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Dive Review of Wakatobi Dive Resort in
Indonesia/Sulawesi

Wakatobi Dive Resort: "Spectacular service at Wakatobi", Nov, 2019,

by paul moliken, DE, US (Reviewer Reviewer 6 reports with 5 Helpful votes). Report 11206 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling 5 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 2 stars
Comments I have written about Wakatobi Dive Resort in other reports, and little has changed on this visit by me and my wife: The corals are exceptionally healthy (very minimal bleaching, despite constant 82* temps), but the variety and abundance of fish actually seems to have increased since my first visit in 2015. Almost every variety of clown (many with eggs), butterfly, and trigger were spotted, along with morays, octopus, cuttlefish, nudibranchs, bumphead parrots, 2 smaller Napoleon wrasses, sea kraits, spadefish, pipefish, and plenty of hawksbill turtles (one came within an inch of my mask on a night snorkel). There were many dives in which we were surrounded by innumerable baitfish. However, what I'd really like to emphasize Wakatobi's unparalleled service and amenities.
Besides what you’d expect from a high-end resort (the greeting drink, orientation, and help with any carry-on baggage), staff brings all checked baggage to your porch in plenty of time for the welcome dive. I never had to handle any gear the entire time I stayed, unless I wanted to snorkel, never had to rinse my wetsuit, never had to wonder if I forgot anything: Wakatobi uses numbered boxes to keep everything straight. Food and waitstaff are exceptional.
Every meal offers guests a stunning variety of breads, 5 main courses (always including vegetarian options), side salads (with six possible dressing choices), and at least 4 different desserts (including donuts and sweet breads at breakfast). You can always get the famous “Two Eggs and Style, also). There’s usually a side prep that offers stuff like oxtail soup, pancakes, curries, French toast, etc.). And if you don’t like what you see, you can ask for something else, which can usually be accommodated.
Coffee cups and water glasses were always quickly refilled by the friendly, smiling staff, who knew all your preferences after one meal (Tea? Eggs over medium? Ice cream?) Want to eat outside, want your special table, want to eat with new friends? No problems! Ibraim makes sure everything runs properly
I had a bad sleep on a firm mattress the first night and expressed that to Chris, the dive manager. I had a mattress topper the next night. I wouldn’t expect that type of amazing assistance in most hotels. I would have had an awful lousy ten nights without Wakatobi’s extra mile. Remember that they’re thousands of miles away from “civilization” and must store all the extra material in case a guest needs something.
We had an Ocean Bungalow with a great outdoor shower, plenty of room, good lighting, and an air conditioner that, once we got it set to the optimal temperature, worked perfectly. Rooms are well-suited for the environment with high open ceilings and lovely wood floors (all made by local artisans from local wood). No mosquitoes, either! The staff keeps the rooms spotless and makes up the beds twice a day. There are plenty of towels, lots of outside places to relax (hammock and lounge chairs), and a decent internet—not perfect, but acceptable.
Pleasant, stunning, easy diving to a max of 80 feet for an hour and ten minutes, usually. Easy giant stride entries and climb back aboard on a ladder. All dives done from a large, well-appointed boat with lots of help for us older divers (I'm 74). After each dive, we’re given a huge dry towel and a hot, scented smaller towel. Regs and BCD’s are ready before the first dive and disconnected and re-set up for the second. Of course, if you wanted to do that yourself, you can. The dive briefings are thorough and always end with “Any questions.” All three of our guides, Claire, Gareth, and Sylvia, pointed out what we would have missed and allowed photographers lots of time to get the right shot. A no-touch policy exists and it’s clear that this, along with Wakatobi’s excellent reef management over the years, has resulted in a place that defies the terrible reports of ocean destruction so common nowadays.
Needless to say, we are looking forward to our as-yet-unbooked 2020 trip.

Websites Wakatobi Dive Resort   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving mexico carribean lembeh
Closest Airport Bali Getting There EWR to SIN (longest scheduled commercial flight) to DPS

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 80-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility -80 Ft/ -24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions no deco diving
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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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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