Gili Shark and Marine Conservation Project in Indonesia

Working with Gili Shark Conservation was epic. The programme is designed to host individuals with a strong interest in diving and marine life conservation independent of their level in diving. I wasn't a diver at the start while the other volunteers had a relatively advanced level in diving. The conservation projects partners with a top notch dive school who implements best practices and strong safety measures. This gave me comfort from day 1. The site is located on the beautiful island of Gili Air. For most visitors, myself included, this island is paradise; it brings together the beauty of nature, a sense of authenticity and simplicity, a community of locals and people from all around the world living there together, and quietness... The dive school is located at the harbour, it has two pools, a pleasant outdoor area to hang out and plenty of delicious restaurants around. The programme itself is very enriching. You will do serial dives daily with the research team, collect data on local marine species, learn to identify them and educate yourself about marine life through videos and by talking with the team. For me, it was priceless to learn first hand from people who have been working on conservation projects for a while and at the same time contribute to research to help protect the local waters. If you enjoy diving or have a passion for marine life or if you know nothing about it and are keen to explore it for the first time, there is no better initiative you can take than volunteering with Gili Shark Conservation. It might be one of the most memorable and thrilling experiences you will ever have!

Being a Volunteer for the Gili Shark Conservation Project was an excellent experience. Looking to build my skills as a research diver and as a diver in general, I have learned a lot in my time at the project.
A day to day basis was a 5-day work week and a 2-day weekend. Wake up in the morning for a fish survey dive get back to the dive shop to input data and getting the chum ready for the BRUV. On a successful BRUV drop the BRUV would be dropped off in a specific location then picked up an hour later. Giving us 2 guaranteed Fish survey dives!
Our busy mornings ended with some data entry and a BRUV watch at our beautiful home base villa Nangka. Villa Nagka meaning jackfruit is a beautiful oasis. Where the giant jack fruit tree shades the kitchen. A pool (which is an excellent commodity on the island) is perfectly centered right outside your front door.
The island is a small friendly paradise for research. Rich with nutrients the reefs are brilliant with fish. This paradise island is easy to call home. With 2-3 survey dives a day this is a research paradise. The Dive sites are thriving with aquatic life. This has been one of the most amazing opportunities to live in paradise researching our beloved predator. Research on this island and the opportunity to work with Gili Shark Conservation was an amazing experience.