The Reef Doesn’t Need Another Instagram Post—It Needs Action
Marine Conservation Has to Be More Than Marketing
Marine conservation has become fashionable.
Scroll through Instagram and you will see beautiful underwater photographs, turtles swimming over coral reefs, divers holding signs about protecting the ocean, and companies telling their followers how much they care about the environment.
There is nothing wrong with creating awareness.
Social media can educate people. It can inspire divers. It can bring attention to environmental problems that otherwise might remain invisible.
But there is one problem.
A coral reef doesn't know how many likes your Instagram post received.
A turtle doesn't care how many people shared your conservation Reel.
And a marine park isn't protected because a company added the word "eco" to its marketing.
At some point, conservation has to leave Instagram and enter the real world.
The reef doesn't need another Instagram post. It needs action.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, that philosophy has increasingly become part of how we believe a dive center operating inside the Gili Matra Marine Park should behave.
We don't only make our living from the marine park.
We have a responsibility to help protect it.
We Work Inside a Marine Protected Area
Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan are not simply three tropical tourism islands surrounded by good dive sites.
Together they form the Gili Matra Marine Conservation Area.
The Indonesian government, through BKKPN Kupang and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, manages conservation activities within this area. Government programs include protection and rehabilitation of marine and coastal ecosystems, biodiversity monitoring, community participation, education and capacity building [1].
Recent BKKPN surveys have monitored coral reefs, reef fish and megabenthos across stations around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan [2].
That is important because Gili Matra isn't only a tourism product.
It is an ecosystem.
And thousands of people indirectly depend on that ecosystem.
Dive centers need healthy reefs.
Hotels need visitors.
Restaurants need tourists.
Boat operators need customers.
Local families need employment.
And many tourists come to the Gili Islands precisely because of what exists underwater.
Protecting the marine park therefore isn't anti-business.
Protecting the marine park is protecting the future of tourism itself.
Conservation Is Easy When Everything Looks Beautiful
It is easy to talk about conservation when you have a photograph of a turtle swimming over healthy coral.
Real conservation becomes more difficult when there is a problem.
What happens when rubbish enters the ocean?
What happens when reefs are under pressure?
What happens when development potentially affects the marine environment?
What happens when unusual changes appear underwater?
What happens when researchers need boats, tanks, equipment, accommodation or logistical support?
And what happens when solving a problem costs money but produces no immediate financial return?
That is where you discover whether conservation is part of a company's philosophy—or simply part of its marketing strategy.
At Oceans 5, we believe conservation means being willing to act even when there is no commercial benefit.
1. Working Together With BKKPN
One of the most important parts of conservation is cooperation.
A dive center cannot manage a marine park.
That responsibility belongs to the appropriate Indonesian authorities. But dive centers spend thousands of hours every year on and under the water. That gives the diving industry an important supporting role.
Oceans 5 has worked with BKKPN Kupang, the Indonesian authority involved in managing the Gili Matra conservation area.
This relationship means conservation isn't something completely separate from our daily diving operation.
When information from the water is useful, dive operators can communicate it.
When monitoring or field activities need support, the diving community can help.
When environmental issues become visible underwater, they shouldn't simply be ignored.
Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has itself emphasized that successful conservation in Gili Matra requires collaboration between government, communities and other stakeholders [1].
That is exactly how we believe a marine park should work.
Government, scientists, communities and tourism operators need to communicate with each other.
2. Supporting Scientific Research
One of the biggest mistakes in conservation is assuming we already know the answer.
We don't.
A reef is a complicated ecosystem.
If coral cover changes, algae increases, fish populations change or water quality deteriorates, there can be many possible causes.
That is why Oceans 5 has developed a long-term collaboration with the University of Mataram.
The partnership has allowed marine science students and researchers to conduct surveys around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan [3].
Oceans 5 can contribute what a dive operation has:
boats, tanks, diving equipment, logistics, local knowledge and access to the reefs.
Scientists contribute something equally important:
research methodology, data collection and scientific analysis.
That combination is powerful.
Instead of saying:
"We think something is happening to the reef."
we can work toward:
"Let's collect the data and find out what is happening."
That is a much stronger foundation for conservation.
3. Investing in Indonesian Marine Scientists
There is another part of the University of Mataram partnership that is especially important to Oceans 5.
We don't only want international researchers flying into Indonesia, collecting information and eventually leaving again.
We want to help develop Indonesian marine scientists.
That means giving Indonesian university students opportunities to gain practical experience underwater.
Marine science students may understand coral biology, ecology or survey methodology academically, but conducting research underwater requires another set of skills.
They need to be comfortable divers.
They need buoyancy control.
They need environmental awareness.
They need experience working underwater.
They need access to boats, dive sites and equipment.
Oceans 5 supports students so that they can develop those skills and participate in real fieldwork.
Our goal is simple:
Indonesia's marine ecosystems should increasingly be researched, understood and protected by Indonesian scientists themselves.
Conservation should create knowledge.
But it should also create capacity.
4. Reef Monitoring: You Cannot Protect What You Don't Understand
In July 2025, BKKPN Kupang conducted coral-reef condition surveys across Gili Matra together with the University of Mataram and other partners.
The monitoring covered 12 stations across the three islands and assessed coral condition, reef fish and megabenthos using established survey methods [2].
Why does monitoring matter?
Because a single underwater photograph tells you very little.
A beautiful photograph can show a healthy-looking section of reef while another area nearby may be experiencing problems.
Scientific monitoring allows researchers and marine-park managers to compare locations and, importantly, compare changes over time.
That helps answer questions such as:
Is coral cover increasing or decreasing?
Are fish populations changing?
Are certain algae becoming more dominant?
Are particular areas recovering?
Are some reefs deteriorating faster than others?
Conservation without monitoring is often guesswork.
That is why supporting science is one of the most valuable things a dive center can do.
5. The Halimeda Problem: Don't Just Watch—Investigate
A good example of why monitoring matters is what we have been observing around Gili Trawangan.
An unusually extensive growth of Halimeda, a calcifying green alga naturally found on tropical reefs, has been observed across substantial areas.
Halimeda itself is not automatically the enemy.
It is a natural part of reef ecosystems.
The concern is the scale and expansion we have observed in particular areas and what that may mean for competition with corals and changing reef conditions.
And here we have to be very careful.
We should not invent a cause before we have evidence.
It is easy to point at tourism.
It is easy to blame development.
It is easy to blame water quality.
It is easy to make dramatic statements on social media.
But conservation should be based on evidence.
That is why Oceans 5 has pushed for further research into environmental conditions and water quality.
We want scientists to investigate what is happening and help determine why.
Because removing algae from one small patch doesn't solve a larger ecological problem if you don't understand what is driving it.
Treating a symptom is not the same as understanding the cause.
6. Beach Clean-Ups Every Week
Scientific research is essential.
But sometimes conservation is much simpler.
Sometimes there is rubbish on the beach.
Then you pick it up.
Oceans 5 organizes a weekly beach clean-up every Friday around the Gili Air harbor area.
Divemaster candidates help organize the activity, while staff, tourists, divers and other volunteers can participate.
This isn't a once-a-year event designed to create photographs for social media.
It is repeated.
Week after week.
Previous Oceans 5 clean-ups have removed substantial quantities of rubbish from the harbor and surrounding area [4].
And that repetition matters.
Because next week there will unfortunately be rubbish again.
So next week we clean again.
That may not sound revolutionary.
But conservation isn't always revolutionary.
Often it is simply doing the same useful thing again and again.
7. Cleaning Below the Surface
The problem doesn't stop at the shoreline.
Plastic, fishing line, bottles, metal and other debris can end up underwater.
Oceans 5 therefore also organizes reef and underwater clean-ups.
During one documented harbor clean-up dive, Oceans 5 instructor and Divemaster candidates removed approximately 38 kilograms of debris during a single dive [5].
This included plastics, glass, fishing material, metal and other rubbish.
Again, the important part isn't the photograph afterwards.
The important part is that the rubbish is no longer underwater.
Thirty-eight kilograms on Instagram is content.
Thirty-eight kilograms removed from the ocean is conservation.
There is a difference.
8. Conservation Starts With How We Teach Diving
One of the most overlooked forms of reef conservation happens every day during scuba courses.
It is called buoyancy control.
A diver who cannot control their position underwater can accidentally kick coral, touch the bottom, disturb sediment or damage fragile marine organisms.
That is why Oceans 5 places such strong emphasis on neutral buoyancy.
During our training, especially in open water, we want students to learn skills while maintaining proper control rather than relying on the seabed as a platform.
This philosophy continues into our professional training.
Our Divemasters and SSI Instructor candidates should become examples of how divers behave inside a marine park.
Because think about the multiplier effect.
One instructor may teach hundreds or eventually thousands of divers.
If that instructor teaches good buoyancy, environmental awareness and respect for marine life, those habits spread.
If instructors normalize kneeling on reefs, touching marine life or poor buoyancy, those habits spread too.
Training dive professionals properly may be one of the most effective long-term conservation programs a dive center can have.
9. Conservation Is Part of Professional Training
At Oceans 5, we don't believe conservation should be a five-minute discussion at the end of a Divemaster or Instructor course.
Future dive professionals should understand that they are working in a natural environment.
Our professional candidates participate in activities such as beach clean-ups, reef clean-ups and environmental education.
They see conservation taking place around them.
They interact with marine-science students.
They learn why neutral buoyancy matters.
And they learn that being a dive professional means more than knowing how to demonstrate a scuba skill.
A dive professional is also an ambassador for the underwater environment.
10. Supporting Conservation With Our Own Resources
There is another subject that is rarely discussed openly.
Conservation costs money.
Boats cost money.
Fuel costs money.
Tanks need filling.
Equipment needs maintaining.
Staff time has value.
Supporting researchers requires logistics.
Taking students or scientists to survey locations has operational costs.
At Oceans 5, we don't believe every conservation activity has to wait for an international grant before something can happen.
Where we can realistically support a project ourselves, we do.
That doesn't mean funding everything.
It means accepting that operating a business inside a marine park comes with responsibility.
The reef is part of the reason our business exists.
Investing some of our resources back into protecting and understanding that reef is therefore not charity. It is responsibility.
11. Working With Others, Not Competing With Them
Marine conservation should never become a competition between organizations.
The reef doesn't care whose logo is on the boat.
It doesn't care which dive center receives publicity.
And it certainly doesn't care which organization gets the most likes.
Government agencies have expertise and authority.
Universities provide science.
NGOs bring specialized knowledge.
Dive centers provide boats, divers, equipment and daily observations.
Local communities bring generations of knowledge and have the greatest long-term stake in what happens to their islands.
Everyone has something different to contribute.
The Indonesian government has explicitly emphasized collaborative and participatory management as part of strengthening conservation in Gili Matra [1].
That is the model Oceans 5 supports.
Collaboration instead of conservation competition.
12. Sometimes Conservation Means Speaking Up
There is another side to conservation that is less comfortable.
Sometimes you have to say something.
If we see environmental changes underwater, we should report them.
If development potentially threatens the marine environment, questions should be asked.
If something appears wrong, silence shouldn't be the easiest option simply because speaking about it may be inconvenient.
That doesn't mean making accusations without evidence.
Quite the opposite.
It means asking for monitoring.
It means requesting research.
It means collecting data.
It means involving the authorities and scientists who can investigate properly.
Real conservation isn't about creating drama.
It is about refusing to ignore a problem simply because addressing it is difficult.
From Instagram to Action
We will continue posting conservation stories on Instagram.
Of course we will.
Social media helps us show people what is happening underwater. It can recruit volunteers for clean-ups, educate divers and bring attention to environmental problems.
But the order matters.
We don't want to do conservation because we need something to post.
We want to post because there is conservation happening.
That is a completely different philosophy.
First the action.
Then the photograph.
First the research.
Then the story.
First the rubbish gets removed.
Then we make the Reel.
First we investigate the environmental problem.
Then we communicate what we know.
Conservation should create social-media content as a consequence. Social-media content should never become the conservation itself.
The Future of Gili Matra Is Everyone's Responsibility
Gili Matra still has extraordinary reefs.
We still dive with turtles.
We still encounter sharks.
We still find incredible macro life.
We still have coral reefs worth travelling halfway around the world to see.
And that is exactly why action is necessary now.
Protecting something while it is still healthy is much easier than trying to rebuild it after it has disappeared.
Oceans 5 cannot protect Gili Matra alone.
No dive center can.
But every dive center can decide what role it wants to play.
We have made ours clear.
We will continue supporting Indonesian marine scientists.
We will continue working with BKKPN and other conservation stakeholders.
We will continue helping researchers with diving and logistics.
We will continue organizing beach and reef clean-ups.
We will continue teaching neutral buoyancy and environmentally responsible diving.
We will continue observing what is happening underwater.
And when we see something concerning, we will ask questions and support research rather than simply looking the other way.
Because Oceans 5 doesn't want to be known as a dive center that talks about conservation.
We want to be a dive center that does conservation.
The Instagram post can come afterwards.
The reef comes first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gili Matra Marine Conservation Area?
Gili Matra is the marine conservation area surrounding Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan in North Lombok, Indonesia. Its ecosystems include coral reefs, seagrass habitats and important habitat for protected marine species [1].
Does Oceans 5 Gili Air work with the Indonesian government?
Oceans 5 cooperates with BKKPN Kupang and supports conservation and monitoring activities connected with the Gili Matra Marine Park. BKKPN is part of Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries structure responsible for marine conservation-area management.
Why does Oceans 5 work with the University of Mataram?
The partnership helps connect diving infrastructure with marine science. Oceans 5 can provide logistical and diving support, while university students and researchers conduct surveys and scientific work. The partnership has included surveys around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan [3].
Does Oceans 5 organize beach clean-ups?
Yes. Oceans 5 organizes a weekly beach clean-up around Gili Air's harbor area. Divemaster candidates, staff, tourists, divers and other volunteers can participate [4].
Does Oceans 5 organize underwater clean-ups?
Yes. Reef and harbor clean-ups are also organized. One documented clean-up removed approximately 38 kilograms of marine debris during a single dive [5].
Why is neutral buoyancy part of marine conservation?
Good buoyancy helps divers maintain control without relying on the seabed. This reduces the risk of accidentally contacting coral, disturbing sediment or damaging marine organisms. Oceans 5 therefore integrates neutral-buoyancy principles into recreational and professional diver education.
Is Halimeda bad for coral reefs?
Halimeda is a naturally occurring calcifying green alga and is a normal component of tropical reef ecosystems. The concern is not simply the presence of Halimeda but unusual expansion or dominance in particular areas. Oceans 5 believes the causes of observed changes around Gili Trawangan should be investigated scientifically rather than assumed.
Can tourists participate in conservation activities?
Yes. Visitors can participate in activities such as the weekly beach clean-up and can ask the Oceans 5 team about current conservation activities during their stay.
Why does Oceans 5 spend its own resources on conservation?
Because Oceans 5 operates inside and economically depends on a healthy marine environment. Boats, equipment, tanks, fuel and logistical support can also be valuable resources for researchers and conservation activities. We believe supporting the environment in which we operate is part of responsible business.
Isn't posting about conservation on social media useful?
Absolutely. Social media can educate people, recruit volunteers and draw attention to environmental issues. The problem arises when posting replaces action. At Oceans 5, we believe communication should support conservation work—not substitute for it.
References
[1] Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) / BKKPN Kupang. Information on strengthened conservation cooperation within Gili Matra, including ecosystem protection and rehabilitation, capacity building and community participation.
[2] BKKPN Kupang. Survey of Coral Reef Habitat and Ecosystem Conditions in the Gili Matra Conservation Area, 2025. Monitoring was conducted across 12 stations around Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan using coral, fish and megabenthos survey methods.
[3] Oceans 5 Gili Air / University of Mataram. Marine conservation partnership supporting expanded surveys around the Gili Islands, including logistical and diving support for Indonesian marine-science students and researchers.
[4] Oceans 5 Gili Air. Documentation of the ongoing Gili Air harbor beach-clean-up program involving Divemaster candidates, volunteers, visitors and members of the local community.
[5] Oceans 5 Gili Air. Protecting Gili Air's Underwater World, 2025. Documentation of an underwater harbor clean-up in which approximately 38 kilograms of marine debris was removed.
[6] Universitas Mataram. Information on Gili Matra conservation and cooperation between the university and BKKPN Kupang, including environmental protection and ecosystem management activities in the marine protected area.
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