shark: yes.

Ray: yes.

Octopus: yes.

But nature isn’t a zoo.

The best dive site today may not be the best dive site tomorrow.

Current, visibility, season, water temperature and animal behaviour all change.

This is something we discuss in Why Diving Around the Gili Islands Is One of the World’s Most Exciting Underwater Adventures.

Responsible diving also means accepting the underwater world on its own terms.

We don’t need to manipulate nature to make a dive exciting.

Marine Conservation Doesn’t Stop at the Shoreline

There is another important part of responsible diving that is often overlooked.

What happens on land affects the ocean.

Rubbish, wastewater, coastal development and pollution do not necessarily remain on land.

On a small island, the connection between land and sea is particularly important.

That’s why marine conservation around the Gili Islands needs to consider more than what happens underwater.

Visitors who want to understand the wider environmental picture can explore marine conservation in the Gili Islands, including information about the Gili Matra protected area, conservation rules, responsible tourism, education and environmental issues.

At Oceans 5, we also believe businesses benefiting economically from the ocean should contribute to protecting it.

You can read more about Oceans 5’s conservation work and why the dive centre invests its own resources into conservation activities.

Responsible Diving Includes What Happens After the Dive

Your responsibility doesn’t disappear when you climb back onto the boat.

Think about what you consume during your holiday.

Where does your plastic bottle go?

What happens to takeaway packaging?

How much unnecessary single-use plastic do you use?

Small islands have limited space and complicated waste-management systems.

At Oceans 5, our team has organised beach clean-ups on Gili Air since 2010.

The rubbish collected doesn’t magically disappear.

We recently looked at exactly this question in Where Does 30 kg of Rubbish From Gili Air Actually Go?.

Visitors can also join the weekly Oceans 5 beach clean-up.

Every Friday at 17:00.

You don’t need to be an Oceans 5 customer.

You don’t even need to be a diver.

You simply need to turn up and help.

Education Is Part of Conservation

Long-term conservation requires more than changing tourist behaviour.

It requires education, research and local involvement.

Oceans 5 works with Indonesian university students and organisations involved in marine conservation around the Gili Islands.

Students can develop practical diving skills, improve their knowledge of marine species and gain experience collecting data underwater.

This matters.

Indonesia has some of the world’s most important marine ecosystems. Their long-term protection needs Indonesian marine scientists, conservation professionals, dive professionals and local communities.

You can learn more about the educational and community side of this work through Gili Conservation Dive.

Choose Your Dive Centre Carefully

Price is obviously part of choosing where to dive.

But it shouldn’t be the only consideration.

Ask questions.

How many divers will be in your group?

How experienced is the guide?

Does the dive centre teach neutral buoyancy?

How does it treat marine life?

Does the guide intervene when somebody touches coral?

Does conservation actually influence the company’s daily operations, or is it simply a page on the website?

A slightly cheaper dive isn’t necessarily better value if it means larger groups, less attention or lower environmental standards.

We discussed this in The Cheapest Dive Is Not Always the Best Value.

Responsible tourism includes deciding which businesses you support.

Ten Simple Rules for Responsible Diving in the Gili Islands

You don’t need to be a marine scientist to protect the reef.

You can start on your next dive.

1. Maintain neutral buoyancy.
2. Never stand or kneel on coral.
3. Don’t touch marine animals.
4. Don’t chase turtles, sharks or rays.
5. Keep your fins away from the reef.
6. Secure gauges and alternate air sources.
7. Never remove shells, coral or marine life.
8. Control your position while taking photographs.
9. Listen to your dive guide and respect marine park rules.
10. Leave the underwater world exactly as you found it.

These aren’t complicated rules.

They’re simply good diving.

Responsible Diving Is Better Diving

There is sometimes a perception that environmental rules restrict the diving experience.

We see it differently.

A diver with excellent buoyancy is a better diver.

A photographer who can hover without touching the reef is a better underwater photographer.

A diver who calmly observes a turtle instead of chasing it will often have a longer and more natural encounter.

A Divemaster who protects the reef while guiding is a better dive professional.

Responsible diving doesn’t take anything away from scuba diving.

It improves it.

Protecting the Gili Islands One Dive at a Time

The reefs around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan provide livelihoods, tourism, recreation and extraordinary underwater experiences.

Protecting them requires governments, scientists, communities, conservation organisations and businesses.

But it also requires divers.

Every dive is a choice.

You can touch the reef or hover above it.

You can chase the turtle or watch it.

You can ignore your dangling equipment or secure it.

You can treat the ocean as an attraction—or recognise that you’re a visitor in a living ecosystem.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we choose the second approach.

If you would like to learn more about the environmental challenges, marine park, responsible diving and conservation initiatives surrounding the three islands, visit Marine Conservation Society.

And if you would like to experience the Gili Islands underwater, learn to dive or continue your scuba education, visit Oceans 5 Gili Air.

Because the future of diving around the Gili Islands depends on protecting what makes diving here special in the first place.

What to Expect from Your SSI Open Water Course

Learning to scuba dive is the beginning of an entirely new way to explore the world. Instead of looking at the ocean from the surface, you learn how to move comfortably underwater, control your buoyancy and observe marine life in its natural environment.

For many people, starting an Open Water course is exciting—but it can also feel slightly intimidating. Will breathing underwater feel natural? What happens if water enters your mask? Will you be able to equalise your ears? How deep will you go?

These are normal questions. You are not expected to arrive already knowing how to dive. That is exactly what the course is designed to teach you.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, the SSI Open Water Diver course normally takes three days. It combines digital learning, six confined-water sessions in our purpose-built training pools and four ocean dives around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan.

Here is what you can expect.

Before You Arrive: SSI Digital Learning

After booking your course, you receive access to SSI’s digital learning materials. You can begin studying before you arrive on Gili Air and work through the theory at your own pace.

The learning introduces subjects including:

• How scuba equipment works
• The effects of pressure underwater
• Equalising your ears and air spaces
• Buoyancy and correct weighting
• Breathing gas and air management
• Dive planning and depth limits
• Underwater communication
• Safe ascents and descents
• Responsible behaviour around marine life

Digital learning gives you the background knowledge, but it does not replace your instructor. During the course, your instructor reviews the most important subjects, answers your questions and connects the theory to what you will experience in the water.

You do not need to memorise everything before your first session. The aim is to understand the principles and gradually learn how to apply them.

Day One: Meeting Your Instructor and Entering the Pool

Your course begins at Oceans 5 Gili Air, located directly opposite the harbour. You meet your SSI instructor, complete the required paperwork and medical questionnaire, become familiar with the dive centre and discuss the course schedule.

Before entering the water, your instructor introduces the scuba equipment. You learn how to assemble it, check it and use it correctly. You will also practise the buddy check that divers complete before entering the water.

Your first underwater experience takes place in one of Oceans 5’s two purpose-built training pools. Beginning in controlled conditions allows you to concentrate on breathing, communication and equipment without dealing with waves, current or boat traffic.

The first breath through a regulator can feel unusual. Some students relax immediately; others need a little more time. Neither response is wrong. Your instructor will give you time to become comfortable before moving to the next exercise.

During the pool sessions, you learn essential skills such as:

• Breathing slowly and continuously underwater
• Clearing water from your mask
• Removing and replacing your mask
• Recovering and clearing your regulator
• Sharing air with another diver
• Controlling your buoyancy with your breathing and BCD
• Making safe descents and ascents
• Entering and exiting the water safely
• Responding calmly to common diving situations

Skills are introduced step by step. If one exercise takes longer, that does not mean you are failing. It simply means you need more time and practice—and that is what the pool is for.

Learning Buoyancy Instead of Learning to Kneel

Good diving is not about completing a skill while resting on the bottom. It is about remaining controlled in the water while managing yourself, your equipment and the situation around you.

At Oceans 5, students begin developing buoyancy and body-position awareness from the start. Whenever appropriate, skills are practised while neutrally buoyant and in a realistic diving position rather than routinely kneeling on the floor.

This approach helps you understand how your breathing, weighting, body position and BCD work together. It also prepares you for the ocean, where a responsible diver should avoid standing or kneeling on coral and other living surfaces.

Buoyancy does not become perfect in one day. Even experienced divers continue to improve it. However, building the correct habits during your first course gives you a much stronger foundation. You can read more in our article about why buoyancy matters during entry-level diver training.

Your Four Ocean Training Dives

Once you have developed the required knowledge and pool skills, it is time to enter the ocean.

The SSI Open Water Diver course includes four ocean training dives. Oceans 5’s boats depart directly from the dive centre, and the training location is selected according to the weather, current, course requirements and comfort of the students.

There is no single dive site that is always best. Conditions around the Gili Islands can change with the tides, wind and water movement through the Lombok Strait. Your instructor chooses from the many dive sites around the Gili Islands and adapts the plan to the group.

Before entering the water, you receive a complete briefing. It explains the site, maximum depth, planned route, entry and exit procedures, communication, important skills and what to do if you become separated from the group. As we explain in A Dive Briefing Is Not a Formality, listening carefully before the dive makes you better prepared once you are underwater.

During the ocean dives, you repeat and apply selected skills from the pool. But the dives are not only exercises. You also begin exploring the reef and experiencing what it means to be a diver.

You may encounter green or hawksbill turtles, clownfish, pufferfish, moray eels, blue-spotted stingrays, octopus, cuttlefish and many colourful reef fish. Juvenile reef sharks may also appear. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but the Gili Islands give new divers the opportunity to learn in a varied tropical marine environment.

If seeing a turtle is one of your dreams, our article about diving with turtles in the Gili Islands explains where they live and how to observe them responsibly.

How Deep Will You Dive?

Your depth increases gradually as your ability and comfort develop. The purpose is not to reach the maximum depth as quickly as possible. The purpose is to learn how to dive safely and confidently within the limits of your training.

After successful completion, an adult SSI Open Water Diver is certified to dive with a buddy to a maximum depth of 18 metres, within the limits of their training and experience.

Children can begin the course from the age of ten. Divers aged ten and eleven receive a Junior Open Water Diver certification with a maximum depth of 12 metres. Other age-related supervision and depth restrictions apply under SSI standards.

What If You Feel Nervous?

Feeling nervous before your first dive is completely normal. Breathing underwater is a new experience, and people adjust at different speeds.

Common concerns include:

• Breathing through the regulator
• Water entering the mask
• Equalising the ears
• Being below the surface
• Remembering the hand signals
• Controlling movement and buoyancy

The solution is not to rush. Your instructor demonstrates every exercise and gives you time to practise it in controlled conditions. If something feels uncomfortable, stop, communicate and try again when you are ready.

Oceans 5 teaches a maximum of four Open Water students per instructor. Small groups make it easier for the instructor to observe each student, identify difficulties and provide personal attention.

If you would like to experience scuba diving before committing to the complete certification course, an SSI Introduction Dive on Gili Air combines theory, pool training and one supervised ocean dive. When completed within the program requirements, that ocean dive may be credited toward an SSI Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver program if you continue within six months.

Do You Need to Be a Strong Swimmer?

You do not need to be a competitive swimmer, but you must have adequate swimming ability and feel reasonably comfortable in the water.

Your instructor will explain the required water-fitness assessment. The purpose is not to test speed or athletic performance. It is to confirm that you can support yourself in the water and swim the required distance without scuba equipment.

If you are worried about your swimming ability or water comfort, discuss it with Oceans 5 before booking. An honest conversation helps the team recommend the most suitable first step.

Medical Fitness and the Diver Medical Questionnaire

Every student must complete the required diver medical questionnaire before starting in-water training.

Answer the questions honestly. A “yes” answer does not automatically mean that you cannot dive, but it may mean that you need clearance from a doctor before participating. Do not hide a medical condition because you are worried about missing the course. The questionnaire exists to protect you.

If you have a medical condition, take prescription medication, are pregnant or are uncertain about your fitness to dive, contact Oceans 5 before travelling. This gives you time to obtain any required medical advice or documentation.

What Is Included in the Course?

The SSI Open Water Diver course at Oceans 5 includes:

• SSI digital learning materials
• Knowledge-development sessions with your instructor
• Six confined-water training sessions
• Four ocean training dives
• All required standard scuba equipment
• Tanks, weights and air fills
• Boat transport to the dive sites
• SSI Open Water Diver certification after successful completion
• Training in a group of no more than four students per instructor

The course price is IDR 7,000,000. The Gili Matra Marine Park fee of IDR 100,000 is charged separately. Accommodation, meals, transport to Gili Air and personal travel or diving insurance are not included.

For the latest course information and booking details, visit the SSI Open Water Diver course page.

What Should You Bring?

Bring:

• Swimwear
• A towel
• A reusable water bottle
• Reef-safe sun protection
• Your phone or tablet for digital learning
• Any required medical clearance
• A willingness to ask questions and learn

All standard scuba equipment is provided. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, tell the team before the course. Prescription masks may be available.

Becoming Certified Is the Beginning

Passing your Open Water course does not mean that you have finished learning. It means you have demonstrated the knowledge and skills required to begin diving independently with a qualified buddy within the limits of your training.

Your confidence, buoyancy, awareness and air consumption will continue to improve as you gain experience. New divers often compare their air use with that of an instructor or experienced Divemaster, but this is rarely helpful. Relaxation, trim, breathing, movement and experience all influence consumption. Our guide to improving your scuba air consumption explains what you can work on after certification.

Once certified, you can join fun dives around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. Oceans 5 operates separate boat departures during the day, allowing you to choose one dive or several dives according to your plans.

The most important goal after your course is not collecting certifications as quickly as possible. Continue diving, practise what you learned and build genuine experience.

Why Learn to Dive on Gili Air?

Gili Air offers warm tropical water, short boat journeys and access to a wide range of dive sites around all three Gili Islands. Training dives can include sandy areas, sloping reefs, coral formations and encounters with marine life.

Oceans 5 has two large training pools, purpose-built dive boats and an experienced SSI teaching team. Courses begin every day, and training groups are limited to a maximum of four students per instructor.

The teaching philosophy is simple: students should not merely complete exercises and receive a certification card. They should learn how to become comfortable, controlled and responsible divers.

Ready to begin? Read the complete SSI Open Water course information or contact Oceans 5 Gili Air with your questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the SSI Open Water Diver course take at Oceans 5?

The course normally takes three days. A four-day schedule may be possible if you prefer a more relaxed pace.

Do I need previous scuba-diving experience?

No. The Open Water Diver course is designed for complete beginners. If you would prefer to try scuba diving first, you can complete an SSI Introduction Dive.

How many pool and ocean sessions are included?

The course includes six confined-water sessions and four ocean training dives.

What is the maximum group size?

Oceans 5 teaches a maximum of four Open Water students per instructor, allowing more personal attention throughout the course.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is ten. Divers aged ten and eleven receive a Junior Open Water Diver certification and are limited to a maximum depth of 12 metres.

How deep can I dive after certification?

Adult SSI Open Water Divers are certified to dive to a maximum depth of 18 metres with a buddy, within the limits of their training and experience. Age-related limits apply to younger divers.

Is scuba equipment included?

Yes. The standard scuba equipment required for the course is included.

Will I see turtles during the course?

Green and hawksbill turtles live around the Gili Islands and are seen regularly, but no responsible dive centre can guarantee an encounter with a wild animal.

What happens if I struggle with a skill?

Your instructor will explain the skill again and give you additional time to practise. Students learn at different speeds, and the controlled pool environment is designed for repetition and gradual progress.

Does an SSI Open Water certification expire?

The certification itself does not expire. However, if you stop diving for an extended period, you should complete an appropriate scuba refresher before returning to open-water diving.

Sustainable Scuba Diving on Gili Air

Most divers care about the ocean.

We travel long distances to swim with turtles, observe reef sharks, photograph nudibranchs and experience healthy coral reefs. We become upset when we see plastic floating underwater or rubbish lying on a beach.

But there is an uncomfortable question every diver—and every dive center—should consider:

How much waste do we create while enjoying the ocean we claim to love?

A diving holiday may appear environmentally friendly. We spend our days underwater, wear the same equipment repeatedly and enjoy nature rather than consuming physical products.

However, behind every dive are drinking-water bottles, snack wrappers, takeaway containers, toiletries, cleaning products, damaged equipment, batteries and supplies transported to the island.

Individually, these items appear insignificant. Together, they create a waste stream that small islands such as Gili Air must manage every day.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we believe sustainable diving must include more than good behaviour underwater. It must also consider what happens before and after every dive.

Paradise Still Produces Rubbish

Gili Air may look like a tropical paradise, but paradise does not have unlimited space for waste.

Almost everything consumed on the island must first be transported from Lombok by boat. Food, drinks, dive equipment, toiletries, spare parts and building materials all arrive with some form of packaging.

After the product has been used, the packaging remains on Gili Air.

The island cannot simply make it disappear.

Tourism is a significant contributor to plastic consumption in coastal destinations. The United Nations Environment Programme identifies water bottles, toiletries, plastic bags, food packaging, cups and other disposable products as common sources of tourism-related waste [1].

Scuba divers are part of this tourism economy.

That does not mean people should stop travelling or diving. Tourism provides employment and supports families across the Gili Islands. But visitors and businesses should recognize their impact and make realistic efforts to reduce it.

The Plastic Water-Bottle Problem

Divers need to remain hydrated, particularly in a hot tropical climate.

Unfortunately, hydration often comes in the form of multiple small plastic bottles. A diver may drink two or three bottles in a day. Multiply that by several days, hundreds of guests and dozens of tourism businesses, and the number grows quickly.

The bottle may be used for only a few minutes, but the material can remain in the environment for much longer.

Recycling helps, but it is not a complete solution. A bottle must be correctly separated, collected, stored, transported and accepted by a recycler. If it is mixed with food waste or dropped on the beach, its recycling value may be lost.

Bringing a reusable bottle and using reliable refill stations is one of the easiest ways for a visitor to reduce waste.

It is a small personal decision, but small decisions become significant when thousands of tourists make them.

What Did You Eat Between Your Dives?

Dive holidays are often built around a repeated cycle:

Dive, eat, rest and dive again.

Snacks and takeaway meals can produce a surprising amount of rubbish:

• Plastic snack wrappers
• Disposable coffee cups
• Straws
• Plastic cutlery
• Sauce sachets
• Polystyrene containers
• Plastic takeaway boxes
• Shopping bags
• Paper napkins
• Aluminium cans

Some of these materials can be recycled, but many lightweight wrappers and contaminated food containers have little economic value.

This type of waste is especially dangerous on a small island. A wrapper does not need to be deliberately thrown into the ocean to become marine debris. It can fall from an overflowing bin, be carried away by wind, be spread by animals or wash into the sea during heavy rain.

Visitors can reduce this waste by eating at businesses that use washable plates, glasses and cutlery. If takeaway food is necessary, refusing unnecessary bags, straws and cutlery can already make a difference.

Your Accommodation Is Part of Your Diving Footprint

The environmental footprint of a dive holiday does not begin when you board the boat.

It begins when you arrive at your accommodation.

Hotel rooms can generate waste through individually packaged shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, combs, slippers, bottled water and laundry products. UNEP has specifically identified disposable hotel amenities as part of tourism’s plastic problem [1].

A small bottle of shampoo may look harmless. But when every room replaces these bottles for every guest, the cumulative waste becomes considerable.

Travellers can support accommodations that use refillable dispensers, drinking-water refill systems and reusable products. They can also bring their own toiletries and avoid opening disposable amenities they do not need.

Sustainable tourism is not about demanding perfection. It is about reducing unnecessary consumption wherever practical.

Diving Equipment Is Reusable—but Not Indestructible

Scuba equipment is designed to be used repeatedly, sometimes for many years. That makes it different from single-use tourism products.

However, diving equipment eventually wears out.

Wetsuits tear. Mask straps break. Fins crack. BCDs develop leaks. Regulators require replacement parts. Batteries expire. Camera equipment becomes obsolete.

Discarding the entire item should not always be the first response.

Where safe and practical, dive centers and divers can:

• Repair equipment instead of immediately replacing it.
• Replace individual components.
• Maintain equipment properly to extend its usable life.
• Use rechargeable batteries where appropriate.
• Donate suitable equipment that is no longer required.
• Repurpose non-safety-critical materials.
• Keep hazardous and electronic waste separate.
• Choose durable products instead of the cheapest disposable option.

Safety must always come first. Life-support equipment should never remain in service when it is unsafe. But proper maintenance can extend the life of equipment without compromising safety.

A repaired fin strap creates less waste than a discarded pair of fins.

Sunscreen and Chemicals Also Matter

Not all pollution is visible.

A dive center uses cleaning products, lubricants, fuel and other chemicals. Guests may enter the water wearing sunscreen, cosmetics and personal-care products.

Green Fins promotes practical environmental standards for diving and snorkelling operators, including reducing chemical pollution and improving waste-management practices [2].

This does not mean divers should expose themselves to dangerous levels of sunlight. Sun protection is important. Wearing a rash guard, hat and suitable clothing can reduce the amount of sunscreen required while also protecting the skin.

Dive operators should also store and use chemicals responsibly, maintain boat engines and prevent fuel or oil from entering the water.

A clean-looking beach does not automatically mean the surrounding environment is free from pollution.

What Happens to the Rubbish Collected at Oceans 5?

Every Friday at 17:00, Oceans 5 organizes a beach clean-up around the harbour area of Gili Air.

During our recent clean-up, approximately 30 kilograms of rubbish was collected.

But we do not believe the job ends when the bags are weighed.

Afterwards, Rama separates materials with recycling value, including:

• Plastic bottles
• Metal and aluminium cans
• Recyclable paper and cardboard

Rama can sell these materials and earn money from them. Recycling therefore prevents useful materials from becoming residual waste while also creating a small local economic benefit.

Glass bottles are collected by Gili Cares and processed into building bricks. These locally produced bricks can be purchased and used for appropriate projects.

The remaining non-recyclable rubbish is handled by Gili Cares. Every morning, the organization collects waste around Gili Air. Residual rubbish is transported by boat to Lombok and taken to an incineration facility for final treatment.

This daily collection system is one reason Gili Air generally appears cleaner than Gili Trawangan. Rubbish is regularly removed before it can accumulate in a large permanent island dump.

However, transporting rubbish to Lombok does not erase its environmental impact. It is still better to prevent unnecessary waste from being created in the first place.

Recycling Is Important—but Reduction Comes First

People often feel less guilty about using a disposable product when it displays a recycling symbol.

But that symbol is not a guarantee.

The item still needs a functioning collection and recycling chain. On a small island, transport costs, contamination and limited storage make that chain more difficult.

Recycling should therefore not become an excuse to continue using unlimited disposable products.

The preferable order is:

1. Refuse what you do not need.
2. Reduce the amount you consume.
3. Reuse products whenever possible.
4. Repair items before replacing them.
5. Separate and recycle suitable materials.
6. Dispose responsibly of what remains.

The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative encourages tourism businesses to eliminate unnecessary plastics and move towards reusable and circular systems [3].

The objective is not simply to improve the management of rubbish. It is to create less rubbish.

What Is the Responsibility of a Dive Center?

A dive center benefits financially from access to the ocean. That creates a responsibility to reduce the environmental cost of its operations.

A responsible dive center should consider:

• How drinking water is provided.
• How much disposable packaging it purchases.
• Whether waste is separated correctly.
• Where its rubbish goes after collection.
• How boats, compressors and equipment are maintained.
• Whether staff receive environmental training.
• How damaged equipment is repaired or discarded.
• Whether guests are taught responsible behaviour.
• Whether conservation is visible during everyday operations.

Oceans 5 has been organizing beach clean-ups since 2010. We are an SSI Blue Oceans Center.

SSI Blue Oceans similarly encourages dive professionals and recreational divers to minimize waste, prevent rubbish from entering the water and participate in conservation activities [4].

Memberships and logos, however, are only meaningful when they influence daily behaviour.

A conservation-friendly dive center must do more than publish photographs of beach clean-ups. It must examine its purchasing, teaching, diving and waste-management practices throughout the year.

What Is the Responsibility of the Diver?

Visitors should not carry the entire responsibility for a destination’s waste problem. Governments, producers, suppliers and tourism businesses all have a much greater ability to change systems.

But divers still have consumer power.

Before booking, you can ask a dive center:

• Do you separate recyclable waste?
• Do you provide drinking-water refills?
• Do you use unnecessary single-use plastics?
• Do your boats anchor on coral?
• How large are your diving groups?
• Do your guides correct damaging underwater behaviour?
• Do you participate in real conservation activities?
• What happens to the rubbish you collect?

These questions tell businesses that environmental responsibility influences purchasing decisions.

A diver can also:

• Travel with a reusable drinking bottle.
• Carry a reusable bag.
• Refuse unnecessary straws and plastic cutlery.
• Use refillable toiletries.
• Avoid touching or collecting marine life.
• Keep gauges and alternate air sources secured.
• Maintain good buoyancy and fin control.
• Never leave batteries or electronic waste in general rubbish.
• Join a local beach clean-up.
• Support local recycling and conservation organizations.

None of these actions will solve global plastic pollution alone.

But they help create expectations. When enough guests expect responsible practices, tourism businesses have a stronger reason to change.

Sustainable Diving Is Not Only About the Dive

Many divers judge sustainability by what happens underwater.

Does the boat use a mooring instead of an anchor? Does the guide stop guests from touching turtles? Are divers neutrally buoyant above the reef?

These questions are essential—but they are not the complete picture.

Sustainable diving also includes the water bottle opened before the dive, the snack wrapper discarded afterwards, the damaged equipment thrown away and the rubbish collected from the accommodation.

The ocean does not exist separately from the island.

Waste left on land can be carried into drains, beaches and coastal water. The World Bank has identified insufficient waste collection as an important pathway through which plastic enters Indonesia’s aquatic environment [5].

Protecting a coral reef therefore begins long before a diver enters the water.

A Dive Holiday Can Also Create Positive Change

A diving holiday inevitably has an environmental footprint—but it can also support conservation and the local community.

Visitors can choose locally operated businesses, join clean-ups, support marine research, purchase upcycled products and learn more about the ecosystem they came to experience.

At Oceans 5, we want divers to leave Gili Air with more than photographs and another entry in their logbooks.

We want them to understand that conservation is connected to everyday decisions.

The best dive holiday is not one that pretends to have no impact.

It is one that recognizes its impact and makes a genuine effort to reduce it.

Before You Leave Gili Air, Ask Yourself One Question

You came to Gili Air to see turtles, sharks, coral reefs and tropical marine life.

You expected the beach to be clean and the ocean to be healthy.

But what did your holiday leave behind?

A few plastic bottles may not seem important. Neither does one takeaway container, one straw or one snack wrapper.

The problem is never only one item.

It is one item multiplied by every visitor, every day, across an island with limited space and waste infrastructure.

Conservation does not require you to stop travelling or stop diving.

It asks you to pay attention.

Bring a reusable bottle. Refuse unnecessary packaging. Separate your rubbish. Support responsible businesses. Control your buoyancy. Respect marine life.

And if you are on Gili Air on Friday, join us at 17:00 for the weekly Oceans 5 beach clean-up.

Because enjoying paradise comes with a responsibility to help protect it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is scuba diving environmentally friendly?

Scuba diving can support conservation by creating appreciation for marine ecosystems and generating income connected to healthy reefs. However, diving also creates impacts through transport, boats, equipment, energy use, waste and physical contact with the underwater environment. Responsible practices can reduce these impacts.

What waste does a diving holiday create?

Common waste includes plastic water bottles, food packaging, takeaway containers, disposable toiletries, aluminium cans, broken equipment parts, batteries and packaging used for transporting supplies.

How can divers reduce plastic waste on Gili Air?

Bring a reusable drinking bottle and shopping bag, use refillable toiletries, refuse unnecessary straws and cutlery, eat at places using reusable tableware and separate recyclable materials from residual rubbish.

What happens to recyclable waste collected by Oceans 5?

Rama separates plastic bottles, cans and recyclable paper. He can sell these materials and earn money from them.

What happens to glass bottles?

Gili Cares collects the glass bottles and processes them into building bricks. These bricks can be purchased and used for suitable local construction projects.

What happens to non-recyclable rubbish from Gili Air?

Gili Cares collects rubbish around the island every morning. Residual waste is transported by boat to Lombok and taken to an incineration facility for final treatment.

Why is reducing waste better than recycling?

Recycling still requires collection, separation, transport and processing. Some materials cannot be recycled locally or become contaminated. Avoiding an unnecessary product prevents the waste from being created in the first place.

What is an SSI Blue Oceans Center?

An SSI Blue Oceans Center commits to supporting responsible diving, reducing waste, preventing pollution, respecting marine life and participating in ocean-conservation activities [4].

Can visitors join the Oceans 5 beach clean-up?

Yes. The clean-up takes place every Friday at 17:00. Meet at Oceans 5 Gili Air. Divers, non-divers, tourists and residents are all welcome.

References

1. United Nations Environment Programme. How Can Tourism Fix Its Plastic Problem? Discusses water bottles, disposable toiletries and other sources of plastic waste within tourism. Read the UNEP article
2. Green Fins. About Green Fins. Explains the environmental guidelines developed to reduce the negative effects of diving and snorkelling tourism. Read about Green Fins
3. UN Tourism. Global Tourism Plastics Initiative. Encourages tourism businesses to eliminate unnecessary plastics and move towards reusable and circular systems. Read about the initiative
4. Scuba Schools International. SSI Blue Oceans. Encourages divers and dive businesses to minimize waste, prevent marine pollution and participate in conservation. Explore SSI Blue Oceans
5. World Bank. Plastic Waste Discharges From Rivers and Coastlines in Indonesia. Examines how uncollected and poorly managed waste enters Indonesia’s marine environment. Read the World Bank report

An Essential Skill for Drift Diving Around Gili Air

You are drifting comfortably along a reef when the current changes direction. A few minutes later, the dive site is behind you and the boat is no longer directly above your group.

This does not necessarily mean that anything has gone wrong. Drift diving is common around the Gili Islands, and dive boats often follow divers by watching their bubbles and anticipating the direction of the current.

However, before the group begins its final ascent, the boat crew must be able to identify where the divers are likely to surface. Other boats in the area should also be warned that divers are ascending underneath them.

That is where a surface marker buoy becomes essential.

A surface marker buoy is not simply another accessory to attach to your BCD. When correctly deployed, it makes divers more visible, helps the boat prepare for their recovery and provides a useful visual reference during the ascent.

But carrying one is not the same as knowing how to use one.

What Is a Surface Marker Buoy?

The terms SMB and DSMB are frequently used interchangeably, but technically they describe two slightly different pieces of equipment.

An SMB, or surface marker buoy, is normally inflated at the surface. It can help make a diver more visible after surfacing.

A DSMB, or delayed surface marker buoy, is designed so that it can be deployed from underwater. It is connected to a reel or spool and sent to the surface before the divers begin their ascent.

A DSMB usually has an overpressure valve that allows expanding gas to escape as the buoy rises. This is important because the gas inside the buoy expands as the surrounding pressure decreases. An ordinary surface-only SMB may not be designed to manage that expansion safely [1].

In everyday diving conversations, people often call both devices an “SMB.” In this article, however, DSMB refers specifically to the type that can be deployed from underwater.

Why DSMBs Matter Around the Gili Islands

The waters surrounding Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan are well known for drift diving.

Currents transport divers along coral slopes and across dive sites, allowing them to cover a large area without constantly swimming against the water. When the current is moderate and the dive is properly organized, this can create a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

However, a drifting group may finish its dive a considerable distance from where it entered the water. The boat therefore needs to follow the divers and identify their expected surfacing position.

SSI explains that DSMBs can be used to signal a diver’s location to people at the surface, particularly where strong currents make a drifting ascent more appropriate or where no fixed ascent line is available [2].

A deployed DSMB can:

• Show the dive boat where the group is ascending.
• Warn other vessels that divers are below the surface.
• Help the boat crew prepare for recovery.
• Provide the group with a visual reference during the ascent.
• Make divers easier to locate if they surface away from the planned position.

This is particularly valuable around busy tropical islands, where dive boats, passenger boats, fishing boats and private vessels may all use the same waters.

A DSMB does not create a protected area around the divers, and it never guarantees that every boat will see or avoid them. Divers must still listen for boat traffic, remain together and follow the instructions given during the dive briefing.

Nevertheless, being visible is considerably better than ascending without any surface signal.

Carrying an SMB Is Not Enough

Many certified divers own a DSMB and spool. They keep them clipped neatly to their BCD and carry them on every dive.

But when was the last time they actually practised deploying them?

A DSMB becomes a useful safety tool only when the diver can deploy it while maintaining:

• Neutral buoyancy.
• Depth control.
• Awareness of the surroundings.
• Control of the reel or spool.
• Contact with the buddy or dive group.
• A safe ascent position.

Deploying a DSMB can appear easy when demonstrated by an experienced dive professional. The diver unclips the buoy, prepares the spool, adds gas and releases it towards the surface.

In reality, several things are happening simultaneously.

The diver must manage buoyancy, avoid entanglement, monitor depth, maintain control of the line, prevent the spool from jamming and remain aware of other divers. If too much gas is added or the spool becomes trapped, the diver may be pulled upwards.

The British Sub-Aqua Club warns that DSMB deployment is a skill divers should practise regularly. Its safety guidance also states that the reel should not be attached to the diver because a jammed line could pull the diver towards the surface [3].

An SMB stored in your pocket cannot protect you if you do not know how to use it.

Buoyancy Control Comes First

Safe DSMB deployment depends heavily on good buoyancy.

A diver who needs both hands simply to remain at the correct depth is not ready to add another task. Looking down at a spool can also cause an inexperienced diver to lose awareness of depth and begin sinking or ascending.

When a DSMB is released, the gas inside it expands as it moves towards the surface. The diver must allow the line to run freely while remaining at a stable depth.

If the spool jams and the diver refuses to let go, the buoy can pull the diver upwards. A rapid ascent increases the risk of lung overexpansion injuries and decompression illness.

This is why the reel or spool must never be wrapped around the hand or attached to the diver. The diver should be able to release it immediately if necessary [3,4].

Good DSMB deployment is therefore not merely an equipment skill. It combines:

• Neutral buoyancy.
• Situational awareness.
• Equipment handling.
• Problem-solving.
• Ascent control.

This is also why neutral buoyancy should be learned from the beginning of a diver’s education. A diver who is comfortable and stable in midwater has a much stronger foundation for learning practical skills such as DSMB deployment.

Common DSMB Deployment Mistakes

Even experienced divers can make mistakes when they have not practised the skill recently.

Attaching the reel to the BCD

A diver may believe that clipping the reel to the BCD prevents it from being lost. Unfortunately, it can also prevent the diver from releasing it if the line jams or becomes caught.

The diver should always be able to let go of the entire system.

Wrapping the line around the hand

A line wrapped around a finger, wrist or hand can tighten very quickly as the buoy moves towards the surface. This may cause an injury or drag the diver upwards.

The line should remain controlled but never wrapped around the body.

Adding too much gas

The DSMB does not need to be completely filled at depth. Gas expands significantly while rising. Adding too much gas can create excessive upward force and make the deployment harder to control.

Losing buoyancy control

Some divers concentrate so intensely on the DSMB that they forget to monitor their depth. They may unknowingly sink, ascend or drift into another diver.

The DSMB should never become more important than maintaining control of the dive.

Using an unsuitable line length

The reel or spool must contain enough line for the depth from which the DSMB will be deployed. SSI specifically advises divers to confirm that sufficient line is available for the buoy to reach the surface [2].

Allowing loose line to accumulate

Loose line can become entangled around equipment, fins, coral or another diver. Keeping the line organized reduces this risk.

Practising for the first time in difficult conditions

A strong current, deep water or busy ascent is not the right environment for a diver’s first attempt. The skill should initially be practised under the direct supervision of a qualified professional in controlled conditions.

Who Deploys the DSMB During a Guided Dive?

During a normal guided dive around the Gili Islands, the Divemaster will usually deploy the DSMB for the group.

Once the buoy reaches the surface, the Divemaster controls the spool and uses the line as a visual reference while the group ascends and completes its safety stop.

Divers should remain close to the guide and follow the planned ascent procedure. They should not automatically deploy several additional DSMBs unless that procedure has been agreed upon during the briefing.

However, every certified diver should still consider carrying their own DSMB and spool.

Why?

Because groups can become separated.

Good organization, small groups, attentive guides and proper buddy procedures reduce this possibility, but they cannot eliminate it completely. Visibility can change, currents can split and divers can become distracted.

If a diver becomes separated from the group and follows the agreed lost-buddy procedure, that diver may eventually need to ascend without the Divemaster. Having a personal DSMB—and knowing how to use it—can make the diver much easier for the boat crew to locate.

SSI recommends an SMB for boat dives involving drift or significant surface traffic. It also notes that although the Divemaster should carry one, having your own is valuable if you become separated from the group [5].

Why Oceans 5 Requires Dive Professionals to Carry One

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, every Divemaster and instructor is required to carry an SMB and reel.

This is not optional equipment for a working dive professional.

Our Divemasters guide guests through an active marine environment where currents, weather, boat movements and underwater conditions can change. They must be prepared to manage a normal drifting ascent, an unexpected change in the dive plan or a situation in which the group surfaces somewhere different from the anticipated position.

Carrying the equipment is only part of that responsibility.

Oceans 5 trains its own Divemasters and expects them to practise deployment while maintaining neutral buoyancy and control. A professional should be able to manage the DSMB without losing awareness of guests, depth or environmental conditions.

The objective is not to perform an impressive-looking skill.

The objective is to keep the group organized and visible.

The DSMB Is Part of the Dive Plan

The decision to deploy a DSMB should not be improvised at the end of the dive.

Before entering the water, divers should understand:

• Who will deploy the DSMB.
• At approximately what depth it will be deployed.
• What the group should do during deployment.
• How the ascent will be organized.
• What to do if a diver becomes separated.
• Which surface signals are used.
• How the boat will approach the group.
• Whether the area has any special local procedures.

Divers should also examine the DSMB and spool before entering the water. A tangled line, damaged reel or incorrectly attached buoy is much easier to correct on the boat than underwater.

A good briefing creates shared expectations. Everyone knows who is responsible and how the group will respond.

Different Colours Can Have Different Meanings

Orange, red and yellow are among the most common DSMB colours because they are generally easy to see at the surface.

However, there is no universal recreational-diving rule that gives every colour the same meaning worldwide. In some technical-diving procedures, one colour may indicate a normal ascent while another signals a problem or requests assistance.

Any colour-based communication system must be discussed with the boat crew before the dive. A signal has no value if the people at the surface interpret it differently.

DAN recommends highly visible colours and notes that larger DSMBs are generally easier for surface support and other vessels to see, particularly when conditions are rough [1].

An SMB Does Not Replace Other Safety Equipment

A DSMB is an important visual signal, but it should not be the diver’s only method of attracting attention.

Once at the surface, a diver may also benefit from:

• A whistle.
• A signal mirror.
• A dive light or strobe in low light.
• A brightly coloured hood or equipment panel.
• An electronic location device where appropriate.
• Staying physically close to the buddy or group.

A DSMB is most effective while it remains upright. Divers should maintain appropriate tension on the line without attaching it to themselves.

Divers should never assume that carrying one signalling device makes them impossible to lose. Safety comes from combining planning, appropriate equipment, competent boat support, buddy awareness and properly practised skills.

Learn the Skill Before You Need It

The worst time to discover that you cannot deploy your DSMB is when you are separated from the group in a strong current.

Practise in calm, controlled conditions with a qualified instructor. Start shallow, concentrate on buoyancy and gradually build the ability to complete the deployment while remaining aware of your buddy and depth.

Divers returning after a long break may also include DSMB practice as part of a refresher, depending on their experience and the objectives of the session.

More experienced divers should not assume the skill will remain perfect forever. Equipment handling becomes less automatic when it is not regularly practised.

The British Sub-Aqua Club describes DSMB deployment as one of the skills that commonly goes wrong and advises divers to practise it regularly [3].

A Small Piece of Equipment With a Big Responsibility

An SMB or DSMB is relatively simple, compact and inexpensive. It fits inside a BCD pocket and may remain there for most of the dive.

But when the group is drifting, the dive plan changes or a diver becomes separated, it can become one of the most important pieces of equipment being carried.

Around the Gili Islands, currents are part of the diving experience. They bring movement, marine life and exciting drift dives, but they also require preparation and respect.

Every diver should understand what a DSMB does.

Every dive professional should be confident deploying one.

And every diver who carries one should practise using it before it is genuinely needed.

Because owning safety equipment is not enough.

You must also have the ability to use it calmly, correctly and while maintaining control.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an SMB and a DSMB?

An SMB is generally inflated at the surface, while a DSMB is designed to be deployed from underwater. A DSMB normally includes an overpressure valve that allows expanding gas to escape as it rises [1].

The terms are often used interchangeably in everyday recreational diving.

Do I need an SMB when diving around the Gili Islands?

Your Divemaster should carry one during a guided dive, but carrying your own is strongly recommended—especially when drift diving or diving in areas with boat traffic. It can become particularly important if you become separated from the group.

Will the Divemaster deploy the SMB?

During most guided dives, the Divemaster will deploy the DSMB for the group. The procedure should be explained during the dive briefing.

Individual divers should still understand the process and know how to respond while the DSMB is being deployed.

Should every diver carry a DSMB?

It is good practice for every suitably trained diver to carry one. Even if the Divemaster normally deploys the group’s DSMB, a diver may need a personal signaling device after becoming separated.

Can I learn DSMB deployment during my Open Water course?

The exact course content depends on the training program and conditions. However, certified divers can practise DSMB deployment under professional supervision during continuing education, speciality training or an appropriate skills-refresher session.

Is deploying a DSMB difficult?

The basic procedure is not complicated, but performing it while neutrally buoyant requires practice. The diver must manage the DSMB, line, spool, depth, buoyancy and surrounding environment simultaneously.

At what depth should a DSMB be deployed?

The appropriate depth depends on the dive plan, training, conditions, equipment and local procedures. Divers should follow the method taught by their instructor and the instructions provided during the dive briefing.

Can I attach the DSMB reel to my BCD?

No. Safety guidance warns against attaching the reel or spool to yourself. If the line jams, becomes caught or is pulled by something at the surface, the diver must be able to release the complete system immediately [3,4].

Why should I not wrap the line around my hand?

The line may suddenly tighten while the DSMB rises. A line wrapped around a hand or finger can cause injury or pull the diver upwards.

Does an SMB guarantee that boats will avoid me?

No. A DSMB improves visibility, but it does not create a guaranteed exclusion zone. Divers must continue listening for boats, remaining with the group and following safe ascent procedures.

Can several divers deploy their DSMBs together?

Multiple lines in a small area can increase the risk of entanglement. During a guided dive, divers should follow the procedure explained by the Divemaster rather than automatically deploying several DSMBs at once.

How often should I practise DSMB deployment?

Regularly enough that the equipment and procedure remain familiar. If you cannot deploy it calmly while maintaining neutral buoyancy, depth and awareness, you should practise again with a qualified professional.

Does Oceans 5 require its Divemasters and instructors to carry an SMB?

Yes. Oceans 5 requires its Divemasters and instructors to carry an SMB and reel. Dive professionals must be prepared to mark the group’s position and organize a controlled ascent during local drift dives.

References

1. Divers Alert Network. “Popping the Question: What Is a DSMB?” Explains the differences between SMBs and DSMBs, their construction, visibility and their role in alerting surface support and boat traffic. DAN DSMB guidance
2. Scuba Schools International. “Surface Marker Buoy 101—All You Need to Know.” Explains how surface marker buoys and delayed surface marker buoys are used, including during drifting ascents and in areas without a fixed ascent line. SSI surface marker buoy guidance
3. British Sub-Aqua Club. “Safe Diving Guide: Equipment.” Advises divers to practise DSMB deployment regularly and warns against attaching the reel to the diver. BSAC equipment guidance
4. British Sub-Aqua Club. “Safe Use of Surface and Delayed Surface Marker Buoys.” Discusses entanglement, buoyancy control and the danger of attaching an SMB or DSMB reel to the diver. BSAC SMB and DSMB safety guidance
5. Scuba Schools International. “15 Essential Items to Take on Your Boat Dives.” Recommends an SMB for drift diving and areas with boat traffic and explains why individual divers should consider carrying one even when the Divemaster has one. SSI boat-diving equipment guidance

Diving the Gili Islands in September

September is an excellent time to explore the underwater world around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. It falls near the end of Lombok’s dry season, when visitors can often enjoy sunny days, warm water and good underwater visibility.

But what can you actually expect to see?

The Gili Islands are not a destination built around one seasonal animal. They offer varied, year-round diving with turtles, reef sharks, schooling fish, rays, colourful reef species and fascinating macro life. The exact encounters depend on the dive site, currents, tides and, naturally, a little luck.

No responsible dive centre can guarantee a particular animal. The ocean is not a zoo, and marine life does not follow a timetable. However, September gives divers plenty of opportunities to experience the biodiversity of the Gili Matra Marine Protected Area.

What Are the Diving Conditions Like in September?

September is normally part of the dry season around the Gili Islands. Divers can generally expect warm air temperatures, relatively limited rainfall and plenty of sunshine.

Underwater visibility is often good, but it can change from one day—or even one dive—to the next. Currents, tides, wind, plankton and local weather all influence how far you can see.

Water temperatures commonly remain comfortable, although colder water can occasionally move through the area. A standard tropical wetsuit is usually sufficient for most divers, but thermal comfort is personal. Divers who become cold easily may prefer a slightly thicker suit, especially when completing several dives in one day.

Currents are an important part of diving around the Gili Islands. Some sites may be calm, while others can produce exciting drift dives. Conditions are assessed before every departure, and the final dive-site decision must consider the experience and certification levels of the group.

Good conditions should never be assumed simply because it is September. Local knowledge and proper dive planning remain essential throughout the year.

Green and Hawksbill Turtles

The Gili Islands are particularly well known for their sea turtles. Green turtles and hawksbill turtles can both be encountered around the islands.

Green turtles may be seen resting on the reef, swimming through the blue or feeding in areas with seagrass and algae. Hawksbill turtles are often associated with coral reefs, where their narrower heads help them reach food between reef structures.

Turtle Heaven, near Gili Meno, is one of the best-known turtle dive sites in the area. However, turtles are not limited to one location. They may also appear at Meno Slope, Halik, Shark Point, Hans Reef and several other sites.

September is not a special “turtle season.” Turtles live around the Gili Islands throughout the year, which means divers have a reasonable chance of encountering them during any month.

That still does not justify chasing, touching or surrounding them. A sleeping or feeding turtle should be given space. Calm divers with good buoyancy are usually rewarded with a longer and more natural encounter.

The best turtle experience is one in which the turtle chooses to remain near you.

Whitetip and Blacktip Reef Sharks

The word “shark” can make new divers nervous, but the reef sharks found around the Gili Islands are generally shy animals that tend to avoid close contact with people.

Whitetip reef sharks can sometimes be found resting beneath ledges, inside small caves or cruising close to the reef. Unlike many shark species, whitetips can pump water over their gills while resting on the bottom.

Blacktip reef sharks are more commonly associated with shallower reef environments. Juveniles may sometimes be seen in protected, relatively shallow areas.

Shark Point, on the western side of Gili Trawangan, is one of the best-known sites for reef-shark encounters. Sharks may also be found at Halik, Deep Turbo and other locations, depending on the conditions.

Seeing a shark is never guaranteed. Sometimes a site called Shark Point produces several sharks; on another day, the sharks may be nowhere in sight.

Divers should never block a shark’s route, follow it into an enclosed space or lie on the bottom to get closer. Remaining neutrally buoyant, keeping an appropriate distance and allowing the animal to control the encounter creates a more respectful—and usually more enjoyable—experience.

Trevallies and Schooling Fish

Not every memorable sighting needs to be a turtle or shark.

September dives can bring encounters with schools of fusiliers, snappers, surgeonfish and other reef fish. Trevallies may patrol the reef or move quickly through a school of smaller fish.

At some sites, red-tooth triggerfish fill the water column. Bannerfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, sweetlips and parrotfish add colour to the reef, while moray eels watch from cracks and coral formations.

The number and behaviour of fish can change with the current. Moving water can transport nutrients and encourage feeding activity. This is one reason a dive with some current can be particularly exciting.

The objective is not always to swim against the current to reach a famous location. Sometimes the best option is to maintain good position, drift with the reef and watch the underwater environment become more active around you.

Rays in the Sand and in the Blue

Blue-spotted stingrays are regularly encountered around the Gili Islands. They often rest on sandy patches, partially concealed beneath the sand, or move between coral formations.

Eagle rays are less predictable but may occasionally pass through the blue. Seeing one glide effortlessly past the reef can become the highlight of a dive.

Mobula rays and manta rays are possible visitors to the wider Gili area, but they should be treated as special encounters rather than expected September sightings. Manta encounters are more commonly associated with the wetter part of the year, and the Gili Islands should not be advertised as a destination where mantas can be guaranteed.

If a ray appears, remain calm and avoid swimming directly above or behind it. Give the animal space and let it determine how long the encounter lasts.

Nudibranchs, Flatworms and Other Small Creatures

A diver who only looks into the blue may miss half of what makes Gili Air special.

The reefs, sandy slopes and coral structures around the island support an impressive range of small marine animals. Depending on the site and the ability of your guide to find them, you might see:

• Colourful nudibranchs
• Flatworms
• Frogfish
• Pipefish
• Scorpionfish
• Porcelain crabs
• Orangutan crabs
• Shrimp
• Juvenile fish
• Cuttlefish
• Octopuses
• Blue-ringed octopuses
• Bobtail squid

Some of these animals are extremely well camouflaged. A frogfish can resemble a sponge, while a scorpionfish can almost disappear against the reef. Tiny crabs may live inside coral or hide among the arms of an anemone.

Finding macro life requires patience, controlled movement and a guide who knows where and how to look. It also requires responsible behaviour. Animals should never be moved, touched or repositioned to create a better photograph.

The fact that a creature is small does not make disturbing it acceptable.

Octopuses and Cuttlefish

Several octopus species can be found around the Gili Islands. Some hide inside holes or beneath pieces of coral rubble, while others move across the sand and change colour and texture as they travel.

Around the harbour and other suitable sandy environments, particularly during specialised muck or night dives, patient divers may encounter some of the area’s more unusual cephalopods. Possible sightings can include long-arm octopuses, mimic octopuses, wonderpus and small bobtail squid.

These encounters are never guaranteed and often depend on the time of day, the site and the experience of the guide.

Cuttlefish may also be found hovering above the reef, hunting small animals or communicating through rapidly changing patterns across their bodies.

Watching a cephalopod behave naturally is much more interesting than forcing it from its hiding place. A good guide knows when to point, when to wait and when to leave an animal alone.

Mandarin Fish at Dusk

Mandarin fish are among the most colourful small fish found around Gili Air. Their bright blue, green and orange patterns make them a favourite with underwater photographers.

They are usually associated with sheltered coral-rubble environments and become more active around dusk. Finding them requires careful timing, patience and very controlled diving.

Because mandarin fish live close to fragile habitat, buoyancy becomes especially important. Divers must avoid landing on coral rubble, stirring up sediment or damaging the environment while trying to take a photograph.

A mandarin-fish dive is not about covering a large distance. It is about remaining still, watching carefully and waiting for a very small fish to appear.

Night-Diving Encounters

When daylight disappears, the reef changes.

Animals that were hidden during the day become active, while many daytime fish find places to rest. Depending on the location, a September night dive might reveal:

• Hunting moray eels
• Decorator crabs
• Shrimp
• Lobsters
• Cuttlefish
• Octopuses
• Flatworms
• Nudibranchs
• Scorpionfish
• Sleeping parrotfish
• Bobtail squid
• Other small nocturnal animals

Oceans 5 normally uses the harbour or house-reef environment for night dives. When conditions, logistics and participant numbers allow, specialised boat night dives may also be organised.

Night diving requires good buoyancy, careful communication and proper light procedures. Divers who have never completed a night dive can join under appropriate professional supervision or complete the SSI Night and Limited Visibility specialty.

Different Islands Offer Different Experiences

The Gili Islands are often promoted as one diving destination, but the individual areas provide different underwater experiences.

Diving Around Gili Air

The sites around Gili Air are known for coral slopes, sandy areas and interesting macro life. Hans Reef is popular with both recreational divers and students, while other locations can offer drift diving, coral formations, turtles and small, well-camouflaged animals.

Gili Air is an excellent base for divers who enjoy looking for the smaller creatures that are easily missed when a group moves too quickly.

Diving Around Gili Meno

Gili Meno is particularly well known for turtles. Turtle Heaven and Meno Slope can produce excellent turtle encounters, while the Bounty Wreck—actually the remains of a sunken jetty platform—attracts fish and other marine life.

The famous underwater statues are visually interesting, but they are only one small part of the diving around Meno.

Diving Around Gili Trawangan

Several of the better-known shark and deeper dive sites are located around Gili Trawangan. Shark Point and Halik can offer turtles, reef sharks, schooling fish and varied reef structures.

Deep Turbo and other deeper sites are more appropriate for experienced divers with the required certification. Depth, currents and the group’s abilities must always be considered before selecting these locations.

Your Dive Guide Can Change What You See

Choosing the right site matters, but your dive guide can make an equally important difference.

An experienced local Divemaster understands where particular animals are commonly found, how the current influences a site and which area is suitable for the group. They may recognise a frogfish that looks like part of the reef or notice the small movement that reveals a hidden octopus.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, our certified fun-diving groups normally have a maximum of four divers per Divemaster. Smaller groups make it easier for the guide to consider individual interests and for every diver to see the animals without crowding them.

We also try to organize groups according to certification, experience, air consumption, comfort in currents and underwater interests.

A photographer searching for nudibranchs may want a different pace from a diver hoping to cover more of the reef and look for sharks. Matching compatible divers can make the experience better for everyone.

Good Buoyancy Helps You See More

Good buoyancy is not only about protecting coral. It can also help you observe marine life.

A neutrally buoyant diver can stop beside a coral formation without grabbing it. They can watch a turtle without crashing into the bottom, approach a small animal without producing a cloud of sand and maintain a respectful distance from a shark.

Divers who move slowly and calmly frequently notice more than divers who race from one sighting to the next.

At Oceans 5, we follow a no-unnecessary-touching philosophy. Our divers are expected to respect the reef, the seabed and the animals they encounter.

Do not chase turtles. Do not block sharks. Do not touch rays. Do not pick up nudibranchs. Do not ask your guide to move an octopus for a photograph.

The best underwater encounters are natural encounters.

Can Beginners Enjoy Diving in September?

Yes. September can be an excellent time to learn to dive or complete an introductory experience around the Gili Islands.

However, the correct dive site must be chosen for the conditions and the diver’s ability. Not every famous site is suitable for every beginner on every day.

Oceans 5 offers introductory dives and the three-day SSI Open Water Diver course. Training begins with theory and pool sessions before students enter the ocean. We keep training groups small and teach students to develop neutral buoyancy rather than becoming dependent on kneeling on the bottom.

Certified divers who have not dived for six months or longer must complete a refresher before joining regular fun dives with Oceans 5. A refresher gives divers time to review important knowledge and skills before returning to open water.

Flexible September Diving With Oceans 5 Gili Air

Oceans 5 organizes separate dive departures at 08:30, 11:30 and 14:30. On Fridays, we normally dive at 08:30 and 14:30.

The boat returns to Gili Air after every dive, allowing you to choose one, two or three dives according to your holiday plans and energy level. Night dives can also be organised on request, subject to conditions and availability.

This flexible system also allows our team to reassess the conditions and organize the groups before every departure.

Tell us what you would most like to see—but keep an open mind.

You may enter the water hoping for a shark and find an extraordinary frogfish. You may be looking for nudibranchs when an eagle ray passes overhead. A planned turtle dive might become memorable because of a hunting octopus or an enormous school of fish.

That uncertainty is part of what makes diving exciting.

What Can You See in September?

September can offer turtles, reef sharks, rays, schooling fish, colourful reef species, nudibranchs, octopuses, cuttlefish and many other animals around the Gili Islands.

But the honest answer is that we cannot tell you exactly what you will see.

We can select a suitable site, consider the current and tides, place you with an experienced local Divemaster and organize the dive around your certification and interests.

The rest is decided by the ocean.

And that is exactly how diving should be.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is September a good month for diving the Gili Islands?

Yes. September is normally part of the dry season and can provide warm water, sunny weather and good visibility. However, conditions are never guaranteed and can change with tides, currents, wind and local weather.

What is the water temperature in September?

Water temperatures around the Gili Islands are generally comfortable for tropical diving, although colder currents can occasionally pass through the area. Most divers use a tropical wetsuit, but those who become cold easily may prefer additional thermal protection.

Can I see turtles in September?

Green and hawksbill turtles live around the Gili Islands throughout the year. September can therefore provide excellent turtle encounters, particularly around sites near Gili Meno. Nevertheless, no wildlife sighting can be guaranteed.

Can I see sharks in September?

Whitetip and blacktip reef sharks may be encountered throughout the year. Shark Point, Halik and some deeper sites can offer opportunities to see them, depending on the conditions and the sharks’ natural movements.

Will I see manta rays in September?

Manta rays occasionally visit the Gili Islands, but September is not normally considered the principal manta period. A manta sighting should be treated as an unexpected bonus rather than something a dive centre can promise.

Where is the best place to see turtles?

Turtle Heaven near Gili Meno is one of the area’s best-known turtle sites. Turtles can also be found at Meno Slope, Halik, Shark Point, Hans Reef and several other locations.

What macro animals can I see around Gili Air?

Possible macro sightings include nudibranchs, flatworms, frogfish, pipefish, shrimp, small crabs, scorpionfish, cuttlefish and several octopus species. Sightings depend on the site, conditions, time of day and the ability of the guide to find them.

Is September suitable for beginner divers?

Yes, provided an appropriate site is selected. Conditions vary, so the dive team must consider the current, weather and diver’s experience before choosing the location. Oceans 5 offers introductory dives and SSI Open Water Diver courses for beginners.

Are the currents strong in September?

Currents around the Gili Islands can be mild or strong during any month. Their direction and intensity are influenced by tides and local conditions. Some currents create enjoyable drift dives, but the site and dive plan must always match the group’s ability.

How good is the underwater visibility?

Visibility is often good during September, but it is not constant. Wind, waves, plankton, tides and currents can all affect visibility. Conditions may differ between dive sites on the same day.

Do I need a refresher before diving?

At Oceans 5, certified divers who have not dived for six months or longer must complete a refresher before joining regular fun dives. This allows you to review essential knowledge and skills before returning to open water.

How many divers are placed with one guide?

Oceans 5 normally limits certified fun-diving groups to a maximum of four divers per Divemaster. Whenever possible, groups are organized according to certification, experience, comfort in currents and marine-life interests.

How many dives can I complete in one day?

Oceans 5 normally offers separate departures at 08:30, 11:30 and 14:30. On Fridays, departures are scheduled for 08:30 and 14:30. You can choose one, two or three dives, subject to availability and safe repetitive-dive planning.

Can I request a particular dive site?

Yes. You can tell the Oceans 5 team what you would like to see or which site interests you. However, the final selection depends on currents, weather, certification levels, experience, marine-park requirements and group safety.

Can Oceans 5 guarantee a particular animal?

No responsible dive centre can guarantee a wild-animal encounter. Our team can choose sites where certain animals are commonly found, but marine life moves freely and every dive is different.

Weather, Conditions and Marine Life

September can be one of the most enjoyable months for scuba diving around the Gili Islands. The busiest weeks of July and August are coming to an end, but the dry-season weather generally continues. The water remains warm, the dive sites offer encounters with turtles, reef sharks and colourful reef fish, and Gili Air gradually returns to a more relaxed rhythm.

However, no two days in the ocean are identical. Visibility, currents and water temperature can change from one dive site—or even one dive—to the next. That is why choosing an experienced dive centre and listening to the advice of local dive professionals is more important than relying on a monthly weather chart.

Here is what you can realistically expect when diving the Gili Islands in September.

Is September a Good Month for Diving the Gili Islands?

Yes, September is generally a very good month for diving around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan.

September normally falls toward the end of the drier period in the Lombok region. Visitors can often expect sunny days, relatively little rain and good conditions for outdoor and marine activities. Nevertheless, Indonesia’s weather can vary from year to year, so travellers should always check the latest forecasts from Indonesia’s official meteorological agency, BMKG, before travelling [1].

One of the advantages of September is that it comes directly after the busiest European summer-holiday period. Gili Air remains lively, but the island can feel slightly less crowded than during July and August.

This makes September attractive for divers who want:

• Warm tropical water
• Generally favourable surface conditions
• A choice of dive sites around all three Gili Islands
• Fewer peak-season crowds
• Suitable conditions for courses and fun diving
• A relaxed island atmosphere between dives

September is not a “secret season,” and it can still be busy. However, it often offers a pleasant balance between reliable diving conditions and a less hectic atmosphere.

What Is the Weather Like on Gili Air in September?

September days on Gili Air are usually warm and sunny. Air temperatures are tropical throughout the year, and evenings remain comfortable enough to eat outside or walk around the island.

Rain is still possible. A dry-season label does not mean that every day will be completely dry. Short showers can occur, and weather patterns are becoming less predictable. The good news is that a brief tropical shower does not automatically mean poor diving.

Divers should remember that weather above the surface and conditions underwater are not always directly connected. It can rain during the night and still be a beautiful diving day the following morning.

The most relevant conditions for a dive centre are:

• Wind direction and strength
• Wave height
• Surface conditions
• Current strength and direction
• Underwater visibility

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, the dive team evaluates the conditions each day before deciding which dive sites are most appropriate for each departure.

Water Temperature in September

Water temperatures around the Gili Islands are warm throughout the year. In September, divers will commonly experience temperatures of approximately 27–29°C, although cooler areas or thermoclines can sometimes be encountered.

Some divers are comfortable in a 3 mm shorty, while others prefer a full-length 3 mm wetsuit. Your choice should depend on your personal sensitivity to cold and the number of dives you plan to make.

A diver completing one shallow dive may feel perfectly warm in a short wetsuit. Someone making three dives a day for several consecutive days may become colder over time, even in tropical water.

Oceans 5 provides the appropriate basic diving equipment for guests booking dives or courses. Divers are also welcome to bring their own masks, dive computers or exposure protection if they prefer familiar equipment.

What Is the Visibility Like?

Underwater visibility around the Gili Islands is often good in September, but it should never be guaranteed.

Visibility can change because of plankton, tides, currents, wind, rainfall and local water movement. One site may offer clear water while another side of the islands has reduced visibility on the same day.

Rather than promising a particular number of metres, a professional dive centre should select the site according to the actual conditions. Good visibility is enjoyable, but it is not the only thing that makes a dive worthwhile. Some of the most interesting macro animals are found in areas that do not always have perfect visibility.

Divers should also understand that plankton in the water is not necessarily bad news. Plankton is an important part of the marine food web and can attract feeding marine animals.

Are There Strong Currents in September?

Currents are a normal part of diving around the Gili Islands. They are influenced more by tides, moon phases, water movement through the Lombok Strait and the individual dive site than by the name of the month.

The Lombok Strait forms part of the Indonesian Throughflow, an important system that transfers water between the Pacific and Indian Oceans [2]. This movement contributes to the changing currents experienced around the Gili Islands.

Some dives may have very little current. Others may become drift dives. Conditions can also change during the dive.

This does not mean that the Gili Islands are unsuitable for beginners. It means that the dive site, entry point and dive plan must match the divers’ experience.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, local dive professionals:

• Check the current before entering the water
• Choose entry points based on the conditions
• Adapt the dive plan when necessary
• Keep certified diving groups to a maximum of four divers per guide
• Carry and use a surface marker buoy
• Give a site-specific briefing before the dive

The best site is not necessarily the most famous site. It is the site offering the best and safest experience for that particular group at that particular time.

What Marine Life Can You See in September?

The waters surrounding Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan are part of the Gili Matra National Marine Conservation Area. Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries describes the area as important habitat for coral reefs, seagrass, turtles and reef sharks [3].

September divers may encounter:

• Green turtles
• Hawksbill turtles
• Whitetip reef sharks
• Blacktip reef sharks
• Blue-spotted stingrays
• Moray eels
• Pufferfish
• Angelfish
• Butterflyfish
• Surgeonfish
• Trevallies
• Clownfish
• Cuttlefish
• Octopus
• Nudibranchs

Turtles are among the best-known animals around the Gili Islands, but they should never be treated as guaranteed attractions. They are wild animals moving freely through a protected marine environment.

There is also much more to Gili diving than turtles.

Divers who slow down and look carefully may find frogfish, pipefish, flatworms, nudibranchs, scorpionfish and small crustaceans. Around Gili Air, some of the most rewarding dives are those where the guide pays attention to the smaller animals hiding between coral, rubble and seagrass.

The official Indonesian tourism website also highlights the reefs, turtles and marine activities of the Gili Islands as important attractions for visitors to Lombok [4].

Is September Suitable for Beginner Divers?

Yes. September can be an excellent time to learn to dive on Gili Air.

Good training is not created by the month alone. It depends on the instructor, group size, facilities, dive-site selection and the way skills are taught.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, Open Water Diver students begin in one of two purpose-built training pools. This gives students time to become comfortable with their breathing, equipment and buoyancy before entering the ocean.

During the course, students are taught to perform their skills while neutrally buoyant whenever possible. The goal is not simply to complete a checklist. The goal is to create divers who can control their position, protect the reef and respond calmly underwater.

Beginners should not automatically be taken to a site simply because it is famous. If currents or surface conditions are unsuitable, a different site may provide a safer and more enjoyable learning environment.

Flexible Diving From Gili Air

One of the advantages of diving with Oceans 5 is the flexible daily schedule.

Oceans 5 normally operates three scheduled daytime dive departures:

• 08:30
• 11:30
• 14:30

Night dives are available on request.

Divers do not have to commit to a compulsory two-dive or full-day package. You can choose one dive, return to the dive centre, relax by the pool, have lunch or explore Gili Air before deciding whether you want to dive again.

This one-dive-at-a-time system is particularly comfortable for:

• New divers
• Families
• Underwater photographers
• Divers travelling with non-diving partners
• Guests who do not want to spend the entire day on a boat
• Divers who prefer a relaxed holiday schedule

The dive sites around the three Gili Islands are generally reached by boat, with many sites located within approximately 10–30 minutes of Gili Air.

Responsible Diving Inside a Marine Conservation Area

The Gili Islands are not simply a tropical diving destination. They are located inside a nationally managed marine conservation area [3].

In 2024, the International Maritime Organization also designated Gili Matra and Nusa Penida as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area. This international designation recognises the ecological importance and vulnerability of these waters to shipping-related impacts [5].

Divers therefore have a responsibility to minimise their impact.

Responsible behaviour includes:

• Maintaining neutral buoyancy
• Never standing or kneeling on coral
• Not touching or chasing marine animals
• Keeping a respectful distance from turtles and- Keeping a respectful distance from turtles sharks
• Securing gauges and alternate air sources
• Avoiding contact with the reef while taking photographs
• Following the guide’s instructions
• Taking nothing from the ocean
• Leaving no rubbish behind

At Oceans 5, conservation is integrated into diver training and daily operations. Dive professionals are expected to act as ocean ambassadors and demonstrate the behaviour they want their guests and students to follow.

Why Choose Gili Air in September?

Gili Air offers a balance that is difficult to find elsewhere.

It has restaurants, accommodation and enough activity to make a holiday enjoyable, while retaining a calmer atmosphere than Gili Trawangan. There are no cars on the island, and Oceans 5 is located only a short walk from the harbour.

For divers, its location provides access to sites around Gili Air, Gili Meno, Gili Trawangan and the Lombok coast. This allows the dive team to choose between different areas according to the day’s weather, currents and diver experience.

Oceans 5 also offers:

• Maximum four certified divers per guide
• Local, professionally certified dive guides
• Two purpose-built training pools
• Three dive boats
• Daily recreational diving
• Beginner through professional SSI training
• Nitrox and 15-litre tanks on request
• Night diving
• Marine-ecology speciality courses
• A long-term commitment to marine conservation

September Diving: Come Prepared, but Stay Flexible

September is generally a great month to dive the Gili Islands, but the ocean does not follow a fixed calendar.

Weather forecasts, visibility estimates and seasonal averages can help you plan your holiday. They cannot predict the exact conditions at Shark Point, Turtle Heaven, Hans Reef or any other dive site at the moment you enter the water.

The best diving comes from combining preparation with flexibility.

Listen to the local dive team. Choose sites based on actual conditions. Respect the marine park. Control your buoyancy. Look beyond the most famous animals—and remember that sometimes the smallest creature becomes the highlight of the dive.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we do not promise that every September dive will be identical. We promise to evaluate the conditions, select an appropriate dive site and do our best to give every diver a safe, responsible and memorable experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is September a good time to dive the Gili Islands?

Yes. September usually offers warm water, generally favourable weather and access to dive sites around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. Conditions can still vary daily.

What is the water temperature in September?

Water temperatures are commonly around 27–29°C, although thermoclines and cooler water are possible. Many divers use a 3 mm wetsuit.

Is the visibility good in September?

Visibility is often good, but it cannot be guaranteed. It is affected by tides, currents, plankton, rainfall and local weather conditions.

Are the currents strong?

Some dives have little current, while others become drift dives. Currents depend on the tide, moon phase and location. The dive team should select sites appropriate for the experience of the group.

Can beginners learn to dive in September?

Yes. September is suitable for beginner courses when the dive centre uses appropriate training facilities and chooses sites according to the conditions.

Can I see turtles in September?

Green and hawksbill turtles live around the Gili Islands throughout the year, so sightings are common. However, no responsible dive centre should guarantee an encounter with a wild animal.

Can I see sharks around the Gili Islands?

Whitetip and blacktip reef sharks can be seen around the Gili Islands. They are generally shy and should be observed calmly without chasing, touching or surrounding them.

Do I have to book two dives?

Not at Oceans 5 Gili Air. Divers can join individual departures and decide how many dives they would like to make each day.

How many daytime dives does Oceans 5 offer?

Oceans 5 normally schedules three daytime departures at 08:30, 11:30 and 14:30. Night dives can be arranged on request.

Should I book in advance?

Advance booking is recommended if you need accommodation, are travelling with a family or want to complete a course. Fun divers may also benefit from booking ahead, even though September is usually less crowded than the busiest summer weeks.

References

[1] BMKG – Indonesia’s official Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. Weather observations, climate information and forecasts: BMKG Climate Information

[2] Sprintall, J. et al. The Indonesian Seas and Their Role in the Coupled Ocean–Climate System. Nature Geoscience. Background on the Indonesian Throughflow and water movement through the Indonesian seas: Nature Geoscience

[3] Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries – Gili Matra conservation information. The area contains important coral-reef, seagrass, turtle and reef-shark habitats: BKKPN Kupang and Gili Matra Conservation

[4] Indonesia Travel – Official tourism information covering Lombok, the Gili Islands, diving, reefs and turtles: Lombok Attractions and the Gili Islands

[5] Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries – IMO designation of Gili Matra and Nusa Penida as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area: Gili Matra PSSA Designation