Indonesia’s reefs are so popular that sometimes it feels like there are more divers in the water than fish. Reconnect Private Island Resort, on its own island of Buka Buka in the Togean archipelago, offers an out-of-the-way alternative
Crowding on many of Indonesia’s most celebrated dive sites is a well-known problem. By mid-morning, there can be more boats over the reefs than divers on your own vessel.
Underwater, groups become separated and confused, the bigger animals flee in terror, chased away by hordes of neoprene-clad bubble monsters and their action cameras.
When you drop onto a healthy reef as the only boat and only dive group, you may want to ask why nobody else is there – but in the Togean Islands, that’s what every dive is like.
The Togean Islands, scattered across the Gulf of Tomini in Central Sulawesi, remain one of the few places where the uninterrupted diving experience is still normal.
This is mostly because reaching the archipelago isn’t easy, but Reconnect Private Island Resort, on the Togean Island of Buka Buka, has been created as a base which enables divers to explore the many pristine reefs that have long been kept off the main Indonesian dive circuit.
Learn more at reconnect.id
A different way to explore the Togeans
Exploring remote island chains often comes with something of a trade-off. Stay in one place and your range is limited; choose a liveaboard and you gain movement, but lose flexibility.
In the Togeans, where liveaboards are rare, Reconnect provides a ‘basecamp’ style approach to enjoying the best of the archipelago’s reefs.
From a single, well-positioned location, divers can access a wide variety of sites, and adjust their plans to conditions on the day rather than following a fixed route.
It creates a style of diving that feels less structured and more exploratory, without the constraints of either a static resort or a rigid itinerary.
With relatively few boats operating across what is a large chain of islands, many dives in the Togeans are conducted without encountering a single other group.
Routes shift with weather and visibility, and the result is a trip defined less by individual ‘must-dive’ locations and more by the overall experience of enjoying some of Indonesia’s most unvisited reefs.
Togean reefs and a sense of discovery
The Togean Islands offer a broad mix of dive environments, from coral gardens and gentle slopes to deeper walls and submerged pinnacles.
Around Reconnect’s Buka Buka Island location alone, more than 30 sites have been identified, each with a distinct topography and character.
Local guides continue to explore and map the area, and in some cases, visiting divers have been given the opportunity to explore and name newly charted sites, reinforcing the idea that this is still a place being discovered.
Marine life reflects the Togean Islands’ position within the Coral Triangle. Blacktip reef sharks patrol the edges of reefs, schools of barracuda surround the pinnacles, turtles are a regular presence and eagle rays regular visitors.
In the shallow water, macro life thrives, with nudibranchs, shrimps, and mandarinfish all found among the coral – perfect for photographers.
Visibility typically ranges up to 25-30 metres, and conditions vary between sites, allowing for a mix of relaxed dives and more exposed locations with moderate currents.
The diversity between sites, combined with the ability to move between them, creates a diving experience that feels varied without needing long-distance travel between regions.
Access, dive base and the experience on land
Despite its remote setting, access to the Togeans is relatively straightforward – although we’re not going to lie, it does involve some travelling!
Divers can fly into Luwuk, Sulawesi, via Makassar or Jakarta, then take a private car provided by Reconnect for a 5-hour scenic coastal drive to Ampana.
The ride to Buka Buka is 20-40 minutes from Ampana, and with careful planning, same-day transfers to the resort are possible all the way from Jakarta or Bali.
As the only resort on the island, Reconnect Private Island Resort combines a remote setting with modern infrastructure, including solar-powered electricity and on-site water production.
Accommodation ranges from glamping options to beachfront villas, with a selection of the rooms now air conditioned, something of a rarity in the Togeans.
Travelling families can be catered to with two-bedroom units and an on-site babysitting service so that couples can enjoy diving without having to worry about their kids.
For all diving needs, a dedicated SSI dive centre provides guiding, equipment, and courses for all levels, from entry-level experiences to advanced training.
Above the water, activities such as snorkelling, kayaking, and paddleboarding offer additional ways to explore the coastline, while a thriving house reef provides easy access to marine life directly from the beach.
There are easier places to dive in Indonesia. There are more famous ones too. Few, however, still feel like the Togean Islands.
Contact Reconnect Private Island Resort
For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.reconnect.id or contact:
Reconnect – Private Island Resort,
Buka Buka Island,
Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
Phone/WhatsApp: +62 812 460 913 46
Email: hi@reconnect.id
Instagram @reconnect.island
