Research Assistant Program @ Gili Shark Conservation in Indonesia

Honestly the best experience I’ve ever had in my life. I will cherish the memories I’ve made here forever. This programme restored my faith in humanity. Words can’t describe how amazing the people here and this place is. Ive enjoyed my time here so much I’ve already planned to come back next year to further my education and hopefully do my divemaster. All I can say is Thankyou to everyone whose made this experience unforgettable. I would highly recommend this course to anyone with a passion for the ocean. You will love it here.

Doing this internship was the decision I’ve ever made everyone involved including the staff at villa Nangka, Oceans5 dive resort, the staff at Gili shark conservation and of course Rose and Andreas who started this amazing program made it the best experience. I have loved every minute of it, feeling like I am making a good change and having so much fun at the same time. All the staff especially Maisy musa and Katon work so hard to save our ocean and I am great fun I got to be part of that. Thank you to everyone who made this the best trip ever!

I spent the month of June interning as a marine research assistant with Gili Shark Conservation, and it was beyond amazing. I spent my time on Gili Air learning countless marine science skills and gaining experience related to my college degree while surrounded by the kindest, most caring people. I left less than a week ago, and I’m already trying to plan my next trip back!

I am currently in the last year of my Marine and Coastal Biology undergraduate degree. I have been dreaming of having a career where I get to live on a tropical island and study the ocean since I was a little kid, so when I say this program was a dream come true, I mean it wholeheartedly. Interning with Gili Shark Conservation taught me a multitude of skills that I will be able to apply to future internships and my career, such as how to do ROVing and CHI surveys underwater and how to use globally-recognized programs like CPCe to study the health of coral reef ecosystems. The experience I had during my time here expanded my already enormous love for the ocean and marine conservation and made me undoubtedly positive that this is exactly what I want to spend my life doing.

My time here was not only educational but also beyond fun and exciting! The days are filled with laughter, dance parties on the boat ride to the dive spots, delicious meals together, and making priceless memories. Every single person that I met on Gili Air was so welcoming and neighborly; it gives the whole island a warm, joyous energy that you can’t forget. The sense of community and family within Gili Shark Conservation and the Oceans5 team is unparalleled. I was surrounded by so much happiness, kindness, and friendship from the second I arrived; it makes you never want to leave. Musa, Maisy, and Katon were the best teachers and mentors I could have asked for - they are brilliant, compassionate, knowledgeable, patient, fun, and hilarious, and the love they have for the ocean and their careers is contagious. Rose, the program founder, and her partner Andreas were absolutely wonderful and treated me like family. I can hardly even put into words how much I loved being here, but I can definitely say that you have to go experience it for yourself!

I guess the scoring says it all… I am not big with words which is why I can’t even describe how much this project gave me after 2 years of Covid. It enabled me to reconnect with why I chose to engage in marine conservation in the first place. In my 10 week divemaster internship on Gili Air (one of the most beautiful and calming places I have ever been to) I regained so much confidence in myself and my abilities, not only when it comes to diving but also in every part of my life. Everyone part of this project contributes to making this trip the experience of a lifetime. Rose and Andreas, founders of GiliSharkConservation and owners of VillaNangka (which will become your home in paradise during this project) are two of the most inspiring people I have ever met and will be there to help you during all times. Just as the whole team of GiliShark, VillaNangka and Oceans5, the local dive center collaborating with GiliShark.

It doesn‘t matter who you are, where you come from, how many dives (if even) you did before or if you already got involved with marine conservation work.
Everyone is welcome and should take the chance of joining, if having some interest in marine conservation and sharing our love for the underwater world.
No regrets guaranteed!

Thanks to everyone that made my time on Gili Air the best of my life! I will come back.

getting involved with the program is the best thing i have ever done. Every single person on the island was so sweet. The Guides and staff were always there if you needed them and had lots to share! I loved learning about all the different fish species, IDing turtles, sharks and coral, taking care of the coral nursery, meeting awesome people i’ll never forget, making long life friends and being a part of a community who shared the same interests and goals :) thank you gili shark for an amazing time i will definitely be coming back for more!!

I had no idea what to expect, I didn't even have time to make up expectations. Safe to say that it still exceeded every expectation I couls have in a positive way.

I found this project online after looking after looking at pages related to conservation. I was interested in the conservation in general, and the project looked like a good start to see if this would be something for me to explore further.

After I send a message everything was basically arranged within a day - the overal communication is superclear, fast and feels 'right' directly from the start. I felt welcome already after the initial mailcontact! I could start right away - which meant hastily looking for the right flight to paradise: Gili Air.

Villa Nangka, where I stayed for 3 weeks (too short!) felt like home, and is an ideal place to stay in comfort for the duration of the project. Rose, Andreas and everyone of the staff are super friendly and accomodating in every way.

The project itself characterizes mainly in a lot of variation - you will do a lot here! From learning about sharks and their role in the ecosystem to do coral nursery maintainance, roving surveys, beach cleanups and dives against debris. Days are packed, but never in such a way that its too much. Quickly a peaceful routine is established - breakfast with pancakes, biking to Oceans5 (great diveshop!) - diving - lunch - studying / preparation for the next day / presentations / cleanups / anything in the afternoon. Aside from that there is more than enough time to have fun with the other Sharkies or to have some alone time

All in all I can only recommend this project - the overal experience has been more than I could hope for, and I still miss it every day. 3 weeks definitely was not enough!

My 2 weeks at GiliShark Conservation was above and beyond what was expected. All the staff are extremely friendly and approachable which made my experience very accommodating. Big shout out to Andre and Zara for their patience while teaching us new skills and information in regards to saving our marine life. Rose and Andraes are also beautiful people who made my stay at Villa Nangka very relaxing.
This program is a great way to give back to the community while also become aware and further educated about coral reefs and marine life - not only around the Gili's, but around the world. The diving is also incredible with a wide variety of marine life I have not seen before (i.e. frog fish, white tip reef sharks) which also made this experience very magical!

What an awesome experience! I went on this adventure with my daughter, Haley, who is studying marine sciences. I am an inexperienced diver, having received my basic underwater certification just before the trip. The Gili Shark Team is fantastic with a tremendous amount of experience and very welcoming to all levels of divers/experience in marine conservation. Every day was an adventure where we were exposed to the beautiful waters surrounding Gili Islands and the impact that we have on our marine environment. Andre, Zara, Cece and Jo made us feel right at home and part of the team from day one. The crew at Oceans5 are top notch with a tremendous amount of experience and accommodating to all levels of divers. We spent two weeks on the island and my only regret is that we did not stay longer!! I highly recommend this experience to anyone that wants to have a great diving adventure and also learn a tremendous amount about the efforts being made by these heroes working to have a positive impact on our marine environment. For anyone that is hesitant about joining the efforts, or sending their young adult to join the effort- don't hesitate. It is a life changing opportunity in a wonderful, safe and welcoming place! Go for it!

Hope to be back.

Scott