Research Assistant Program @ Gili Shark Conservation in Indonesia

I have spent two weeks with Gili Shark Conservation and have gone from an inexperienced Open Water Diver to an Advanced, Shark Aware, Scientific Diver! The span of the project (from turtle and shark identification to coral restoration to beach clean ups) means every day is a new challenge and experience. Diving in Indonesia has exceeded my expectations, there are so many dive sites and the great thing about the project is they try and go to different ones every day. Diving twice a day most days allows you to really hone your diving skills. I would definitely recommend this project even if your interest in marine biology is just a hobby and you haven't got a scientific background like me, it doesn't matter! Thanks Gili Shark, I hope I can come back to dive with you again and see the sharks and turtles and everyone on the team! :-)

Today is my last day at Gili shark conservation and I am sad to be leaving! I have loved being a part of the research team and seeing the amazing underwater life around the islands. I would definitely recommend coming for longer than 2 weeks because the first week was taken up by the advanced padi course and shark aware, and also it took a few days to complete the scientific diver. These are all really great qualifications but it meant I didn't have much time to get really involved in the practical work, however, I would love to come back and do some more! It has been a great insight for me as I'm starting a marine biology masters degree this year and has built up my confidence with diving. The island is really nice with loads of yummy food (lots of pancakes) and everyone here is so friendly. I would recommend this volunteer programme to anyone :)

I loved every second of my time with the Gili Shark Conservation project. I spent 3 weeks with the team. The first week I did my PADI advanced open water certification and the second week my scientific diver and Shark aware certifications. All the instructors were so thorough and made sure I understood all the requirements and skills needed. I learned how to do a variety of surveys including roving, DRUV, photo ID, reef check, and coral reef index. I also was familiarized with identifying indicator species in the area. I can guarantee you I had never known there were so many species of snappers, groupers, emperors, and the list just goes on. It’s so cool to be able to know all this information and have learned it through first hand experience. We dive at least 9 times a week at a variety of dive sites around the Gili islands and we always saw really interesting things. In the office time in the afternoon, we inputted our data from the morning dives along with several other forms of research. I learned so much in my time here and just really enjoyed myself. Perfect weather, good food, super friendly and supportive staff. I felt safe and comfortable through the entirety of my stay and definitely recommend this project to people who love diving, the environment, and overall having a great time.

My experience with Gili Shark Conservation opened my eyes not only on marine conservation but also on how, as divers, we can really make a change. I expected a program much more focused on sharks which is what really attracted me. However, the variety of activities in which I got engaged is actually the greatest added value of the program. I got a great insight in technics for fish and coral surveying, learned a lot about marine conservation advocacy, species of fish, threats and measure to protect sharks etc... and all of this in only a few weeks.
I wish I would have stayed much longer and plan to go back. The island really has a wonderful vibe and is a wonderful place to disconnect from "modern life" and reconnect with the nature and a simple life style.
The team is very young and passionate and is truly inspiring.

If you're looking for a holiday in paradise whilst also giving back to the environment then this is the project for you! The whole shark team is super friendly which makes it really easy to settle in, and you can tell each of the staff members really has their heart in the cause which radiates positivity.

The island itself is absolutely beautiful, with everything within walking distance, and the dive shop they have paired up with is right on the harbour which makes the gear drop in the morning as easy as possible. From day one you feel like you are really getting involved and helping out with the project, whether it's doing roving surveys or reef checks - your contribution counts! Not only have I come out a more confident diver with a much wider knowledge of marine life and impacts of everyday life on the underwater ecosystems, but I am now officially AWARE, which I hold with great honour.

All in all a great experience and I can't wait to go back!

Gili shark Conservation Project – review 2019

It is a great experience and also fun to join the Gili Shark Conservation Project (= GSC).
Come to the GSC and learn more about reefsharks, fish, reefs and the connection to eachother. Besides this you can learn to dive or improve your skills or divelevel. There are also other activities you can join: beach clean up, community works and much more.
The GSC runs also more projects you are involved, for example: plastic free island, diving
for debris, coral health index, reef restauration. My point of view and also my way of living was changed while joining the GSC.

During the stay you have two dives in the morning on tuesday to saturday at the various divespots around the Gilis. In the afternoon after a lunchbreak the office is calling for
about 2 hours. You learn and study about the various projects, put the collected datas in
to different databases, watch videos. You also have a lot of fun at anytime of your stay.
The whole team (officials, the captain/s, the staff of Villa Nangka and the diveshop Oceans5 and the volunteers) is very friendly and helpful. The project is not running on sunday and monday:
you have time for yourself: relaxe, explore the Gilis, do fundives or subwings, go to Lombok

Watch the sunrise or better the sunset on the beach, at a bar or restaurant. You will have so much fun, but don’t forget to smile. After a few days you will love the indonesian way of life with a great smile on your face. It is like staying in the paradise – it is a paradise.

The place is secure and all the people including the locals are very friendly. Don’t be afraid
to get in touch with the locals – find new friends. Your home during your stay – the Villa
Nangka – will become again a nice after the rebuilding: a garden with a pool, an open kitchen for your use (if you want to cook). The right place to relaxe, to have fun and to “learn”. For the moment (up to july/august) the volunteers stay at a very nice place at Oceans5 close to the harbor.

You don’t find any motorvehicles on Gili Air – you walk, cycle or use the horsecar.

I like staying there. I joined the GSC three times and I don’t regret any second. I will join the GSC again and meet my indonesian friends, the GSC-team and to improve my knowledges. to see all changes after the earthquake and how the nature rebuilt itself and also to join the new projects. I hope to meet you there in the paradise.

The whole team of the GSC and the staff of Villa Nangka and Oceans5 are waiting for you. Your age will not be a problem if you are open for new challenges. Come to the paradise island of GiliAir, have fun and don’t forget: have allways a smile on your face.

This was the first time for me to volunteer with this kind of project and the first time I ever got involved with marine conservation. And it's been a really fantastic experience that has impacted how I look at many things.

Doing the scientific diver and shark conservation specialties with Zara made me start looking at everything differently. It taught me so much that I use and think of every time I go diving now. Before I was looking for all the cool stuff every other diver looks for - you know, everything that's rare and hard to find. Now I go diving and I am happy to just look at everything ordinary because I understand their role in the eco-system. Instead of looking for species I start looking at the anatomy and habitat of fish. It is literally a whole new world of diving which I am so appreciative of!

Everyone in the team has their role and every little thing we do feel important! Everyone has an attitude like: "You can achieve anything! If you have a crazy idea we'll support you!" It is such a supportive environment. We would clap maybe 5 times during office hour, haha! The whole team is so dedicated to what they do and everyone is so humble about it.
They have truly inspired me to continue on a meaningful journey in life.

Gili Air is also amazing! I felt very free and safe. Maybe because of the fact that I didn't wear shoes and that there's only horse carts and bikes around, which I both love! Indonesia is just an amazing country and this island has definitely been one of my favorites so far. Here all the locals will smile at you from their heart. It's a good mix of everything. It's tiny but it still feels big. You can be in the busy heart of the island aka the harbor and then you can go north and feel like you are completely alone.

Having done volunteer works in some places, I think the experience here is one of the best I ever had! First of all the staffs here really treated me as a friend, we hanged out together often and that's really a lovely memory. And they are super friendly and patient. The researchers here answered all my dumb marine biology rookie questions friendly and patient. I think what makes this program special is that in here I did feel like I am being helpful and doing something meaningful. Unlike you only be given some basic thing to do somewhere else, in the program the staffs are willing to teach me everything and let me participate in all I had to do is ask. Plus Gili Air is a nice place to visit! There are nice locals, delicious restaurants with food all around the world, and of course significant view below and above the sea.