Research Assistant Program at Gili Shark Conservation in Indonesia

Before I arrived at the program I did not know what to expect, but being greeted so kindly and happily was a welcomed surprise. The staff both at Villa Nangka and at the program were very helpful, friendly, and overall great people. The program is great and will give any person with an interest in marine biology the tools to succeed in the field and a great experience for future work. This was one of the best experiences of my life, the people were great, the diving was awesome, and the memories unforgettable. If you want to learn more about marine and shark conservation or want to help create an impact in the community, this is the program for you.

During my two week stay on this programme I fell in love with the Gili's, diving, and slightly to my surprise; sharks! I learnt so much about these majestic creatures that my previous neither loving nor hating attitude towards sharks turned into; why aren't we doing more to conserve them?

The staff were full of knowledge, always available to answer questions and up for a laugh and some fun. The dive school was very professional with some great dive masters available for your courses. Accommodation was comfy, clean and beautiful and the food on the island can't be beaten!

It has been the best experience ever! As a marine life lover and specially with sharks... this project let me got more involved in conservation and be able to help this magestic creatures. I've learned a lot and got my Open Water and Advanced OW Certificarions.
The place is wonderful! Full of peace, happy people and nice vibes.

It has been great being part of this amazing project, they have a great team and thanks to their great job they make this happen.

My time with Gili Shark Conservation was a very positive experience. My peers, advisors, and mentors were always very supportive and knowledgable, and I always felt like everyone was very approachable. The staff at Villa Nangka were very welcoming which created a comfortable home environment and a sense of family. The dive instructors from Oceans5 were all very funny, down to earth people that made difficult courses enjoyable and less intimidating. Our daily survey dives were always a new and fun adventure that taught me useful skills and helped me become a better diver. While working side by side with the other shark volunteers everyday, I built special bonds with each and every one of them that I will cherish for the rest of my life. GSC also helps the volunteers be active within the community through weekly beach clean-ups and uniting the community to learn about and support shark conservation. Having the opportunity to work with others that have the same goals about shark conservation has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've had, and I would definitely do this again.

When I arrived at Villa Nangka, I had to remind myself I wasn't dreaming and all of it was real. It has such a tranquil feel and it's so beautiful with plants and flowers everywhere. The staff immediately made me feel welcomed and part of the family at Villa Nangka. Meeting the instructors at Oceans 5 Dive was a similar experience as well. They are all very friendly and helpful. Getting any kind of certificate with any of the instructors there will definitely be a fun experience. Going on fish survey dives with the Gili Shark Team was also so much fun and a learning experience every time. This project will teach you how to identify several species of fish pretty quickly and how to be an environmentally conscious diver. I also enjoyed the weekly beach clean ups and uniting the community to support shark conservation. I am beyond happy I had this opportunity and now I am even more passionate about marine life and I'm sure everyone who volunteered feels the same. It was an amazing feeling finally being around people who are devoted to marine conservation.

I don't have a lot of experience with other projects but I spent 7 weeks with the Gili Shark Conservation and I wouldn't want to spend my summer any other way. Everyone in the project is extremely passionate and make you feel like family as soon as you come in. The island offers good food, good diving, nice beaches, and lovely people whether they're locals, travelers, or expats. Volunteering anywhere will always be what you make of it but this is what I believe made the project special for me:
1: The project gave me lots of freedom. There is enough structure in the program to always be busy but the project doesn't require you to eat at a cafeteria everyday. In fact you can choose what to eat pretty much every meal. Also what you do on your weekends is completely up to you. I felt like this aspect makes every volunteer's experience unique and really allows you to be yourself. For example, one weekend I spent doing a freediving course, and another weekend I took a day off and went to Bali to explore and dive with manta rays!
2: Genuine people. Everyone on the island lives there for a reason. There are many expats who fell is love with the island and they make it very contagious. I'm not sure if I met anyone that could be considered "normal" here but that's what made it awesome.
3: Lots of diving. 8 dives a week was the schedule I was on. I'm not sure how many other programs offer but you definitely get your fair share of dives here. Yeah there's data input and other on-land activities but I came to dive and I most definitely got to do so.

All in all this project may not be the most high end and/or structured as some other programs but the work is fun and fulfilling. When I volunteered the project was relatively new and I'm sure it's only getting better! 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking to do dive related volunteer work.