Train across different dive sites in the Gili Matra Marine Protected Area while learning to assess currents, visibility and changing conditions. At Oceans 5, you’ll put those skills into practice through regular diving and the daily work of an active dive centre.
Gili Air is small enough to feel personal, with divers, local residents and travellers sharing everyday island life. After training, you can walk or cycle to cafés, restaurants and beaches, spend time with other interns, or simply relax.
There are no cars or petrol-powered motorbikes on the island. Most places are within walking or cycling distance, making it easy to settle into a routine during your six to eight weeks of training.
Gili Air is part of the Gili Matra Marine Protected Area, together with Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan.
The surrounding waters offer a variety of diving environments and conditions. Depending on the site and season, you may experience:
This variety can help you develop your awareness as a future dive professional.
Instead of repeatedly diving the same environment, you have the opportunity to experience different sites and conditions and learn how to adapt your approach.
For example, a dive at Shark Point can help you practise assessing currents and planning a dive briefing. At Turtle Heaven, you can work on spotting and identifying marine life while keeping the group together. Diving the Bounty Wreck gives you another environment in which to practise site awareness and adapt your briefing to the conditions. The sites you visit will depend on weather, currents and your training plan.
The waters around the Gili Islands are warm throughout the year, while currents and visibility vary by dive site and day. These changing conditions give you opportunities to practise observing the environment and adapting a dive plan. During your internship, your diving schedule follows the weather, course bookings and your individual training plan, giving you regular time in the water at an active dive centre.
The waters around the Gili Islands are home to a wide variety of tropical marine life.
Depending on the dive site and conditions, you may encounter:
Every dive is different, teaching you to observe marine life and adapt to changing conditions.
Your experience on Gili Air extends beyond the dive center.
When you are not training, the island gives you time to slow down and enjoy a different way of life.
You can spend your free time:
There are no cars or petrol-powered motorbikes on Gili Air, which gives the island a very different atmosphere from many larger Indonesian destinations.
Most places can be reached on foot or by bicycle.
One of the unique parts of completing your Divemaster internship on Gili Air is the international community around you.
You may meet divers, instructors, travellers and professionals from many different countries and backgrounds.
Working and diving alongside people with different experiences can help you develop communication skills and become more comfortable working with a wide range of divers.
These interpersonal skills are an important part of becoming a professional Divemaster.
Your schedule can include:
A Divemaster internship requires commitment.
Spending six to eight weeks on Gili Air gives you time to focus on your training without the distractions of a short holiday-style course.
Your responsibilities can gradually increase as your knowledge, skills and confidence develop.
Oceans 5 is located beside the harbour on Gili Air, close to the boats that take us to the surrounding dive sites.
Training in an active dive centre lets you see how a professional operation works each day. Alongside your dives, you can take part in briefings, equipment preparation and the daily routines that build your confidence as a future Divemaster.
Divemaster candidates are welcome to join the Oceans 5 beach clean-up every Friday at 17:00. It’s a chance to meet the local community and help care for the island where you train and dive.
Taking part also helps you understand the responsibility dive professionals have towards the marine environment.
A professional Divemaster needs to understand that no two dives are exactly the same.
The Gili Islands provide an opportunity to experience different dive sites and conditions during your internship.
You may need to consider:
Current conditions
Weather and visibility
Dive-site characteristics
Diver experience levels
Entry and exit points
Boat procedures
Learning to assess these factors helps you understand why professional dive leadership requires preparation and judgement.
Between dives, you’ll have time to review your logbook, discuss the day’s conditions with the team and prepare for your next training session. These quieter moments are part of learning to think like a Divemaster, not just dive like one.
Accommodation is not included in the Divemaster Internship.
Gili Air offers a range of accommodation options, from simple rooms and guesthouses to more comfortable stays.
Availability and prices can vary depending on the season and your preferred standard.
If you need help finding accommodation, contact the Oceans 5 team and we can provide information about suitable options based on availability and budget.
Gili Air is a small island and does not have cars or petrol-powered motorbikes.
Walking and cycling are the main ways to get around.
This makes it easy to move between the dive center, accommodation, restaurants, cafés and beaches.
The slower pace is one of the characteristics that makes Gili Air different from larger tourist destinations.
Choosing where to complete your Divemaster training is about more than the certification itself.
You will be spending several weeks developing professional skills, working with other divers and experiencing the daily operation of a dive center.
Gili Air gives you:
The island becomes part of your training experience.
Train with experienced dive professionals, explore Gili Air’s dive sites, and become part of its international diving community. Ready to start your Divemaster internship?
