Research Assistant Program @ Gili Shark Conservation in Indonesia

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

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.

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!

Recently had the privilege of interacting with the team behind this extraordinary organization dedicated to preserving and conserving marine life. The experience has left me profoundly inspired.

Gili Shark Conservation not only transmit the hope for marine ecosystems but also stands as a testament to what passionate and committed individuals can achieve. The team’s dedication to their mission is palpable, and it’s reflected in every aspect of their work.

What truly sets apart is its ability to make complex conservation issues accessible, engaging and funny. It’s an educational treasure trove that enlightens and empowers its audience. Whether you’re a seasoned conservationist or a curious learner.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to witness their work firsthand and being part of the way we are reaching the goal of creating a sustainable and respectful relationship with our oceans.

To the team, thank you for your unwavering commitment and for being a source of inspiration. Keep up the fantastic work!

If I start talking about how fantastic the island is... The food, the tranquility, the beaches, the marine life... It's paradise.
It is true that it’s unfortunate to see how, in our efforts to eliminate vehicles powered by polluting petroleum engines, we’ve inadvertently turned to animals, specifically horses, as a means of transport. I believe this isn’t the right solution. Indeed, animals are not here for us. Perhaps we need to see it that way for a realignment of our ego, which I believe is crucial every time we connect with nature. Despite this issue, it ultimately comes down to personal responsibility in choosing whether to support such practices or not.

It’s also not solely the responsibility of the organization. However, I think it’s important to reflect on this matter. When visiting this paradise, we should always strive to choose the most ethical option.

What I said, in summary, everything was fantastic. It was an amazing experience to share this journey with Gili Shark Conservation.

Sincerely,
Jon 🫶🏽

I spent 6.5 weeks with Gili shark doing both my dive master and working on the conservation projects. I felt very supported doing both projects at once. Overall I was able to separate time between my courses and the conservation work effectively! I highly recommend spending time with this organization and on this island as it is a once in a life time experience! This was my first time traveling to South Asia and across the word by myself, I felt it was very easy and comforting with the assistance the organization provided via drivers and visa support.

Go all the way to Indonesia for a month, to be a Research Assistant at a place I've never heard of...? I thought I was out of my mind, but let me tell you it was the best decision I have ever made. The place was called Gili Shark Conservation, a name that resonated with me as a marine animal conservationist, harboring dreams of establishing my own rescue, rehabilitation, and release facility.

Gili Air, where GSC was based, was a surreal introduction to island life. Day by day, my bond with GSC and the island itself deepend. I immersed myself with learning from the locals, cherished family dinner at HQ after longs days in the ocean, and waited for the beautiful sunsets playing beach volleyball with the "Sharkies" at Blue Marlin.

But the story doesn't end there. In the blink of an eye, I transformed into a PADI Open Water Certified Diver, conquering my fear of diving, all thanks to the unwavering support and encouragement of the Gili Shark team. They believed in me, making sure I felt at ease every step of the way. Not only did I earn my Open Water, but I also achieved my PADI Scientific Diver, PADI AWARE Shark Conservation, and Conservation Diver EMP, finally joining the team on two dives around the three Gili Islands. We explored breathtaking marine life in their coral reef habitats, while then sharing laughter and discoveries on the boat after each dive. I even dove deep into new research methods previously unknown to me, eventually performing them with ease and perfection; all thanks to the Gili Shark team taking their time to teach me, making sure I fully understood the assignment. After diving with all the shark and turtles, I think I even ended up with a favorite research method that relates to them... photo ID, which you will have to find out what it is when you join Gili Shark Conservation next!!

Each day brought new experiences, never repeating the last - such as having the chance to teach local women and children swim lessons, riding bikes around the island going to each dive shop for "Unite Gili", to then running into the ocean to find our once planted seagrass restoration known as, "Harry Seagrass". In a single month, I ventured into the unknown, embraced my passion, and discovered a second home with my new family that transformed my life in many ways I never could have imagined. I was so sad to leave, but I knew one day I'll be back, and I can't wait for that day when I can reunite with Gili and its extraordinary people.

Coming to this project was the best decision I’ve ever made!! The project is so well organised and everyone is so passionate about marine conservation, it really shows in the work that gets done everyday!! Over the 3 months that I spent at Gili shark I made so many amazing friends from all around the world that I’ll have for the rest of my life. Rose, Maisy and all the staff are so inspiring and supportive, i learnt so much from them all and I cannot wait to come back and visit in the future!!!!

I loved my time with Gili Shark Conservation! I made lifelong friends from all over the world and lifelong friends on the island. I got incredible hands-on learning from the kind and enthusiastic staff at Gili Shark Conservation. Learning from their skills and techniques enhanced my skills as a marine biologist, and I will forever be thankful for that. I will always cherish the memories I have made here and the laughs I have had with staff and interns. I'll miss our movie nights, running to catch the sunset, playing cards/ games at HQ, and boat rides back from the dive sites the most.