Selene Gaiani – Penida Project Manager
I am excited to share my first quarterly report as the Project Manager for the Nusa Penida Conservation and Divemaster Program. After a rewarding year managing the Raja Ampat project, I am thrilled to continue working with such a dedicated team of scientists and dive professionals who share the common goal of preserving the incredible marine environment that we are fortunate to be a part of.
This marks my second year in Nusa Penida, and I’m thrilled to welcome Marina, former intern from Raja Ampat, as the new project coordinator. With her experience and enthusiasm, we look forward to further strengthening the program and supporting our interns.
Program Highlights
The past three months have been busy and rewarding. A major highlight was the successful launch of our first Ocean Talk at the head office. These talks will be a regular feature, offering a platform to educate the public on marine conservation and encourage involvement in ocean protection.
We celebrated the graduation of 15 new SSI and PADI Divemasters and Research Divers: Louis Frankland-Russell, Sonia Van Stekelenborg, Nicolas Calderon, Jana Zorka Cindric, Leonie Zimmermann, Natasha Schmidt, Alair Rasmussen, Rhys Reynolds, Charlotte Newell, Ellie Millington, Katrina Co, Rebekah Middleton, Elena (Ellie) Goode, Laylena Zipkin, and Wei Jin Cheah. Special congratulations to Nicolas Calderon and Ellie Goode, who became Dive Instructors.
We are thrilled to continually welcome interns from all around the world to join our program. This past quarter has been filled with workshops, science, diving, and extensive training courses designed to prepare our interns for their upcoming Divemaster certification.
It’s incredible to see that in just a short time, new interns start to pick up small but important cues, building confidence and skill as divers. The transformation from beginner to experienced diver is always rewarding to witness, and it’s amazing to see how rapidly everyone embraces the challenges and excitement of this incredible journey. It’s a pleasure to watch them grow into amazing divers, each taking their own path but all united by the shared goal of conservation and marine exploration.
Our team and interns had several exciting marine encounters, including Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Sea Turtles (various species), Brown-banded Bamboo Sharks (Chiloscyllium punctatum), White-tip Reef Sharks (Triaenodon obesus), Pelagic Thresher Sharks (Alopias pelagicus), Snaggletooth Sharks (Hemipristis elongata), and the iconic Bumphead Mola (Mola alexandrini) and Reef Manta Rays (Mobula alfredi). These sightings continue to inspire everyone involved in the program.
Community Engagement and External Activities
Beyond core activities, our interns participated in external workshops to expand their knowledge. They attended an IDC workshop at Purple Dive and Blue Corner, as well as freediving workshops at Pure Dive and Freedive Penida. These experiences have been valuable for their professional development.
We also made strides in environmental education. Since Qinthan joined as Community Manager, we’ve visited local schools, offering educational talks on marine ecosystems.
Local children have also taken part in mangrove restoration and coral planting. Our growing relationships with local schools and conservation groups have been key to building stronger community ties and fostering marine conservation awareness.
Conservation Efforts
This quarter, we’ve led beach cleanups, Dive Against Debris, conducted CoralWatch surveys to monitor coral health, and we continued our BRUV, Benthic and Roving surveys to monitor fish populations and overall reef health. These surveys help inform our future conservation strategies.
A heartfelt thank you to our interns and staff for their hard work and dedication this quarter. The success of this program is only possible due to their commitment to conservation and education. Every effort plays an essential role in the ongoing success of the project.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about deepening our conservation efforts, and empowering our interns to become the next generation of marine leaders. Together, we will continue to make a meaningful impact on the protection of Nusa Penida’s marine ecosystems.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey!
Kristova Yubilius Indrataruna – Jr. Marine Biologist
Science and Biodiversity Report
High tourist season has officially arrived in Nusa Penida, and with it comes the excitement of Mola season! The island buzzes with eager adventurers vying for a front-row experience diving alongside these majestic creatures. While we’re thrilled to share the wonders of our vibrant marine life, the surge in tourism has added an extra layer of complexity to our scientific pursuits this quarter. Yet, challenges only fuel our determination, and we’re proud to report progress: completing 33 roving surveys, 15 BRUV drops, and 13 benthic surveys!
However, the season brought its share of hurdles. Harsh conditions restricted dives at certain sites, and the influx of divers often disrupted our BRUV deployments. In some cases, enthusiastic divers unintentionally interfered with our recordings, forcing us to redo deployments to ensure clean footage. Despite these setbacks, we persevered with resilience and determination.
Our persistence paid off in spades! Crystal Bay, our house reef, became a reliable hotspot for the mystical bumphead molas (Mola alexandrini). But that’s not all—we were treated to rare encounters with a loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus), Indonesian wobbegong (Orectolobus lineatus), whale shark (Rhincodon typus), snaggletooth shark (Hemipristis elongata), spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari), and even an oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris). In a groundbreaking first, the oceanic manta ray was observed utilizing Manta Point as a cleaning station—a sighting that leaves us wondering if this marks the beginning of a new behavioural pattern.
Adding to the buzz, we received local reports of unexpected surprises: a zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) on the east coast and a Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) washed ashore on the north coast.
These are the first recorded appearances of both species in Nusa Penida, adding a layer of intrigue to our region’s biodiversity. Expert insights from Ningaloo and iNaturalist were instrumental in confirming these sightings, cementing this season as one for the books.
Despite the challenges, this season underscores the thrill of discovery and the importance of our work. Here’s to more groundbreaking moments beneath the waves!
Citizen Science Report
Adding to exciting number of biodiversity influx in Penida, we took and received several photos for our citizen science project. These photos are crucial to uncover insights into habitat use, sex ratios, life cycles, and much more about these fascinating marine creatures. We conducted 25 citizen science dives and collected 11 turtle cheek photos, 9 manta belly photos, 4 elasmobranch photos, and 3 mola photos to grow our database. Adding a cherry on top, the owner of our partner dive center managed to record a rare video of a snaggletooth shark – an elusive shark species in Nusa Penida.
Our efforts didn’t stop there! We completed 6 CoralWatch dives and 6 Dives Against Debris, doubling down on our mission to monitor and safeguard the health of Crystal Bay’s vibrant coral ecosystems. Every dive not only contributes to the global scientific community but also reinforces our commitment to preserving Penida’s natural wonders for future generations. It’s a thrilling time to be part of this incredible journey!
Coral Restoration Report
Speaking of Crystal Bay, I am pleased to report that we have completed 3 more coral restoration dives this quarter and brought the total number of fragments planted to 1471. This time we only have five coral mortalities. But don’t worry, we quickly replaced them with new fragments and transplanted some mature fragments to our metal spiders. These spiders will become permanent homes for our coral fragments. So far, they are doing very well and hopefully our dream of restoring Crystal Bay will come to fruition soon
A Groundbreaking Moment: Our First-Ever Oceans Talks!
August was a monumental month as we hosted our inaugural Oceans Talks event, bringing together an inspiring lineup of 14 experts to share their knowledge and passion for the oceans! This historic gathering was a vibrant exchange of ideas, uniting researchers, conservationists, local communities, and marine enthusiasts from around the world.
The event featured four of our very own IOP team members—Pascal Sebastian, Rinaldi Gotama, Ilham Erawan, and Selene Gaiani—who showcased their groundbreaking work. We also welcomed presentations from our esteemed partners and friends, including Terra Segara, Ocean Gardener, Nuansa Pulau, Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF), and Daughters of the Deep. Their insights added incredible depth and diversity to the discussions.
We also invited international experts to make the event truly special. Henriikka Malkamäki from the University of Helsinki, Rani Ekawaty from Udayana University and the University of Tasmania, Prisilia Resolute from the University of Sussex, and Anna Plucińska from the University of Essex shared their cutting-edge research, creating a dynamic dialogue that spanned continents.
This milestone event marked the beginning of a new chapter in connecting science experts with the local communities, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with its success. It was such a success that we’re already dreaming about the next one! We hope to make the Science Talk a recurring event, fostering more collaboration, inspiration, and shared commitment to the health of our oceans. Stay tuned for what’s to come!
Inspiring the Next Generation: Our First Local High School Engagement!
This quarter marked an exciting milestone as we began visiting the local high school in Penida to inspire future generations about the incredible marine life around them. This first-ever engagement is a vital step in conservation—empowering young minds to embrace their role as protectors and stewards of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) they call home.
During our visits, we introduced students to the wonders of Penida’s marine life, focusing on its iconic residents: the majestic molas and graceful mantas. We also highlighted the importance of other key species, like sharks, and their role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. But it wasn’t just about presentations—we also hosted hands-on workshop about mangrove ecosystems, turning knowledge into action.
The program culminated in an exciting field trip where students planted mangrove trees and, directly contributing to the restoration and protection of their environment. This first step in engaging with local youth was a resounding success, and we can’t wait to build on this momentum. We hope to continue collaborating with local schools, inspiring even more students to become champions for their marine world!
Want to join the team?
We are always seeking hard working and enthusiastic ocean lovers to join our award-winning and innovative divemaster and research diver internship. Contact us and apply online today!
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