Gili Air (north-east, away from main strip)
★ 4.9(156 reviews)
Gili Shark Conservation is a research-focused dive operation on Gili Air running structured 2–8 week volunteer programs combining PADI diving with marine biology data collection (shark surveys, reef monitoring, sea turtle ID). It's a serious commitment, not a casual fun-dive shop. Best for divers wanting to contribute to actual conservation science rather than book a one-off boat dive.
# Gili Shark Conservation: The Honest Review
Gili Shark Conservation isn't a typical dive shop you book for an afternoon of fun diving. It's a research-focused operation running structured 2–8 week volunteer programs that combine PADI diving with actual marine science data collection. If you've thought about combining a long-form travel break with conservation work that contributes to real research, this is one of the few Gili Islands options that delivers on that promise.
The organization opened in 2015 with explicit research goals — initially focused on documenting blacktip and whitetip reef shark populations around the Gili Islands and tracking changes over time. The program has since expanded to include sea turtle photo-ID, coral reef monitoring, and broader reef-fish surveys.
The leadership team includes marine biologists with academic publication records, working in partnership with Indonesian university researchers (Mataram University and Bogor Agricultural University). Data collected by volunteers feeds into peer-reviewed papers and public datasets — meaning your dive surveys contribute to actual science.
The dive operation is PADI 5-star Resort certified, which establishes the safety and equipment baseline. But the scuba certification is a means to the research end, not the primary product.
The standard program is 2 weeks minimum, with longer 4-week, 6-week, and 8-week options. Volunteers arrive on a Sunday for orientation, then move into a structured weekly schedule:
The first week focuses on training — learning the survey protocols, identifying key species, practicing transect technique. By week 2, volunteers run their own surveys with supervision. Longer-stay volunteers progress to leading data collection sessions.
Open Water certification is a prerequisite (or can be added at additional cost during the first week — extending the program by a few days). Advanced Open Water is recommended for the deeper survey sites.
Research dives are different from typical fun diving. You'll spend time at survey sites identifying and counting species along defined transects, photographing individual sea turtles or sharks for ID purposes, and collecting reef-health metrics. Pace is slower, depth is moderate (typically 12–18m), and the work requires good buoyancy and patience.
If you came expecting drift dives at Shark Point and the typical Gili dive site rotation, this isn't that. There's typically one weekend fun dive per week, but the bulk of your underwater time is research-oriented.
Rental gear is provided as part of the program — well-maintained, mid-tier brands (Mares, Cressi). Computers and surface markers are included. Underwater cameras for ID work are shared among volunteers.
Accommodation is in the volunteer house — shared rooms (typically 4–6 per room, gender-segregated), shared bathrooms, simple kitchen, communal lounge. It's basic but functional. Three meals a day are provided (Indonesian-style — rice, vegetables, occasional fish or chicken). If you're particular about accommodation comfort, this isn't the shop for you. If you're a backpacker or gap-year traveller used to hostel-grade rooms, it's perfectly adequate.
The 2-week program starts at 18 million IDR (≈$1,150) including all accommodation, three meals daily, all dives (typically 18–22 dives over the 2 weeks), training materials, certifications earned during the program, and research equipment. Longer programs scale roughly proportionally, with weekly costs decreasing for longer commitments.
Standalone fun dives are available at 600,000 IDR per single dive when the volunteer schedule has spare capacity — but this is occasional, not reliable. Don't plan to use Gili Shark Conservation as your fun-dive shop.
The strength here is the genuine research orientation. Volunteers contribute to actual datasets, work with academic researchers, and learn marine biology in a practical setting. For students considering marine biology as a career, gap-year travellers wanting purpose-driven experience, or career-break professionals seeking meaningful conservation work, this delivers what other "eco-dive" operations only claim to offer.
The trade-off is the commitment. This isn't a flexible casual operation. You sign up for 2 weeks minimum, you follow the structured schedule, you live in basic shared accommodation. If any of that doesn't appeal, book a regular Gili dive shop for fun dives instead.
Book Gili Shark Conservation if you're seriously interested in marine biology and want hands-on experience contributing to real research. Book them if you're a gap-year student looking for purpose-driven travel that strengthens a future application to environmental science programs. Book them if you're a career-break professional wanting a meaningful 2–8 week conservation commitment. Book them if the volunteer-community living style appeals to you.
Skip Gili Shark Conservation if you're after casual fun diving — book Manta Dive, Oceans 5, or 3W Dive on Gili Air instead. Skip them if you want flexible scheduling, premium accommodation, or short-commitment dive trips. Skip them if shared volunteer-house living doesn't appeal.
The application process is more involved than a standard dive shop booking. The website has an enquiry form; expect a follow-up call to discuss your background, dive certification level, and program goals. WhatsApp (+62 813 3955 1188) for initial questions. Programs fill 2–3 months ahead for popular months (June–August, December–January). Deposits are typically 50% via bank transfer; balance can often be paid in monthly installments before arrival.