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Dive Review of Wakatobi Dive Resort in
Indonesia/Wakatobi

Wakatobi Dive Resort, Apr, 2010,

by alan s blaustein, CA, US ( 1 report). Report 5469.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Wakatobi is a long trip from pretty much anywhere. It's a 2 1/2 hour flight from Bali, and then a short van ride and boat ride from there. But it's worth it.

Customer service is the cornerstone of their operation. Wakatobi takes care of you beginning with arriving at the international airport at Denpasar in Bali. You're whisked through customs and immigration. You're connected with your Bali hotel (whether or not Wakatobi arranged it for you).

Once you get to Wakatobi, the fun begins. There are three 70 minute dives each day. These are boat dives. Sites range from 5 minutes to 50 minutes from the resort. There are two morning dives and one afternoon dive. You're free to dive the house reef as well which is accessible during high tide from the beach, or by skiff taxi ride of one minute. Currents on the house reef are quite variable, and at times of swift current, you'll fly from one end of the reef to the other.

Resort has 100 liter tanks that allows for all but the biggest of air hogs to stay for the 70 minute limits. One of the great about all the sites is that the reef extends up to the shallows which allow for long safety stops while you explore the shallow, brightly lit healthy reefs. Dive masters are very skilled and focus on safety, spotting and protecting the reefs.

If you're middle aged or older (or interested in details), bring a magnifying glass. There are so many small critters worth being viewed in greater details: nudibranchs, juveniles, pygmy sea horses, leaf scorpion fish, pipe fish, you name it, it's worth looking at through a glass.

The resort is great. Four different levels of accommodations. All bungalows are air conditioned. The target temperature for the A/C is 74 degrees F. So, don't expect it to be ice cold.

Great food with Indonesian and European roots of great variety. All meals served in an open air, covered, comfortable dining room. There's also a bar way out on the jetty from which to watch amazing sunsets and exchange diving stories. And, once a month, you may be lucky enough to see some kind of amazing bioluminescence display offf the bar. When it's clear at night, the stars are amazing. And, since it's near the equator (5 degrees south) you can even see the Big Dipper in the north sky and the Southern Cross in the south sky.

This is my second trip here, and it's hard to imagine a better dive destination. The management really tries to anticipate your needs and solicits feedback during the trip in case there is something they can do to improve your experience. If you're thinking of going, check out the website for the seasonal experiences. It's pretty accurate, and it makes a difference when you go.
Websites Wakatobi Dive Resort   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Fiji, Australia, Cozumel, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, Bonaire, Curacao, Indonesia, Roatan, California, Manzanillo
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather Seas calm
Water Temp 85-86°F / 29-30°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 75-100 Ft/ 23-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Generally, dives were 70 minutes long with max depth to 90 feet. Solo divers allowed with appropriate training and certification.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments Camera table and dedicated rinse tank on boats. Camera room with 220 and 110 V power. A photographers haven. All dives briefings rate sites for macro and wide angle preferences.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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