Dive Review of Wakatobi Dive Resort in
Indonesia

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Wakatobi Dive Resort: "Wakatobi Still The Best!", Nov, 2019, by Jack Pessia, OR, US ( Contributor 17 reports with 10 Helpful votes). Report 11374 has 3 Helpful votes.
No photos available at this time
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	This was our third trip to Wakatobi. It is our favorite dive destination, true barefoot luxury at its finest. This time we were there 10 days and another 7 on their truly luxurious dive boat Pelagian (see separate Pelagian review). The service, staff, food, accommodations are superb. Basic medical help on staff (cleared my very tiny ear canals); great spa. Your every need and request is taken care of immediately. Everyone knows your name and preferences after day 1. It does cost, but in the past repeat visitors and long stays are eligible for discounts, we heard that practice may no longer be in place. Diving: Large Indonesian style wooden dive boats with plenty of room, covered, camera table and tank, head, snacks and sunny area up front. Usually 8-16 divers on board and still not crowded. Nice camera room and great photographer for in water courses and above water help. Lots of good gear if needed (O ring leak on my own air guage so was provided a spare at no cost for 12 days). One DM per 4 divers. Never touched your gear after Day 1; given a numbered crate for all your stuff which is loaded daily for you. Gear washed by the staff most of whom are locals from the neighboring villages. All our DM's were great at finding critters large and small, helping with gear, weights, techniques: Christian, Sam and Yono. You only change DM's if they have a day off or another long time repeat guest had them reserved already. Dives minimum of 70 minutes. Lots of unusually high and low tides which meant a little more current due to full moon. Current can change several times on one dive site. Lots to choose from so have alternates if the planned site has too much current. Our favorite dive sites are Roma and any wall of the back side of Sawa. Great variety of walls, sloping reefs and pinnacles. Every inch is encrusted with colorful corals. Huge schools of small fish all over and some schools of reef fish, Trevallies, Barracuda and Batfish. Saw turtles and sharks unlike before. Several pygmy and Halameda seahorses and nudis. Photographer's haven. Dives at 7:30, 10:15 and 2:15 with night dive once a week. unlimited shore diving at any time. Just tell them and boat/staff will watch for you, easy entry and exit or boat will come get you. Great snorkeling off house reef also. Most dives had top of reef at 10-20 feet so safety stop on top of reef and we many times spent 20+ minutes at top as there was so much to see. Rooms: luxury. 1-4 closest to dive dock, further from restaurant and warm as less wind. Higher numbered rooms have more wind, but after #20 they are long way to dock. Look at resort map on website. Even numbers generally oceanside and odd numbers are garden and I think don't have outdoor showers. All have AC and screened windows in case you want them opened. Indoor bathroom with wondeful large outdoor shower with plenty of room to wash out clothes and hang there to dry in sun. All bath products provided. Loungers and hammock and umbrellas in front of each room plus a nice porch with couches. Rooms are large with table and chairs and plenty of storage. No mosquitos in November. Food: top notch, huge variety, all types of allergies and preferences can be accommodated. Buffets at every meal OR they will cook you whatever you want, literally. Western and Indonesian food available in great quantity and high quality. Fish options daily. fine dining not the usual dive resort fare. Travel: you MUST come in a day or more early to Bali. There are only two Wakatobi charter flights a week: Monday and Friday at 8 am (must be at airport at 6:30)and NO other way to get to Wakatobi. If your flight is cancelled or delayed, or your luggage lost, you WILL miss several days of your vacation. Their concierge staff can help arrange meet and greet from the jetway and expedite through immigration and customs for a small fee, drivers in Bali and suggest hotels. Their recommendations are very good. Tanjung Sari on the beach in Sanur is very nice and close; Novotel right inside the airport is really fine with pool and spa and good food. Do not plan on coming in just the night before the charter flight as if there is a problem, you will miss it. You need a full day in advance with available alternative flights to Bali in case needed. Bali itself is worth a week cultural visit, although diving is nothing to speak of in our experience. We usually stop there 2-3 days ahead of the charter flight and explore new areas. You do NOT return to Bali on the charter until late afternoon, and the flight can be delayed. Do not plan to fly out until late night or the next day. We have considered stopping our other dive travels and just do an annual trip to Wakatobi, it is that good and varied! AND don't miss the Pelagian.
Websites	Wakatobi Dive Resort
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Caymans, Belize, Australia, Wakatobi, Hawaii; all over Caribbean, Honduras, Indonesia, Raja Ampat, Bunaken
Closest Airport	Denpasar	Getting There	Cathay pacific via Seattle and Hong Kong to Bali; charter flight to Wakatobi
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	82-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]not many all dives 70+ minutes
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	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	[None]

Report currently has 3 Helpful votes

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Dive Review of Wakatobi Dive Resort in Indonesia

Wakatobi Dive Resort: "Wakatobi Still The Best!", Nov, 2019,

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 in
Indonesia