What inspired you to travel abroad?
After a few years of living and working in France and Africa, I wanted to discover another culture and enjoy island life for a while. I had heard many good things about Indonesia and Indonesian people and felt like going there to experience the beauty and peace of the place. I am passionate about diving and with my certification of scuba diving instructor in hand, the Coral Triangle seemed like a perfect region to explore.
Look it's me, working as an Open Water Scuba diving instructor! I have so much fun with this!
Why did you choose Gili Shark Conservation?
Passionate about the ocean and scuba diving, Gili Shark Conservation seemed the perfect place and program to learn about ocean conservation while being underwater every day. It is the perfect balance between spending time discovering a wide variety of topics and practicing scientific and conservation diving.
What was your favorite part about your host country/city?
The peace and quietness of the Gili Air island, the kindness of its people, the beauty of the ocean and beaches, and the magic of the sunsets in the sky every day. There is a very peaceful vibe and warming energy everywhere on the island, spreading a sense of serenity and safety that is very easy to cherish.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
I enjoyed the full immersion experience on the island, experiencing multiple diving and on-land adventures every day. The lifestyle of the Gili Air Island is particular in the sense that it is very different from what most people coming from abroad are used to.
No cars, no pollution, no traffic..." “Slowly" is the word used most around and it is quite easy to adapt to that rhythm and get addicted to it!
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
I received support from A to Z from my travel organization to the schedule plans adapted to my interests and areas I wanted to focus on, to the logistics around the dives. I learned a lot from the staff in marine conservation, scientific diving through all the underwater surveys (roving, permanent transect, RUV, fish ID, coral health index, Coral Watch surveys...), and conservation diving. It was great to benefit from the knowledge of the local staff who knew their way around the dive sites like the palm of their hands as well as all the marine species out there.
Working on coral restoration in Gili Air Island with the Gili Shark Conservation program.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I had come here sooner! I think it is very important to be open to discovering the local culture and to connect with the people. Being around simply as a foreigner would be a shame, I believe making the effort to explore the culture and experience the local lifestyle, trying to spend some time with local people, by learning the language for instance, and being curious is key to a good experience.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
We start the day with a briefing at breakfast to discuss the diving program of the day. Then we head up to the dive shop by the shore and leave for the first dive of the day, conducting surveys on fish, sharks, and turtles or doing some coral restoration.
We return for our surface interval, drinking coffee, preparing our gear for the second dive, and getting into the next briefing. The afternoon is dedicated to data input on turtles, sharks, and indicator species, remote underwater video watching, and coral growth analysis using various software. We also conduct one beach clean-up per week that all the volunteers join.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Never enough scuba diving! Also freediving, snorkeling, drinking fresh juice watching the sunset on the sand, testing a maximum of restaurants, trying Indonesian food, going to the beach, taking some self-care time in the spas, or just biking around the island to enjoy the magical vibes of the place.
Mission accomplished! Beach clean up on Gili Air island with the Gili Shark Conservation.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I was staying at the Gili Shark Conservation headquarters villas in the North of the Gili Air island. It was a very beautiful and quiet place, it felt like home! The staff was the kindest, the bungalows very well furnished, and the shared kitchen was very convenient with access to homemade food and drinks. Breakfasts with vegan pancakes, homemade jams and peanut butter, fresh fruits, and delicious coffee were definitely what I preferred to start the day with!
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
You won't want to leave! The program is tailor-made for each participant, depending on their interests, time, and motivation. Everyone will find their happiness doing what they love as everything is possible. From simply enjoying a holiday diving and learning about conservation to turning into a dive professional or going through a career switch, it is up to each participant to build their program.
Would you recommend Gili Shark Conservation to others? Why?
100%, I think the specificity of the Gili Shark Conservation is that it provides learning opportunities on a very wide range of specific topics. From turtle ID, shark research, tropical reef fish ID, and data collection, to various techniques of surveys, and coral restoration training. There is a great balance between workshops and presentations, and scientific diving.
One of the added value of the program lies in the flexibility it provides for all participants, depending on the areas of interest, commitment, length of stay, and level of scuba diving. The team is very competent in teaching and skilled in diving and the whole program is very well structured and organized.
Cleaning corals at the Gili Shark Conservation at a coral nursery in Gili Air.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I believe that traveling is a great way not only to discover another culture and meet people but also to learn about yourself. Going far, and leaving your zone of comfort to jump into the unknown is a great asset for personal development.
It is by learning how to feel comfortable with being uncomfortable that you build yourself up, by being challenged and saying yes to opportunities and experiences that you would not have thought about before traveling. My advice would be to take that big step and explore the magic of the world around you.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
My stay with the Gili Shark Conservation has served many purposes, as much in terms of professional development than personal development. I have learned a lot about ocean conservation, through classes and diving, and it has always been fun and full of laughter. I have been very moved by the kindness of the staff and the magic of the place.
I felt like I stayed with those who became my family in a very peaceful environment. I have discovered a new culture, met incredible people, seen the most beautiful sunsets, and experienced breathtaking dives. Beautiful memories, knowledge, and skills developed, and fulfilled with gratitude!
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel would refer to me experiencing local culture by going above the simple status of a tourist. It should not be only about going places but exploring, looking for and creating connections, experiencing new activities, and challenging oneself by jumping into the unknown to fully get a sense of a culture. Meeting people who are curious about what is important to them.
