Logo Gili Shark Conservation

Gili Shark Conservation Project

Why choose Gili Shark Conservation Project?

We are an international marine research center that hosts researchers, scientists, and ocean lovers worldwide. A place in the heart of our community where we provide education in solving oceans-related issues. A home to people who want to make the world a little bit more beautiful.

We educate, train, and empower local talent to become leaders of Gili Island's growing tourism industry and guardians of its natural environment. And we provide scholarships to Indonesian women who want to pursue a career in marine conservation but don’t have the financial or emotional support to make it happen.

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.

Founded
2015

Reviews

Default avatar
Devin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing 4 week

I spent 4 weeks at Gili Shark conservation, and they were amazing. We went diving 8 times a week, which was tiring but awesome. There is so much biodiversity in the Gili Islands you get to see so many different species. I had barely dove before I go there and improved immensely with the support of the staff at Gili shark. After diving you got to go through any data you collected, including turtle and shark IDing or listened to presentations about marine conservation. For dinner you got to explore the island and eat some local food! the food was pretty good and the locals were always so nice! You have your weekends free to explore the island or explore the other Gili islands or even Lombok. I made friends at this program I know I will keep in touch with forever and am planning on going back to Gili hopefully soon!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice to future travelers on this program is to pck thoughtfully. I brought the wrong clothes and only wore a few of them. It is a muslim island so they ask you to cover up when walking around, so make sure you bring coverups or clothes to throw over bathing suits. Also don't bring your best clothes or clothes you would be upset if they got dirty, most of the roads are are dirt or mud if it has rained. You only get dressed up if you are going out which really only happens maybe once a week. If you are particular about any toiletries make sure you bring enough for your trip. There are places to buy what you need but there are very few options.
Pros
  • Became a more confident diver
  • Learned about marine conservation
  • Experienced a different culture
Cons
  • The bed was not the most comfortable
Default avatar
Lara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Inspiring 6 weeks 😊🌎

My six weeks with Gili Shark Conservation on Gili Air as a Reseach Assistant were amazing. 🌟 This was my first time volunteering and diving, both of which had been dreams of mine for a while. Joining the team turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. The team's commitment to ocean and marine life conservation is deeply inspiring, and their infectious positivity and smiles quickly made me feel at home. 🤩

As a advanced diver, I continued my diving with the rescue diver course at Blue Marlin. The instructors were very professional and supportive, making the experience unforgettable. From there, I did various activities, including a scientific diving courses, fish, turtle and shark ID dives, EMP survey dives and coral restoration dives, beach clean-ups and fun family dinners.🍛

The program was well-structured, providing a balance between learning, diving, and free time to explore the island.🏝️ The team was always available, answering questions and ensuring everything ran smoothly. The headquarters were surrounded by nature, and the staff there were both welcoming and skilled—plus, Mira's pancakes are amazing!🥞

This experience not only deepened my understanding of marine conservation but also had a profound impact on my personal and professional outlook. I returned with a greater appreciation for the ocean and a renewed focus on contributing to its preservation. 🪸🌎🌱

If you’re passionate about the ocean and want to combine learning with adventure, I wholeheartedly recommend Gili Shark Conservation—it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
One of the most awe-inspiring moments was encountering countless green and hawksbill turtles, white-tip sharks, and even two black-tip sharks during my dives.🦈🐢
Pros
  • amazing staff🥳😘
  • the island life🏝️
  • presentations, all the knowledge provided 📒
Cons
  • elearning available before arrival would be nice
Default avatar
Vera
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Impact that matters

The Gili shark conservation Program was an amazing experience to get first hands insights on ocean conservation. The team of researchers and staff members of the headquarter were super nice, always helpful and amazing teachers during my stay there. I am happy that I got the opportunity to support, have a positive impact on the environment / ocean, the possibility to learn and grow with amazing people! I am impressed by the achievements of the project and hope to come back one day to see their future progress

What was your funniest moment?
There were many but the funniest moments I shared with Aris which has a really unique “signature laugh”
Pros
  • Great teamwork
  • Knowledge of the researchers
  • Partner dive shop Blue Marlin
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Márta
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Inspiring experience with a lot of fun

I spent two amazing weeks with Gili Shark Conservation. Before this, I had never volunteered or gone diving, but both were things that I had wanted to do for such a long time, so I was very excited to find this opportunity. And it turned out to be the best decision to join the team in Gili Air. The dedication and care of these guys for the ocean and marine life are truly inspiring. Their positive attitude that surrounds their everyday life on the island is infectious; very quickly, I found myself involuntarily smiling during each dive and thoroughly enjoying all the presentations and activities we participated in.
As I had never dived before, I first completed the open water course, which was a very good experience. The Blue Marlin staff made us feel completely comfortable, and the first dive experience was something I will never forget. Then, in the following days, we participated in various diving activities, including a scientific diving course where we learned fish and turtle identification and collected trash from the ocean.
The entire program was very well organized; we received a personalized schedule with many activities, but we still had free time in the afternoons and weekends to enjoy the island. Rose and the team always responded very quickly to all our questions and were always ready to help and find a solution. The headquarters are beautiful and comfortable, surrounded by nature! The staff working there are super nice, and they make the best pancakes for breakfast.
I gained so much more from this experience than I expected. This program taught me a lot about marine life conservation while having a lot of fun diving, and it shaped my outlook. I certainly came home with a clearer message about what we need to do to preserve the oceans and with a clearer objective to contribute to this conservation through my work in plastic recycling and in my everyday life.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Seeing for the first time such a beautiful marine life surrounding the island was an incredible experience. Right away, in the first minutes of the first dive, some huge turtles of 1 m length approached us, which took my breath away for a second. All the days, we were surrounded by colorful fishes, sharks, eels, and giant sea cucumbers, but you can never get used to these incredible creatures!
Pros
  • lot of diving
  • amazing, helpful staff
  • well-organized schedule
Default avatar
Esther
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing 3 weeks!

I had the most wonderful 3 weeks at GSC. The staff are so friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable and made HQ feel like home. The dives sites are incredible and you get to learn different types of surveys like roving diver surveys, measuring coral health index, turtle and shark identification. Definitely recommended to those interested or are already in marine biology!

The island itself has so much to offer, nice locals and incredible food to start with. Just chilling at the beach after dives is wonderful!

Pros
  • Lovely team
  • Amazing dive sites
  • Learnt a lot from presentations

Programs

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Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Maisy Fuller

Job Title
Operational Manager
Maisy completed her degree in Marine Biology at the University of Southampton. Since graduating in 2016, Maisy has worked all over the world on various tropical conservation projects as both a researcher and educator. She also completed a second university degree to become a qualified high school science teacher and worked as an environmental adviser for the UK government. Maisy is hugely passionate about conserving the environment and reducing the anthropogenic threats it faces.
Maisy Fuller

Interview

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel memory is traveling through Central America after I had just left university. It was my first time backpacking alone, and I got to meet so many wonderful people while exploring a multitude of different locations. I was lucky enough to have to opportunity to hike jungles, dive on pristine coral reefs and experience beautiful culture and history.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have learnt a lot of new skills since working at my current company. Our program has a focus on shark, turtle and coral research which we are always expanding and developing. Because of this, our staff team are always looking for new research techniques to undertake, which makes our jobs very dynamic and exciting!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Many of our returning students have fantastic stories of their adventures after the program. Lots of students have since completed their university degrees and are now applying for marine research graduate programs. Their experience at Gili Shark Conservation has helped them gain practical fieldwork experience, which aids in their applications.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Our Research Assistant program is excellent because it gives you experience in a wide range of research techniques and data analysis. This program is also very flexible, so if there's something that sparks your interest then we can edit your program so that you can learn as much about this topic as possible!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Our company is unique because of the awesome passion and teamwork you see every day! I am proud of our team when even after an early start and a long day of diving, they're still enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge of the marine world and ensuring that our data is inputted and analyze correctly.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

The biggest factor in being a successful company is having the right people around you! Awesome people help lift you up when you're down and cheer you on when you succeed, and our team does this. We hope that you can join one of Gili Shark Conservation programs and experience this supportive learning environment yourself!