Giving Back to the ocean

So imagine you just bought this amazing property on a small tropical island and you get the opportunity to use this property to give something back to the world.

“For us buying the place where we fell in love and which we call our home away from home was a dream come true. Not only because it gave us the opportunity to offer people a unique place to stay on Gili Air but also because it gave us the opportunity to give something back to this island that gave so much to us.”

Green turtle around the Gili Islands
Baby white tip shark around the Gili Islands

Our mission

In 2015 we started our beloved Gili Shark Conservation Project, a project filled with passion and engagement for the ocean and it’s marine life.

Every day our research team goes out to collect abundance data within the zones of the Gili Matra Marine Recreational Reserve to assess the health of the environment and act to enhance marine protection and health where necessary. Our mission is to promote conversation efforts through education and research.

“When we started our project we didn’t have all the knowledge neither did we have years of experience. All we had was an intention, a lot of energy and the desire to be part of the solution. We didn’t want to stand on the sideline anymore and watch how other people try to solve a problem which we are all responsible for.”

Meet the research team of the Gili Shark Conservation Project on Gili Air
Coral restoration project on the Gili Islands

To achieve our goal we conduct research using multiple research methods including; underwater roving video surveillanceroving survey divesphotographic identificationcoral health index surveyscoral restoration, and land & marine based time-lapse projects. Through our weekly conservation classes at the local school and our Plastic Free Paradise Campaign we educate the local community and visitors of the Gili Islands about the importance of our ocean and what we can do to protect it.

Free conservation classes for the children of the Gili Islands
Plastic Free Paradise Campaign on the Gili Islands

Plastic Free Paradise

“For us, it’s not just about the marine life and sharks, we also care about the environment. We want to create awareness for the use of single-use-plastic and reduce the amount that’s being used on the Gili Islands.

We created the campaign Plastic Free Paradise to help the Gili Islands to become plastic free! Our aim is to educate locals as well as tourist and provide information about how you can leave nothing but footprints on beautiful Gili Air.”

Our #PlasticFreeParadise campaign is a wholehearted project that we keep building up with new ideas. If you would like to be a part of our campaign or if you have a brilliant idea that you would like to share with us, don’t hesitate to send us a message!  Below a list of some of the things we’ve been doing so far.

  • We are going to the school every Saturday at 7.30 AM to teach the children of Gili Air all about the world of conservation. 

  • We created a network of more than 75 water refill stations On Gili Air where people can refill their bottle for free or a small fee.
     
  • We offer a free #PlasticFreeParadise training for all businesses on Gili Air. During this training, we will explain (in Bahasa Indonesia) why plastic pollution is a problem and offer solutions on how we can keep our beautiful island green & clean.

  • Together with the businesses on Gili Air we’re organizing regular beach clean-ups as well as underwater clean-ups for divers. Would you like to join one of our cleanups? Check out our Facebook page where we announce all our events
Beach clean up on Gili Air
Dive against debris on the Gili Islands

Make your next holiday count

Would you like to make a real difference and join our research team in paradise? Apply here.  You’ll be a full part of our research team, helping to support marine conservation and the local community on Gili Air. Don’t forget: Your life is your message to the world, make sure it’s inspiring.

Feel free to share the sunshine

We love sharks
Plastic Free Paradise campaign in Indonesia