The Last Day as a PADI Dive Center
The Last Day as a PADI Dive Center – A New Chapter Begins at Oceans 5 Gili Air
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The Last Day as a PADI Dive Center – A New Chapter Begins at Oceans 5 Gili Air |
Today marks a symbolic and emotional moment at Oceans 5 Gili Air. After 15 years as a proud member of the global PADI family, this is officially the last day that Oceans 5 operates as a PADI Dive Center. From tomorrow onward, Oceans 5 Gili Air will continue its journey as a SSI Dive Center, opening a new chapter in the history of one of Indonesia’s most respected professional dive training facilities.
At first glance, today might look like a day filled with only small, practical changes. New banners appeared along the road. Window advertisements were replaced. Flyers were updated and neatly stacked in new holders. The familiar globe with a diver inside—the iconic PADI logo—was carefully taken down, and in its place the bold red SSI logo now welcomes guests. These visible changes may seem simple, even routine. But behind them lies months of preparation, planning, discussion, and teamwork.
This transition did not happen overnight.
Months of Preparation Behind a “Small” Change
While the banners went up today, the real work started much earlier. Since September, Oceans 5 Gili Air has been quietly and carefully preparing for this cross-over. Every spare moment was used wisely. Whenever managers had time between daily operations, courses, and logistics, something small was adjusted: an email template here, a classroom poster there, a website page updated, a digital form redesigned.
These were not rushed decisions. Oceans 5 approached the transition in the same way it approaches dive education—methodically, responsibly, and with a clear long-term vision.
The management team reviewed every part of the operation:
Course structures
Teaching materials
Certification processes
Digital platforms
Internal communication
Marketing and external messaging
Each element had to align with the new system without compromising the teaching philosophy that Oceans 5 has been known for over the past 15 years.
A Team Effort From Start to Finish
Although the decision to cross over was taken by owner Sander, this transition was never a one-person job. Oceans 5 has always believed in teamwork, and this moment was no different.
Sander invested countless hours explaining the upcoming changes to the entire team. Not just what would change, but why. How courses would be conducted. How teaching approaches would stay the same—or even improve. How the values of quality, personal attention, environmental awareness, and community involvement would remain untouched.
But Sander did not do this alone.
Managers Chelle, Angga, and Tegar played a crucial role behind the scenes. From organizing timelines to coordinating updates, from handling logistics to supporting staff questions, their contribution was essential. They ensured that the transition stayed structured, calm, and realistic—even during the busiest months of the year.
Several instructors showed talents far beyond teaching underwater. Those with a passion for design stepped forward to help with classroom visuals, course advertisements, and layouts. Friends of Oceans 5 supported the redesign of banners and external signage. It truly became a collective effort, reflecting the family-style atmosphere that has always defined the dive center.
From PADI Blue to SSI Red
Saying goodbye to the PADI logo was not easy. The globe with a diver inside has been part of Oceans 5’s identity since its early days. Over 15 years, that logo stood for thousands of certifications, countless first breaths underwater, professional careers launched, and lifelong friendships formed.
Oceans 5 does not turn its back on that history.
Instead, today is about acknowledging the past while embracing the future.
The new red SSI logo now represents where Oceans 5 is heading. It symbolizes a modern, flexible, digital-first training system that aligns well with how Oceans 5 already teaches: realistic, student-centered, and focused on creating confident divers rather than just issuing certifications.
One Transition, Two Major Changes
This transition is also unique because Oceans 5 combined two major changes into one clear moment.
Alongside the agency cross-over, Oceans 5 implemented a complete price adjustment for diving in the Gili Islands. This was not done lightly. The dive industry is changing rapidly, and operating responsibly—while paying staff fairly, maintaining equipment properly, and investing in education—requires realistic pricing.
By integrating the price update with the SSI transition, Oceans 5 created clarity for guests, students, and partners. One clear message. One clear moment of change. No confusion.
What Changes for Guests and Students?
For many visitors, the answer is simple: very little.
From tomorrow, Oceans 5 Gili Air will teach SSI courses from beginner level through Divemaster. The structure may look different on paper, but the experience remains familiar:
Small group sizes
Personal attention
Flexible scheduling
Strong focus on buoyancy and environmental awareness
Instructors who teach, not rush
The faces behind the counter are the same. The instructors on the boats are the same. The people answering emails, filling tanks, preparing equipment, and guiding dives are unchanged.
What has changed is the system behind the scenes—and that system is now fully aligned with where Oceans 5 sees the future of dive education.
A Fully Crossed-Over Professional Team
Over the past months, all instructors and divemasters at Oceans 5 Gili Air have successfully crossed over to SSI. This was an important step. Oceans 5 did not want a mixed system or temporary solutions. The goal was clarity and consistency—for staff and students alike.
This also sets the stage for the next big milestone.
After three instructors successfully completed the SSI Instructor Trainer Seminar, Oceans 5 is ready to move forward with professional-level training under SSI.
SSI Instructor Training Courses Starting February
Starting February, Oceans 5 Gili Air will officially offer SSI Instructor Training Courses (ITC). In 2026, the dive center will conduct nine SSI ITCs, all following a clear and easy-to-remember structure:
Courses start halfway through each month
Instructor Evaluations take place around the same dates each month
This predictable schedule helps candidates plan their travel, budgets, and career steps more easily. It also reflects Oceans 5’s organized, low-stress approach to professional training.
Just like the former IDC programs, these ITCs will focus on creating confident, employable instructors, not just candidates who pass an evaluation.
Gratitude for 15 Years With PADI
Oceans 5 Gili Air would not be where it is today without PADI. For 15 years, the organization supported the dive center through growth, development, and recognition. Together, they helped build Oceans 5 into a well-known and respected dive center in Asia.
This goodbye is not a rejection—it is a respectful closing of one chapter and the beginning of another.
Same People, Same Philosophy, New Logo
As the sun sets on this final day as a PADI Dive Center, one thing is clear:
Only the banners, templates, systems, and prices have changed.
The heart of Oceans 5 Gili Air remains exactly the same.
The same people.
The same passion for teaching.
The same commitment to the ocean and the local community.
Tomorrow, the doors open again—this time under the red SSI logo—ready to continue doing what Oceans 5 has always done best: creating confident divers and professionals, one course at a time.
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