Visitors to Wakatobi often praise the pristine condition of the coral reefs and the exceptional variety of marine life found within the resort’s private marine preserve – Tom St George captures some of the best scuba diving in Indonesia
Video by Tom St George; words and photographs by Walt Stearns
For avid divers and snorkellers, it’s not just the quality of the underwater experience that puts Wakatobi in a class of its own, but also the quantity of immersive experiences that are available. With a little bit of planning, it’s possible to spend the better part of a day safely and comfortably in and under the water at the resort.
As guest Paul Moliken describes it: ‘My schedule at Wakatobi for one amazing day is: Get up, snorkel the sea grass, eat breakfast, catch the dive boat, rinse off and snack on the boat during the surface interval, dive again, eat lunch, snorkel on the House Reef, make a third boat dive, eat dinner, snorkel around the jetty after dark; sleep.’
While Paul’s in-water schedule may seem ambitious, it highlights the diving and snorkelling possibilities created by Wakatobi’s unique combination of underwater topography, diving infrastructure, and resort services.
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Wakatobi’s local dive sites are ideal for multi-level profiles; the resort’s dive schedules – which include two leisurely morning dives plus an afternoon dive – accommodate extended bottom times; and the spectacular house reef is available to divers and snorkellers all day, every day.
‘Wakatobi’s boat schedules, onboard amenities, and the attention from the dive team definitely enable me to get the maximum pleasure from my diving,’ said diver Michelle Winkel.
‘The boats are so large and comfortable that surface intervals are restful interludes for me. I really like that all the boats have a big bathroom and shower where I can rinse off and totally relax.
‘I also appreciate how we can start our dives a little deeper, work our way up, and enjoy the beautiful shallows at most of the sites – and we still have a 70-minute dive.’
By taking advantage of the multi-level profiles made possible by the topography of Wakatobi’s reefs, divers can greatly extend bottom times to see beautiful corals and a wide variety of marine life without worrying about running low on air too soon, or having to make extended deco stops.
‘Being able to do three boat dives each day and still have the option to dive and snorkel the house reef is a real advantage that I have not had with any other resort I’ve been to,’ said Wakatobi diver, Ken Glaser.
‘We love reefs like Dunia Baru, Turkey Beach, and Malabea because we can see beautiful hard corals, stay on a multi-step profile, and see all kinds of marine life – and we definitely feel safe. Then, in the afternoon before dinner, we have time to snorkel on the house reef.’
Maximising time on the beautiful local reefs is made possible by the Wakatobi House Reef. Widely regarded as one of the best house reefs in the world and easily accessible from the beaches directly in front of the resort.
‘If you choose a Wakatobi dive package, you also have unlimited use of the incredible long House Reef,’ said Paul. ‘It is healthier, more colourful, more filled with fish, and more stunning than any other I’ve seen, either in Lembeh or the Caribbean.
‘Even if you don’t make use of it for diving, snorkelling on the House Reef is never disappointing,’ he adds. ‘You can start right from shore or slip in from the jetty whenever you want, and there are also the resort’s taxi boats, which are available every day; just jump in, take a short ride to your favourite part of the reef, and then drift back at your leisure.’
Snorkelling the reef at night is a particular highlight of a visit to Wakatobi, particularly around the resort’s long jetty.
‘During my evening snorkelling trips, I’ve seen a list of personal firsts, including mating octopus, eel larva, and hundreds of pyrosomes,’ said Paul – who is planning a return visit in just a few months.
‘Having been to Wakatobi numerous times since it first called to me in 2015,’ he said, ‘I can attest to many amazing aspects of the resort: food, luxury, friendliness, and so much more. Those are just some of the reasons why I’m going back in December and I can’t wait!’
Follow the ‘Wakatobi Flow’ on the resort’s Facebook and Instagram pages, and check out more great videos on Wakatobi’s YouTube channel. For more information, contact the team at office@wakatobi.com or complete a quick trip inquiry at wakatobi.com.
