Research Assistant Program @ Gili Shark Conservation in Indonesia

I spent four weeks and Gili Shark Conservation and had it was the best decision!!! I’ve met so many different people who I will never forget and learned so many new skills that will help me in the future. The staff were lovely and created such a lovely atmosphere I wish I could’ve stayed longer! Thank you so much for letting me participate in this amazing programme and giving me the chance to see the wondering marine life around the Gili Islands, I will never forget the memories I’ve made here!!

It was amazing a real eye opening experience about what’s in the ocean and it’s problems. Learnt sooo much about corals and different species in the region and met amazing people from around the world overall a really great place to go especially if travelling alone for the first time its safe and the locals are very nice and a really good place to go to learn how to dive for the first time. The instructors and staff were very patient and nice made lots of great friends definitely will come back again next year

I did not know what i want to do with my life, i only knew something with animals. this has changed completly. thanks to gili shark conservation i now have so many visions of my life career! i dont even know where to start. I will try and get as many dive degrees and boatmasters certificates. The staff was also incredible in helping me get comfortable underwater. Also gili air is a great island to stay on for a longer time. There are so many restaurants and things to do. All the other girls were also so much fun!

I am already trying to find the quickest way to return! I loved my time with Gili Shark more than words can describe and I would not have traded it for anything different. The staff and the other volunteers quickly became my family away from home. Everyone is so passionate about the work that they are doing, it is truly awe-inspiring. There is no doubt in my mind that they can achieve anything they put their minds and hearts into. They are making the world a better place and inviting others to be part of it.

I’ve had the absolute best time spending a month with GSC. It was the first time for me coming to Indonesia, doing volunteer work at an organization and diving as well! So I was a bit nervous coming in, but from the moment I arrived on Gili Air I felt welcome and at ease. Everyone was super nice and open, and I immediately looked forward to spending a month with GSC. I got my PADI Open Water and Advanced in the first week at Oceans5, with the nicest and most patient teachers. After that I dove for 3 weeks as a sharkie, with an amazing team of people. In that time I learned a lot on underwater research methods, and diving with the group was always super chill and a lot of fun. Looking back on the whole experience, I’m really happy and grateful I got to spend a month with GSC.

My type at the Gili Shark Conservation was incredible! The whole team is so helpful, kind, and knowledgeable. I had no diving experience before going and learning with the team at Oceans 5 made me feel so safe and excited before going out to work with the Sharkies and learning even more. I will forever be grateful for this experience and it is absolutely one of the best experiences I've had! If you have any interest in ocean conservation, want to explore a beautiful area of Indonesia, and make great friends, this is the program for you.

Having minimal diving experience or education regarding ocean habitats before arriving at GSC I was unsure of what to expect. Three weeks and 27 dives later, I was sad to leave but extremely satisfied about a fantastic experience with a great program ran by wonderful people.
I was treated so well while there, the folks running the program were knowledgeable and fun to be around. To top it all off, it was easy to see the positive impact that the organization had on it's community. I fully recommend that anyone curious about helping out the ocean take some time out to visit the chill island Gilil Air and support the Gili Shark Conservation. The only bad thing about it was having to leave

Joining Gili Shark Conservation was truly a life-changing experience. As a recent college graduate looking to gain experience in the field of marine biology, working with Gili Shark Conservation was a great way to reaffirm that I was on the correct path. Everyone who worked there was extremely friendly, helpful, and most importantly, very obviously passionate about marine conservation. The 3 months that I stayed with Gili Shark Conservation was one of the most valuable experiences I have ever had, and I fully intend on coming back and visiting sometime in the future.