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Dive Review of Wakatobi Dive Resort in
Indonesia/Wakatobi

Wakatobi Dive Resort: "This was an awesome experience", Apr, 2017,

by cheryl traverse, CA, US (Reviewer Reviewer 3 reports). Report 9960.

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 N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments www.wakatobi.com

Traveling
Getting there was an adventure in itself. Took 3 days with an overnight in Singapore and Bali.
I loved the plane as we took the new Dreamliner from united to Singapore and really appreciated the extra humidity in the new plane and the service. The trip to bail was uneventful except that the Wakatobi resort folks met us at the plane and schlepped all our luggage and us to the Novatel in Bali and then did the same thing the next day to get their flight. Top notch service.

We then went to a restaurant on the beach in bali that was so fun.

On the way back we stayed in the Harilela Hospitality hotel in Singapore and pre-checked our scuba bags and we did not have to go out of the Chiang airport (which I think was voted one of the top 10 airports in the world. We saved the slog out of the airport and in through customs in the morning. Lots to do at the airport. Butterfly room and all kind of cool things to entertain you.

Ask for a room with a window at the Harilela Hospitality Hotel or you will get almost a cell. Nothing luxurious but we had a massage right at the same place and it was all ok and saved all the time the next morning to get our flight to the states. The internet is good but by the hour. none of my hotspots worked anywhere on the trip.

The Wakatobi Resort
This resort is 5 star plus. By day 2 everyone there knew our names. The room was a fabulous separate bungalow with an outdoor shower and great air conditioning. They did 5-star service and would even come to sweep the sand in your room if you happened to take off your booties in the room. I am a seasoned traveler and would go there for any reason. No shoes in the common areas and restaurant and it was so well done.

The food was fabulous and each day they had the dish of the day displayed and the regular food and then a table with interesting dishes..... fish tacos, whimpies and the like. The restaurant is open air with fabulous tables and wonderful dishes.

We were there when the owner and his wife were there and we got to spend time with them and their kids. They support the whole village and in exchange no fishing and a pristine spot. Really wonderful people.

Diving
They use dragon boats to shuttle you to and from the dive sights. I am a 72-year-old diver with a bum knee so I was very appreciative. This is the best dive boat I have ever had. A ladder with huge slats and lots of room and the boats are not tippy at all. The boats are huge and they take 4 groups a day on each boat. We hired a private guide which I can recommend if you have the money. Plus, I think it was a reasonable amount of money for the diving (big tanks with nitrox) the private guide and the 5-star resort with great food. Plus, we were treated like royalty.

The diving sites are varied and wonderful and if I can I will enclose a little side show of some of the things I saw. A macro heaven. I was using the new Sealife DC 2000 camera which was a great choice over the larger push button SLR mirrorless cameras out there. I consider myself an intermediate diver and do not like push buttons. This new sea life really has its act together as I usually shoot on auto.

I took a photography course in Wakatobi which was a wonderful extra that helped me even more but I still shoot on auto. I find that I am not fast enough to try a shot and then change it and do not have the time to ask myself or the subject to wait while I get it right. So auto works for me.

The dives were stupendous. The color is comparable to the Red Sea. There was current a couple of days but tolerable. One day of diving had a lot of the Indonesian garbage and plastics to contend with but only one day.
I rate this place great for diving of all level of experiences. They are sophisticated enough to handle all ranges. The house reef is an anytime experience. No need for a boat and you can grab a tank and go by yourself. I did not go by myself but found it fun.

I would recommend this experience to anyone who dives.
Websites Wakatobi Dive Resort   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Caribbean, Tonga, Hawaii, Red Sea, Costa Rica, Mediterranean, Bonaire, Bahamas, Indonesia, Mexico
Closest Airport wakatobi Getting There Singapore to bali and meet with their chartered plane to get to wakatobi

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, surge
Water Temp 80-83°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 9-80 Ft/ 3-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments Not a lot of large fish but lots of macro opportunities. Colors to die for. photography class was excellent. Very technical but understandable.
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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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