Gili Air, a little paradise

It’s a question every business owner on a small island like Gili Air should ask themselves: What are we doing for the island that gives so much to us? Too often, the default answer is, “We provide jobs for the local community.” While offering employment is important, it’s not the only thing that matters. If we truly care about the island, its people, and the future of tourism here, we must go beyond the basics. The environment is what makes Gili Air so special—and it needs our help.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, this awareness is part of our DNA. We don’t just say we care about the island—we show it, every single day. Environmental responsibility, local support, and sustainability are not slogans for us—they’re embedded in everything we do.

Beyond Employment: Real Action

Many businesses claim to be environmentally friendly, but when you look closer, it’s more about marketing than action. Are they separating their rubbish? Are they cleaning the street in front of their shop? Are they supporting the community in times of need? Too often, the answer is no.

At Oceans 5, we believe that if you’re operating a business on Gili Air, you have a duty to protect it.

Here’s what we’re doing:

1. Weekly Beach Cleanups

Every Friday, rain or shine, we organize a beach cleanup. Last Friday, volunteers cleaned a 300-meter stretch of coastline from the harbor all the way to Villa Karang. The amount of rubbish collected was shocking. And it’s not just a one-off event—we’ve been doing this every week since 2010. Our divemaster candidates organize the cleanup, ensuring it’s not only effective, but also educational for future dive professionals. After the cleanup, all participants are invited for a free drink to celebrate their efforts and meet like-minded people. It’s about building community, not just collecting trash.

2. Reef Cleanups

Land-based rubbish is only part of the problem. Our ocean needs attention too. That’s why we organize regular reef cleanups, especially in the harbor and around our dive sites. Our divemasters, instructors, and guests help remove plastics, fishing lines, and other debris from the ocean floor—often during dedicated dive trips.

3. Environmental Education and Partnerships

We don’t stop at cleanups. Oceans 5 actively partners with universities, including the University of Mataram, to support marine conservation research. Through this partnership, students conduct reef surveys, gather data on marine life, and share their findings with the wider community. We host presentations, provide logistics, and help students take their first steps in marine science.

4. Training and Empowering Locals

Oceans 5 runs free Divemaster internships for local Indonesian citizens, offering them a pathway to a professional career in diving. These internships are not “work for dives” schemes—they are professional training programs that prepare local divers to work anywhere in the world. We are proud to say that many of our team members started as interns and now work as dive professionals.

5. No-Scooter Policy

In an effort to reduce noise and pollution, we’ve implemented a no-scooter policy inside our dive center and resort. While the island has recently seen a rise in electric scooter use—often leading to congestion and safety concerns—we’re committed to keeping our space quiet, clean, and pedestrian-friendly. We encourage others to do the same.

6. Support for Local Vendors

When local warung vendors were suddenly removed from the jetty, Oceans 5 stepped in to help. We provided space and support so they could continue earning a living. We believe that businesses should not just take from the community—they should support it, especially in times of hardship.

Why It Matters

Too many businesses focus solely on making money. But on a small island like Gili Air, short-term thinking leads to long-term damage. Without the locals, there is no island community. Without the island, there is no tourism. And without environmental responsibility, we’re all just building on sinking sand.

The ocean, the beach, the reef, the people—these are not resources to be exploited, they’re partners in our success.

What Can You Do?

If you’re a business on Gili Air, we challenge you to ask yourself:

• Are we separating rubbish or burning it?
• Are we cleaning the street in front of our shop?
• Are we supporting community initiatives?
• Are we training and investing in the locals?
• Are we reducing our environmental impact?

There’s always more to do. But the important thing is to start.

Join Us

Next Friday, we’ll be out on the beach again, bags and gloves in hand. Everyone is welcome—locals, tourists, staff from other businesses. Let’s clean up the island we all call home. And afterwards, let’s share a cold drink together, knowing we did something good.

Oceans 5 Gili Air is proud to lead by example. And we invite every business on Gili Air to do the same—not for marketing, not for profit, but for the future of our island.