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

Wakatobi Dive Resort/Wakatobi: "Heaven on Earth", Aug, 2019,

by James Ringer, NY, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 20 reports with 5 Helpful votes). Report 11015 has 2 Helpful votes.

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 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Everything was spectatular. This was a bucket list trip for my daughter to celbrate her 50th birthday (and mine which is a few years more :)).
The dive boats are wonderful. Large and very spacious. Have a crew of about 6-7 (two captains and 4-5 dive helpers that handle all your geat to and from the boat, rinsing, setting up tanks, helping with cameras, etc.). Boat can hold up to 16-18 divers, but most we ever had was about a dozen. All diving is in small groups of four or maybe five (if a family) with a guide. We had only two in our group with a private dive manager (i.e private dive guide) that dove with us each time, pointed out criters, attended to our every neeed (and some - such as hot chocolate or tea with snacks, fruit, etc. after every dive). Well worth the extra expense. Ours, a beautiful lady from Java named Angger was perfect - highly professional, knowledgeable, and a delight to be with. The corals and fish are abundant, heathy and have incredible variety. Our first dive on the afternoon we arrived was the house reef. It is spectatular shore dive right in front of the resort. It is not to be missed and we liked it so much we repeated it later.
August is winter there and water temp was constnat 79 degrees. A 3 mil wetsuit gets chilly after 3 70 minute dive every day. They recommend a 5 mil and I wish we had followed their advice or at least had a vest to wear over the 3 mil. A hood helps and I recommend it. In thier summer, I understand the temp go up to 83-84 so a 3 mil is probably fine.
On some dives there is a strong current and on most there is at least a "baby" current. All dives are essentially drifts in the sense that you go in, swim or flow ith the current for the 70 minutes and the surface and the boat is always there to pick you up.
On one day we splurged for a private dive boat and while pricy it is an experience well worth it. Had a normal size boat all to our selves (and the crew of 6 plus our PDM). Had two chaise lounges set up for resting between dives, a table with table cloth and china for snacks and lunch. We choose the dive sites we wanted - our primary choice was Blade - read about it on their blog. We did four dives total including a great night dive after watdhing the sunset from the boat.
Accomodations are bungalows on stilets, large,well furnished, air conditioned, and great baths including huge outdoor shower.
Meals are served buffet style, but you can also special order. Food is fantastic and the variety is unbeleiveable. They will cater to any dietary restrictions you have and you couldn't go hungry if you tried. Dining room is beautiflu spacious open air and has outside tables if you prefer.
Everything is as they say 'barefoot luxury" (we never wore shoes after the first day until the last - and hated having to put them back on). Evenings for us always included a drink on the jetty bar over the house reef watching the sunsets.
I can't praise the resort enough. The only bad thing is that it is so far away and having to leave, but I'm sure we will return.
Websites Wakatobi Dive Resort   Wakatobi

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Most of Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, Bermuda, lakes
Closest Airport Tomia Getting There Newark to Singapore non-stop (18 1/2 hours), Singapore to Bali (Denpasar), charter (Lion Air) Bali to Tomia (Wakatobi Dive resort private airstrip. Total of approx. 25 flight hours.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, currents, no currents
Water Temp 79-79°F / 26-26°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 70 minutes per dive, three dives a day plus a night dive if you want.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments Each boat has large dedicated area in middle for cameras and dive helpers will carry if you ask. Lodge at dock has a large well appointed camera room with cubbys to store and set up all your camera gear, outlets for chargers. Large dedicated cameras only rinse tanks on boats and at camera room. Meida room also available.
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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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