Dive Review of Wakatobi Dive Resort/Wakatobi in
Indonesia/Wakatobi

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Wakatobi Dive Resort/Wakatobi: "Wakatobi - The sequel", Jul, 2023, by Bert Ross, CO, US ( Reviewer 5 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 12706.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	We had first dove Wakatobi back in the fall of 2019. This was a group trip arranged through one of our local Colorado dive shops; A-1 Scuba of Littleton Colorado. We were so impressed by the resort and the quality of diving; that we looked at coming back the following year on our own. Then Covid hit and we all know what a shit show that was. Here we are 4 years later and we final get to go back. Two big changes in our approach to the second trip from the first. We did a 3 day lay-over in Bali and had a private tour guide by the name of Suka. He was arranged through the Wakatobi resort. Great English and fabulous knowledge of Bali...funny guy. We toured volcanos, rice patties, artisan shops and did go off the beaten path. I highly recommend doing the lay-over on the way to Wakatobi so as to decompress from making the big leap across the Pacific. The charter flight to Wakatobi is on Friday and Monday. Even if you only do 2 days; you will arrive at the dive resort, refreshed and ready to jump in on the first day. One day in Bali is not enough. I think next time we pass through; we would look into a Yoga/Meditation retreat. The second thing we did different on trip 2, was to stay 10 days instead of 7. The way I look at it...by day 4/5 you are finding your groove and then you have to leave 2 days later. Do 10...it is a long way to go for just a week. There was also a third thing different...We did not go with a big group; just one other couple that we had met the previous year on a Palau trip through the same dive shop. We were able to mingle more with other folks from around the world. Over the past 5 years many of our dive trips and like yours; were postponed due to Covid. Once the resorts opened back up we went on 6 major dive trips in about 1.5 years. This included Galapagos, Roatan, Palau, Curacao, Wakatobi and Raja Ampat. Using the criteria of Accommodations, Food/Service and Diving, we came to the conclusion that Wakatobi gave us one of the biggest bangs for the buck. Raja was a land based operation through Meridian Adventures on the island of Wasai. The resort uses very fast boats (45 knots+) to shuttle you to some of the most remote dive sites in the area. We did 30 dives in a 10 day period. The diving was superb on all levels. Small stuff, Large Pelagics, turtles and lots of little fish and dense healthy coral. We would visit various villages while out on dives. The accommodations were ok (very clean - small rooms) and the food good & plentyfull. Kitchen did a good job for vegans/vegetarians. I would go back. Paula was on a Master Live-aboard that was fairly new and a superb boat (Black Pearl I). The diving was fantastic...wrecks, swim throughs, currents, large & small fish, sharks, mantas, turtles and bears; oh my! The crew was great, though short handed and the food was ok...not very accommodating for vegans/vegetarians. I will give them a pass on the food as they boat had just come back on-line from the Pandemic. If you did not have dietary needs; you would do just fine. I would go back. The Caribbean...well, is just the Caribbean and can not come close to touching the Coral Triangle as far as variety of coral and species of fish. Wakatobi is off the charts as far as service (where everyone knows your name)and if you have been there before; then you know. The accommodations are fantastic, roomy, your own porch, outdoor showers and great views of the ocean...unless you get a jungle unit. They even have Villas with private pools; for larger groups of friends and families. The grounds of the resort are well taken care of and are pleasant to walk around and explore. Wakatobi is also ECO friendly. Early on, the folks at Wakatobi brought running water and electricity to the local village in exchange for being better guardians of the reef. Make a point to take a behind the scenes tour of the resort. The food is excellent 5 ****. Large breakfast selection..Omelets made to order, filling lunches and fabulous dinner spread. Probably the best food of any dive resort or live-aboard that I have been to in the past 10 years. They are also accommodating to vegan/vegetarians. The dive boats are hand made on the island; from woods of Indonesia. Very roomy and low guide to diver ratio. We were only 4 divers to a guide. Our guide Andrea', is an excellent guide...pointing out lots of small critters and more unusual finds. Very thorough with the dive briefing. Most of our dives were around 70/75 minutes and sometimes more. The crew handles all of your gear...no need for you to carry much of anything. In the morning your gear is on the boat and at the end of day the crew puts your gear away. Lots and lots of fish, schooling fish and crazy amounts of healthy coral. Considerable amount of hard corals. However, if you are looking for the really big stuff...not likely to see any. If you are a wreck or swim through type...go to Palau. The house reef at Wakatobi is probably the best I have encountered anywhere and you may dive the house reef as often as you like. Great for night dives...also great for snorkelers. We did encounter lots of turtles, large schools of smaller fish and some unique ones at that. Small critters abound. Large variety of butterfly fish, which I have been told; indicates a very healthy reef. There is also an opportunity to tour one of the local villages. If you are the type of traveler that likes to bring stuff for the locals. Sun glasses are much needed...school stuff, soccer or volleyballs. They take you there via one of the resort boats. You can return via a path connecting the resort and village (40 minutes) or by the boat. Again...Accommodations 5, Food 5, Service 5, Diving 4+ and Sunsets 4+. I only say 4+ on diving because of no large Pelagics and 4+ on the sunsets because in Palau the sunsets were 5+. We were in Wakatobi once in the summer and one time in the fall. Over all there was more steady breezes and bit more waves in the summer. In the fall the air was calmer and water like glass. Air temps do not change much. Wakatobi was every bit as good the second time as to the first. There is rarely any crazy currents like Blue Corner or Galapagos and you do not have to go deep. Pretty chill diving and great place for beginners to really get their chops. What are you waiting for...the pool is open.
Websites	Wakatobi Dive Resort
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Indonesia (Wakatobi & Raja Ampat), Philippines, Cuba, Roatan, Curacao, Similan Islands, Cozumel, Turks & Cacois, Cayman Islands, Mediterranean, Belize, Great Lakes, Florida, Vancouver Island, Catalina Island, Costa Rica, Galapagos and Saint Lucia.
Closest Airport	Tomi	Getting There	From the west cost there any number of airlines that can get you to Bali. From there it is a private charter from Bali (Denpasar) to the resort (usually Lions Air). From L.A., San Fran or Seattle...You could go through Tokyo, Guam or Seoul. You are looking at about 18+ hours of fly time just from the west cost. If going from the east cost you probably would go through JFK, Newark or DC and pass through Dubai.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, dry	Seas	calm
Water Temp	78-83°F / 26-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	65-100 Ft/ 20-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Come up with 500 PSI. Most of our dives were 70+ minutes.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Wakatobi has a very roomy dedicated camera room; located in the main building (Long House). On staff photo pro to teach you a few tricks. I think they were $300/day for private instruction. Plenty of outlets to plug in batteries and various chargers. Tank of air for blow drying your gear. Temperature controlled room and close to the dock. The facilities on the boat were roomy enough...though not dedicated to photogs. Certainly enough room for a couple of big rigs and several small ones.

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Dive Review of Wakatobi Dive Resort/Wakatobi in Indonesia/Wakatobi

Wakatobi Dive Resort/Wakatobi: "Wakatobi - The sequel", Jul, 2023,

Photos Submitted with this Report

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Wakatobi Dive Resort/Wakatobi in
Indonesia/Wakatobi