Introducing The Dive Hub: A New Chapter for Indo Ocean Project in Nusa Penida

After 8 incredible years of operating within the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area, we’re excited to announce the next chapter in our journey — the expansion of our Penida Project to include our very own in-house diving facility: The Dive Hub.

This expansion marks a major milestone for the Indo Ocean team, strengthening our long-term commitment to conservation, education, and community engagement on the island. More than just a dive center, The Dive Hub is a purpose-built facility designed to support our core mission: marine research and the professional training of the next generation of ocean professionals through our award-winning Divemaster and Research Diver Internship.

Our new facility was designed with purpose and passion to meet the unique needs of a research-driven dive center. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside:

• 🧠 Spacious, air-conditioned classrooms — the perfect setting for workshops, courses, and lectures, designed to support both learning and collaboration.
• 🧰 A fully equipped gear room with dedicated cubbies for personal dive gear — making storage, access, and maintenance efficient and organized.
• 🛋️ A comfortable lounge and event space — a central area for briefings, team meetings, guest speakers, or simply relaxing after a long day underwater.

Whether you’re here as an intern, school group, or eco-conscious diver, The Dive Hub was created to make science, education, and conservation accessible and engaging.

With our own dive center comes our own boat, and of course, it had to have a name with a story. Our new research vessel is called Clytotheca, named after a genus of bryozoans identified by our co-founder and Chief Scientific Director, Pascal Sebastian, during his master’s research. It was Pascal’s first official taxonomy achievement, and now, Clytotheca will be carrying researchers, interns, and eco-conscious guests on their journey beneath the waves. We’re marine scientists at heart… so yes, we named our boat after a tiny colonial invertebrate. 

The launch of The Dive Hub also supports the continued growth of our Marine Research Fellowship, a program designed to provide flexibility and support for independent researchers. With our expanded space, improved infrastructure, and centralized team, we’re better equipped than ever to host fellows working on thesis research, long-term monitoring, or developing new studies aligned with our mission.

This expansion enables us to increase our research capacity in Nusa Penida, offer mentorship and logistical support, and create a collaborative environment for early-career scientists and graduate students looking to conduct fieldwork in a real-world conservation setting.

Whether you’re refining a master’s project, testing a new method, or looking to contribute to our growing dataset, The Dive Hub opens the door to deeper, more meaningful scientific inquiry.

The Dive Hub is not only a base for research, it’s also an award-winning SSI Dive Center and School, offering a range of recreational dive courses with an eco-conscious focus.

From Discover Scuba Diving experiences to Professional-level training, every course at The Dive Hub is grounded in sustainability, science, and environmental awareness. For those wanting to take their passion further, we offer a unique 3-day Coral Diver course in collaboration with Ocean Gardener, an intensive coral ecology and restoration program perfect for divers who want to learn how to actively help protect and rebuild reef ecosystems.

And because diving with purpose should give back, 5% of all sales from The Dive Hub go directly to our foundation, supporting vital initiatives like our Indonesian Scholarship Program, education days, coral restoration, and community outreach efforts across our three locations in Indonesia.

We’re counting down the days to officially welcome you to The Dive Hub, opening 1st May 2025! Whether you’re an aspiring marine biologist, passionate diver, curious traveler, or long-time supporter of Indo Ocean Project — we can’t wait to dive with you.

Bookings are now open!
📧 Reach us at divehub@indoocean.org to reserve your spot or learn more.

We’ll see you underwater soon 🐠🌊

We want to take this moment to extend our deepest thanks to Reeflex Divers, our dive partner in Nusa Penida these last years. Their support and collaboration have been instrumental in helping us build a foundation for meaningful marine conservation. While The Dive Hub will now be our operational base, we remain grateful for their continued partnership and shared vision in protecting Penida’s ocean ecosystems.

We believe diving should be more than just fun — it should be meaningful. With The Dive Hub, we’re creating a space where every dive contributes to something bigger.

If you’re interested in joining a program, planning a school visit, applying for our Marine Research Fellowship, or just curious to learn more about what we do, contact us at divehub@indoocean.org or swing by The Dive Hub when you’re next in Penida!

Here’s to the next wave of marine conservation 🌊