From the island, for the island of Nusa Penida

Empowering Nusa Penida Youth Through Scuba Dive Training – Batch 1/2024

Terra Segara started with a belief:

The future of the ocean belongs to the youth who grow up beside it.

Batch 1 of our Scuba Dive Training Scholarship was not just a program. It was the beginning of a youth-led movement in Nusa Penida.

Celebrating success at the closing ceremony of Terra Segar's first batch, with proud participants showcasing their certificates in a joyful feeling.

🌍 Why This Matters

Nusa Penida sits in the Coral Triangle — one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world. The island is globally known for manta rays and Mola-mola.

Yet despite having more than 50 dive operators across the three islands, very few local youths — especially young women — work in the diving industry or marine conservation.

The ocean is here. The opportunities are here. But access has not always been.

So we asked:

What happens if local youth are given the chance?

Majestic manta rays at Manta Point, Nusa Penida, gracefully glide above the sandy ocean floor, creating a mesmerising underwater scene.

👥 11 Youth. One Opportunity.

With support from local community groups and SMAN 1 Nusa Penida, we selected 11 participants from 15 applicants.

• 7 young men

• 4 young women

• 4 volunteer instructors

For many of them, this was their first time seeing the underwater world.

Not as tourists. But as learners.

Participants and volunteers gather on the shore, ready for an underwater adventure in Nusa Penida.

🤿 Learning Beyond the Surface

The training included:

📘 Theory Sessions

Understanding dive safety, marine ecology, and environmental awareness.

🏊 Confined Water Practice

Learning discipline, focus, and trust underwater.

🌊 Open Water Dives

Four real ocean dives — stepping into a world many had only seen from the shore.

All 11 participants completed their Open Water certification.

But something unexpected happened.

💭 What We Learned (From Them)

We thought we were preparing future dive instructors.

But during evaluation discussions, the youth told us:

They want to become police officers, nurses, army officers. Professionals serving their country.

Diving was not their final dream.

It was a door.

A skill, a confidence boost and a perspective shift.

So we reframed our purpose:

This movement is not about creating divers. It is about expanding horizons.

Our participants gathered to share about their diving experience!

🌊 Impact That Cannot Be Measured in Numbers

Through participatory evaluation, we observed:

✔ Youth now see the ocean as part of their identity

✔ Increased interest in improving English and swimming skills

✔ Stronger sense of responsibility toward marine ecosystems

✔ Volunteer instructors rethinking how they teach

✔ A shift from “teaching youth” to “learning with youth”

Some impacts cannot be captured in spreadsheets.

They are visible in posture, in confidence, in the way they speak about the sea.

Our young diver participant equipped with scuba gear, cheerfully prepare to perform a back roll entry into the ocean from a boat.

💰 Transparency & Support

This first movement was supported by:

• PT. Taka Sarana Tekno

• CV. Kharisma Eka Putra

• Internal funding from Terra Segara

Total funding: IDR 61,000,000

Total expenses: IDR 67,375,000

We share this openly because youth empowerment deserves transparency.

♻ This Is Only Batch 1

The youth and Terra Segara team agreed:

This does not end here.

We will:

• Meet every two weeks

• Explore conservation initiatives

• Seek advanced certifications

• Improve English skills

• Open Batch 2

This is not a program.

It is a movement led by youth who now see the ocean differently.

Celebrating a successful dive, the group poses together on the boat with smiles and relaxed vibes against a scenic coastal backdrop of their beautiful island of Nusa Penida.

🌱 Join the Movement

If you believe in empowering island youth to shape their own future —

Partner with. Be part of the story.

📧 hello@terrasegara.org🌐 terrasegara.org