Marine tourism has exploded over the last decade. People travel halfway across the world to see manta rays, swim with turtles, and dive coral-covered drop-offs. But for all the beauty and awe we take in, very little of that value stays where it belongs – with the people and ecosystems that make those experiences possible. That’s why we were so inspired when we discovered Ocean Eye.

Ocean Eye is a platform built on a simple but powerful idea: what if every ocean encounter could give something back? Instead of letting the impact of tourism stay surface level, they’re created a way for travelers to contribute directly to conservation to contribute directly to conservation efforts and community projects – tied to the species they see and the places they visit. 

At Ocean Earth Travels, we believe deeply in this kind of purposeful travel. Partnering with Ocean Eye felt like a natural extension of our value – a chance to help shift marine tourism toward something more meaningful, lasting, and fair.

 A better way to travel   

Ocean Eye is more than an app. It’s a new way of thinking about our relationship with the ocean – and the communities that depend on it.

Tourism generates billions in revenue, but most of it disappears into tour operators, resorts, and marketing budgets. Meanwhile, the reefs that draw divers in are bleaching, fish populations are under pressure, and coastal communities are left with few alternatives outside of fishing, mining, or tourism that doesn’t serve them.

Ocean Eye was built as a response to that imbalance.

It offers a simple tool: travelers log marine life sightings through the app, and at the end of their trip, they’re invited to make a small donation based on what they saw. The suggested amounts vary depending on how often a species is seen, but guests can contribute as little or as much as they choose. The money goes directly to conservation efforts and community projects in the region they explored.

It’s practical. It’s personal. And most importantly, it’s grounded in transparency and impact.

Why we’re choosing this path   

We’ve partnered with Ocean Eye because we believe that travel shouldn’t just be carbon-neutral, it should be community-positive. This isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about building a system where protecting a live manta ray becomes more valuable than selling one. Where coral reefs are worth more alive than mined. Where schoolchildren in remote islands have access to clean water and education because a guest spotted a turtle.

And the process doesn’t interrupt your trip. Sightings can be logged offline and synced later. It’s designed to work quietly in the background, while letting your experience remain front and center.

This is about moving beyond passive awareness and into action – the kind that lasts.

Local projects we’re proud to support  

Through Ocean Eye, we’re contributing directly to grassroots initiatives throughout Indonesia’s most vital marine ecosystems. These aren’t faceless programs. These are people on the ground, doing the work:

Komodo

Yellow Boat of Hope

While Komodo draws traveleres from around the world for its dragons and vibrant reefs, many of its island communities still face barriers to basic needs like education, clear water, and sustainable livelihoods. Yellow Boat of Hope is changing that. This grassroots NGO runs a school boat for children on Rinca Island, ensuring tehy can safely attend class, while also providing clean water access, scholarships, and school supplies. By supporting this program through Ocean Eye, we help create long-terms solutions that reflect the needs of the community – and show that living marine life can offer more value through protection than exploitation.
| Instagram: @yellowboat.id

Learn more about our Scuba Diving Liveaboards in Komodo

Bali

Sanctum Penida, Blue Corner Lembongan and Abyss Ocean World

These local dive operators are doing more than guiding tourists – they’re actively investing in the protection of Bali’s marine ecosystems. Their initiatives include coral restoration projects, megafauna monitoring (like manta rays and mola-mola), and marine debris reduction, often carried out in collaboration with researchers and local youth.

| Website: Sanctum Penida, Blue Corner Lembongan, and Abyss Ocean World 

Sekolah Biru Amed 

Sekolah Biru Bali is a grassroots education program in Amed, offering free ocean-focused learning for local children aged 7–14. Born during the pandemic, it combines marine awareness, English lessons, and hands-on cleanups to foster a deeper connection between kids and the sea. With local teachers at the helm, the school is helping build a generation that values and protects the ocean.

| Instagram: @sekolahbirubali

Raja Ampat

Child Aid Papua

In the heart of Raja Ampat’s stunning marine biodiversity, Child Aid Papua is helping local youth access to benefits of tourism through skills training in diving, hospitality, guiding, and languages. With support from Ocean Eye, their programs combine environmental education with traditional knowledge, empowring the next generation to become stewards of both culture and ocean.

| Instagram: @childaidpapua | Website: Child Aid Papua 

Explore our Raja Ampat Dive Safaris or Raja Ampat Diving Liveaboards

Banda Sea

EcoNusa Foundation

In the remote Banda Islands, in a collaborative effort to address the growing waste crisis, Ocean Eye has partnered with EcoNusa, and a local waste bank “Bank Sampah Banda Naira Mandiri (BNM) which is a program of Luminocean, a local NGO. Bank Sampah BNM have established a plastic pickup system in villages and are teaching citizens how to sort waste to be suitable for recycling. They are also running a school program to raise awareness for plastic disposal and other environmental issues among children. This creates a direct incentive to protect vulnerable marine species and keep the reefs clean. The data collected through Ocean Eye also helps build a scientific baseline to support future conservation funding for this unique region.
| Website – https://econusa.id/id/

Alor

Nautika Foundation

In Alor, Nautika Foundation and Thresher Shark Indonesia are helping coastal communities move away from harmful fishing by offering alternative livelihoods. With Ocean Eye support, local women and youth receive training to create small businesses for the tourism sector, reducing pressure on endangered species and fragile reefs.
| Website – https://www.nautikafoundation.com/id

A partnership rooted in purpose  

The projects we’re supporting through Ocean Eye are not just about protecting marine life. They’re about strengthening the communities who live alongside it – through education, clean water access, food security, and sustainable livelihoods.

This partnership reflects the kind of travel we want to stand behind. One that goes beyond surface experiences and ensures that the benefits of tourism are shared more equally – not just among travelers, but among the people and ecosystems that make these journeys possible.

It’s a quiet shift in how we move through the world – but one we believe in deeply.

Visit Ocean Eye to learn more.