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Dive Review of Wakatobi in
Indonesia/Tukang Besi Archipelago

Wakatobi, May, 2009,

by Carmel Hansen, CA, USA (Contributor Contributor 15 reports). Report 5091.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Since this is a secluded island, guest are flown in and out large groups from Bali on designated days for 7 or 11 day trips. It is an all inclusive resort with a choice of ocean front or garden bungalows or villas with private swimming pool. The food is very good with a nice combination of Indonesian, Japanese and Western cuisine. The dive operation is very regimented and no gloves are allowed. Everyone is assigned to a dive boat and only dives from that boat or shore dives at the house reef. Each boat only gets 2 night dives and 2 distant dives during an 11 day trip. Nitrox is available for a fee. Water taxis are also provided for house reef dives. Each person is given a box for their dive gears which stays of the boat, unless the boat has to go to the village. Then it is stored at the shed. We have to wash our own gear but porters will carry your gear if you ask. Gloves are not allowed and they are very strict about how close you approach the reef. This is very difficult for macro photographers. The sandy areas and sea grass are also treated like coral. The reef is the healthiest I have ever seen with extremely large sponges and huge sea fans(5-6 feet. The fish are used to people and even normally shy spadefish will approach divers and stare at us only 1-2 feet from our face

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving California, Palau, Bonaire, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Florida, British Columbia
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 80-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions 70 min dive limit with 10 min safety stop
no gloves
only a maximum of 5 shots(sometime only 2) on pygmy seahorses
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments Large camera table on board. Nice camera room with battery charging stations and work benches. Large dedicated rinse area for cameras. Some but not all dive guides point out tiny almost microscopic size animals. Most guides are very protective of the reef, sea grass and sandy areas.
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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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