Blessed with a house reef where you can begin your dive only 20m (60 feet) from the dive center, Wakatobi is often described as a live aboard with a built-in beach! In addition to the spectacular house reef, there are several dozens of easily accessible dive sites offering incredible marine life diversity, color and natural splendor.Although one of the world's most remote resorts, Wakatobi Dive Resort offers a whole new level of comfort and class not usually associated with a typical dive resort. Our beach villas and bungalows are spacious, tastefully decorated and offer all of the amenities you would expect in any fine resort.
Swiss-founded and currently carefully operated by an international management team, the resort was carefully constructed with traditional methods for a small number of select guests embracing sound eco tourism principles. The native architectural style of the main building and bungalows was hand crafted by local artisans using traditional, manual tools.
Wakatobi resort - Diving OptionsAt Wakatobi we offer three different types of diving.
Boat diving on one of our specially designed, locally-crafted dive boats, shore diving on our fabulous house reef and taxi boat diving on the further points of the house reef. (Our house reef is more than three (3) miles long). You can participate in any one or all three of these options on any given dive day. The choice is completely up to you, based on what your desire is for that given day. We also offer night diving (unguided) on the house reef and 1-2 guided boat night dives.
Below is a brief overview of each of the diving options.
Boat Diving
Because of our very fortunate location there's a wide range of superb dive sites within reach of our dive boats. We have more than 40 sites that we regularly dive, all accessible by a normally short boat ride. Boat rides range from 10 minutes up to a maximum of an hour away for a few of the furthest away sites. Most are within minutes from the resort.
Prior to each scheduled dive boat departure, there will be a briefing at the resort by your guide. A sketch of the dive objective is displayed, the likely conditions discussed, and a dive plan rehearsed. Known marine inhabitants and their locations are explained, along with specific advice for photographers. On arrival at the dive site, your guide will enter first. If conditions are as expected, the "pool is open". Otherwise, your guide will amend the dive plan before opening give the OK to enter the water. Boat dives always have trained guides to locate and point out marine life and/or assist divers as needed. Snacks are served between consecutive boat dives, as well as liquid refreshments such as tea, hot chocolate, and water. Dry fresh towels are also available. For safety purposes, all divers are encouraged to remain well hydrated.
Shore Diving
Our "signature dish". This is what has made Wakatobi the number one choice among not only resort divers but also liveaboard lovers. World's best shore diving. Simply get your gear and step right out on the beach, get in the water, flip your fins a few times and enjoy some of the most amazing reef life you will ever see. The house reef top is so prolific that many photographers find themselves out of film* before they have even reached the drop-off (located approx. 80 yards in front of the Resort proper).
Here on the house reef you can spend hour upon hour throughout your stay. Sometimes you will enter from the beach, other times from the ladder at the jetty. Most dives will be in a slight current meaning that you will drift at various speeds along the reef while exploring it's beauty. You can enter and exit the water right in front of the resort at high and medium tide while at low tide you will need to use the jetty or the canyon "second gully" at the corner of the island. Due to our location next to this unique island corner canyon you can shore dive at any tide!
When getting in the water in front of the resort you will first gently drift over an area completely covered in lush sea grass. This is a superb macro site with tons of wondrous critters. Then, as you get about two thirds out on the reef flat you'll start to see the corals..and lots of 'em. The outer part of the house reef is completely covered with lush coral, both soft and hard. Enjoy! You can dive the amazing house reef in buddy teams beginning at 06.00 a.m.
Taxi Boat Diving
Our house reef is more than three (3) miles long. We offer a service that allows you to explore dive sites on the house reef normally not accessible from the resort. Due to the house reef being so expansive this adds several sites for you to enjoy. Simply let one of our dive guides know that you and a buddy (or a group of up to 6 divers) wish to go out with a tender boat and they will help you get your gear on board. Then, as the boat glides out over the reef you fine tune your gear and get ready for the dive. Once over the site you will do a back roll to enter the water. The dive location will be chosen so that the current will bring you back to the resort.
After a perfect, impression-intensive dive, you can then exit the water at the end of our jetty (or on any part of the beach) where our attentive local staff will be standing by to carry cameras and dive gear Sometimes the predominant current will change and you may not be able to get all the way back to the resort without surfacing. No worries ... our tender boats follow you as you make your dive and after surfacing, you can simply give a wave and one our taxi boats will pick you up and return you to the beach in front of the resort. Beach dives and taxi boat dives accompanied by guides upon availability. Taxi boat service is available from 06.00 a.m. until 5.30 p.m.
Night Diving
Night diving at Wakatobi is fantastic!. One or two night dives (depending on length of the trip and weather) will be offered from the boats. You can dive any night on the house reef in front of the resort (unguided). Simply gear up in the diver preparation area and walk-in off the beach.
Night dives should be finished at the latest by 10.00 p.m. but special arrangements can be made to dive at other hours. Solo diving at night is not allowed due to security reasons.
Nitrox Diving
Wakatobi offers Nitrox fills for Nitrox certified divers. Nitrox certification is available at the resort for those who are not certified and would like to earn this certification while on holiday.
Rebreathers
Divers using closed circuit rebreathers can be accommodated with oxygen fills, standard Faber tanks with standard DIN valves, sofnolime and knowledgeable staff to assist. Our boat crews are trained to handle rebreathers properly. CCR divers are required to bring all their own equipment. We do have The Evolution rebreather on site for rent as a backup for fully certified Evolution (and Inspiration divers with Vision electronics license).
Wakatobi resort - Diving Guidelines
It is also important to bear in mind that we are in a remote location and while we have our own private airport, the nearest recompression facility is in Bali and would require an emergency transfer flight to be arranged. Therefore, we do have some basic guidelines that must be followed to ensure that all our guests have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Check-out Dive
On the day of your arrival (depending on arrival time and tides) there is the option of a 30min welcome/orientation dive (mostly off the beach), where we help check your buoyancy control and safety skills (mask off/clearing and breathing from a alternate air source). We recommend however to rest on arrival day and to integrate the dive checks into the first boat dive next morning.
Decompression diving is not recommended. Solo diving is not allowed, except for guests:
Decompression diving is not recommended. Solo diving is not allowed, except for guests:
a) Being certified instructors, certified solo divers or very experienced divers andb) Prior clearance by our resort manager andc) Equipped with pony bottles. (tanks and regulators can be rented in resort) 1. To protect the reef there is a strict NO Gloves policy at the resort. (only exception: medical condition and doctor's certificate) 2. One hour minimum surface interval between dives. 3. Please do NOT use any macro frames
Seeing Marine Life .. the Critters
Unless you are an expert critter spotter yourself, staying within visual distance of your guide will likely greatly enhance your experience. Our staff members have razor sharp eyes, and will seek to get your attention to share their finds with you. If you want to see a specific creature, let them know, and you may be in luck. As a courtesy, we ask that non-photographers get first looks.
Wakatobi Currents
During the average dive in Wakatobi, you will likely experience gentle current. Like most any other dive destination, the strength and direction of current will vary with tides, moon phase, winds, etc. Varying currents are why the marine life at Wakatobi is so prolific - the food chain would stagnate without them.
Gear Handling
Since we want you to have the flexibility of diving the house reef at any time, when not on a boat dive, your gear is stowed in a numbered basket in one of our dive sheds. These open-air sheds are immediately adjacent to the Longhouse. When you have confirmed your intent to participate in a scheduled boat dive on our status board, resort employees will transfer your gear basket to the relevant boat for you, as well as all required tanks. Need help with cameras? No problem! When the boat returns, this process is reversed, and once again your gear is conveniently available for house reef diving at your leisure.
Wakatobi resort rooms
All accommodations are spacious and available with a either a king-size bed, and/or twin beds to sleep up to three adults or two adults and two children. All of our accommodations have a balcony in front as well as lounge chairs, tables and other furnishings. There a desk with internet access, a mini-bar, and much more. All bungalows and villas are equipped with airconditioning
The Wakatobi Villas
For couples seeking the best - these are our nicest accommodations. They are located on the northern end of the resort beach and are perched on a rocky ledge with superb views over the ocean and sunset. Each villa is a modern design and constructed of earthy materials such as wood, glass and sandstone. They are more spacious than any of our other accommodations and are decorated for luxurious comfort and relaxation.
Villa 1
The closest villa to the heart of the resort (restaurant and longhouse). With it's own corner of the Northern Beach complete with its own Bale or "love shack". This villa offers secluded privacy in an intimate setting. Enjoy a relaxing massage in your beachfront Bale.
Villa 2
Our "Honeymoon Villa". The most private of all our villas. Enjoy sunset lounging on the sundeck overlooking the ocean with a drink or two. This villa also has it's own sand garden. Enjoy the sea and sun amidst the orchids in your own idyllic corner of the resort.
Villa 3
An open plan style villa in conjunction with villa four. Comes with infinity pool and sundeck.
Villa 4
This is the newest of the Wakatobi villas. This villa is open plan and the closest the ocean. Enjoy spectacular sea views from your own sundeck. Sip cocktails to the gentle burbling of our tidal water feature. This villa is good for birdwatching as it is near the boundaries of the resort that is a reserve for terrestrial wildlife. Watch collared kingfishers hunting or a morning visit from the black naped oriole.
Pelagian dive yacht - Wakatobi's liveaboard in South Sulawesi
Pelagian dive yachtSouth Sulawesi liveaboard
The world-renowned Pelagian dive yacht was bought a couple of years ago by the Wakatobi resort and has been completely rebuilt and refurbished. She however retains the charm that peope have come to love over the years that she's been providing discerning travellers with premium cruises. She is now in tip top shape and performing splendidly as the premier liveaboard in South Sulawesi.
Having searched the world, and Indonesia, for the most pristine reefs we found the healthiest, lushes and most beautiful corals right at home in the Wakatobi region. So although we could bring Pelagian to Komodo, Raja Ampat and other areas we choose to create cruises with Wakatobi Dive Resort as a base but to the more remote sites not accessible from the resort. On a cruise aboard this luxurious and immaculately maintained yacht you'll experience a dive holiday like no other in the region.
Adding to the allure are key Wakatobi-exclusive aspects like direct access through our own air charter service, gourmet cuisine, highly qualified instructor-level dive guides, marine conservation participation and the possibility to combine a cruise with a stay in Wakatobi Dive Resort. Getting to the Pelagian is now easier than ever. You simply fly to the convenient international hub of Bali and Wakatobi's private air service will take care of the rest.
From Bali, our flight takes you into the Wakatobi area and our private airport. We've eliminated the last-minute rushes, long check-in lines and excess baggage charges - a convenience that no other liveaboard in Indonesia can offer you. For many years, the Pelagian has widely been regarded as one of the premier dive yachts in the Southeast Asia / South Pacific region. During this time, she’s earned an unparalleled reputation for quality operations and unique itineraries. Pelagian credits include numerous documentaries, features and stories in National Geographic, diving and travel magazines, and television productions around the world.
The Pelagian’s spacious cabins comfortably accommodate twelve divers and she's one of the largest vessels in the industry for such a limited number of passengers. Pelagian guests never feel crowded, whether diving on the reef, mingling in the common areas, or relaxing in the cabins. Best of all, because the Pelagian dive yacht is fully integrated into Wakatobi's award-winning marine conservation and community development programs, it will have exclusive access to the diving sites within the extended Wakatobi region. Wakatobi’s pledge is to build upon the excellent reputation that the Pelagian has earned over the years. It would be our pleasure to have you as our guest.
Welcome to Diving Paradise!
]Welcome to Wakatobi - a destination where you can dive the world's most pristine reefs and experience remoteness from everyday life in total comfort. Situated on a beautiful tropical island in the remote and peaceful Wakatobi archipelago in the Banda Sea, Wakatobi Dive Resort offers what many consider to be the best reef diving in the world.
The Reefs and Marine Life World Class House Reef
Blessed with a house reef where you can begin your dive only 20m (60 feet) from the dive center, Wakatobi is often described as a live aboard with a built-in beach! In addition to the spectacular house reef, there are several dozens of easily accessible dive sites offering incredible marine life diversity, color and natural splendor. Learn More ....
Reef Conservation
Wakatobi is about something more than just a great diving experience. Our mission from day one was to establish a dive resort that gave divers a sense of well-being that they are helping contribute to an environmentally and culturally sound conservation program. So it's not an accident that we established the Wakatobi Collaborative Reef Conservation Program, which is now one of the world's largest privately-funded marine protected areas. Learn More ....
Marine Life News
Keep the Wakatobi experience alive after you return home or build excitement for your upcoming adventure. The Wakatobi dive staff provide updates on the latest discoveries and marine life encounters. Read it Now!
Marine Identification Guide
Enhance your diving experience by learning more about the marine life you will encounter while diving the Wakatobi reefs. Our marine life Identification Guide shows some of the most common sharks, rays, eels, fishes, crustaceans and other "critters" you'll want to know as you immerse yourself in the wonders of underwater Wakatobi. View it Now!
Multimedia Gallery
Check out this awesome collection of high resolution videos, Flash slide shows. Here is where you will get a real feeling of what a diving holiday at Wakatobi will be like. These video and slide shows are sure to entertain. Go there Now!
Resort Information Fine accommodations
Although one of the world's most remote resorts, Wakatobi Dive Resort offers a whole new level of comfort and class not usually associated with a typical dive resort. Our beach villas and bungalows are spacious, tastefully decorated and offer all of the amenities you would expect in any fine resort. More ....
Guest Testimonials
"Without a doubt the finest dive experience from a lifetime of travels worldwide. Not one sour note--an obvious result of caring and attentive management. "
Walt Brenner, PennslyvaniaSeptember 2003
Walt Brenner, PennslyvaniaSeptember 2003
Guest Amenities Four Star Dining
Our team of professional chefs are trained and have years of experience working in other first class resorts and other restaurants. Our food is an international style, blending western favorites, Asian, Italian and even Mexican. More ....
Resort Spa Services
Wakatobi has a spa area that can offer you a variety of treatments to make your stay even more enjoyable. Start your day with a pleasant morning back message or after a long day of diving get a deep tissue message to relax those strained muscles. More ....
Private Charter Service to Resort
Getting to Wakatobi is easy, despite our remoteness. . . . . . . We fly you the last leg of the journey on a chartered private plane to the resort's own airport! There's no hassle with domestic terminal check-ins, lines, crowds of people. You're treated like royalty and travel in style. Read About it!
Wakatobi Photo of the Week
Add a"Wakatobi photo of the Week" to your web site or blog! Just add a small snippit of code to your web page and each week a new Wakatobi photo will be displayed automatically!
Keep the Wakatobi experience alive after you return home or build excitement for your upcoming adventure. Visit this page for regular reports from Wakatobi dive staff on recent marine life sightings. Report from CJ (February 2009 Trip 4)
Well another wonderful trip has come and gone, the full moon shone down on us and a lovely time was had by all. We again had a small intimate group who enjoyed the extra special attention lavished on them both in the restaurant and underwater :-) Our house reef provided us with new and unending entrainments, one of the highlighs being a group of three Hypselodoris bullockii, one of which was laying eggs the first time we saw it!
On our dive site Fan 38 West, we spotted a Giant frogfish (Antennarious commersoni) a lovely beige-golden colour, our dive at Magnifica entertained us with a feeding turtle and a full grown Broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus). We look back on this trip with fondness and now look forward to the next trip with a full house of guests! Until next trip...!
Report from CJ (January 2009 Trip 3)
If the sun, surf, sand, beautiful beaches and the wind in the palm trees isn't enough to draw you to the Wakatobi Dive Resort, perhaps seeing dolphins cavorting alongside the boat, a ribbon eel free swimming beneath you or perhaps seeing a pipehorse will. On our travels out and back from Blade we were again escorted by dolphins, who both leapt for joy and danced with the us at the front of Wakatobi IV, all on board whistled and squeeled at the dolphins like the kids we still are. Roma, one of our loveliest dives sites also reveal a hidden treasure to us in the form of a male ribbon eel (Rhinimuraena quaesita) in the process of moving to a new house and not only that, but, we got it all on tape.
First Video of new pipehorse (Kyonemichthys rumengani)
As we mentioned last trip a new pipehorse (Kyonemichthys rumengani) was found at our Kollo Soha dive site, well we now may have the first videographic evidence of this amazing critter! We have really enjoyed the family atmosphere this trip and are hoping to see these now familiar faces back here again in the future! Bon Voyage, safe travels, and good luck with the unpacking!
All video this report by PC and Alan Davy Report from CJ (January 2009 Trip 2)
The wonders never cease at The Wakatobi Dive Resort! Yet again our guests were dazzled and wow'd as we travelled to and from Blade and were visited by both pilot whales and dolphins. A few of us were even privileged enough to slip into the water and see the dolphins in their natural habitat, if only for a few seconds! Once again this trip we had further visitations by turtles laying eggs on the beach, one even decided to try and join us for dinner IN the restaurant. We have also had some new sightings of both a halimeda ghost pipefish (Solenostomus halimeda) and the recently described pipehorse called a (Kyonemichthy rumengani) at our Kollo Soha dive site. At the beginning of our night dive at Teluk Maya we got to see a few mandarin fish (Synchiropus splendidus).
Our house reef also boasted a truly spectacular blood-spotted glossodoris (Glossodoris cruenta). BUT!!!! The piece de resistance was most definitely the 75% solar eclipse that we all got to enjoy on the 26th of January. Click Here for a more detailed report on that. At the end of the trip we expressed a special thanks and farewell to two of our senior guides, Alex and Coralie, who we sent off with our best wishes and thanks for all their hard work over the past 2 years working here at the resort.
Photo above by Dave and Jan Morgan and Florian Geier Report from Coralie (January 2009, Trip1)
On the 12th of January, the security guard came to the restaurant during dinner time to inform us that a turtle was about to lay eggs on the beach!!! Guests, dive staff and local staff immediately went there to check it out with their own eyes. Under the full moon light, we first saw the turtle's flippers print from the sea to the upper beach. We followed the track and managed to see her digging in the sand below small trees. It was clearly a green turtle, Chelonian mydas, and we guess that she was 70 years old according to her big size.
Green turtles sexual maturity is reached around 50 years old and the mating occurs in front of their natal beach. The males and females may have travelled more than 3000 km 1,900 miles from their feeding ground to reach it. The gestation period lasts a few weeks and then the female comes out of the water to lay an average 100 eggs.
Approximately one hour later and a lot of sand splashing to cover back her eggs, the turtle made her way back to the sea. As she was more under the moon light we could see her better and noticed "tears" in her eyes ... no she wasn't crying. It's a secretion of salt and fluids to help her keep her eyes hydrated and free from the sand. Within seconds she was already gone in the water, leaving us all astonished. It was a magical experience that cannot be forgotten, it was Wakatobi!
Report from Coralie (January 2009, Trip 40)
Did somebody say that January was the rainy season? Well for 7 days all we had was blue sky and flat sea! The water temperature was 29 Degrees Celsius - 82 Fahrenheit and the visibility never dropped below 20 meters - 60 feet! We have had our first rare critter sighting of the year, a winged pipefish, Halicampus macrorhynchus, The fish was spotted twice, on two different dive sites: The Zoo and Turkey Beach. Amazingly well camouflaged, he tends to lye on sandy bottom, sea grass or coral rubble. Only when he moves can you smile thinking "I got you" and realize again how lucky we are to see such things just beneath the surface.
Report from Coralie (January 2009, Trip39)
The last trip of 2008 is already finished but it isn't without excellent souvenirs. Everything started on the 24th of December, the first day of diving... an orca yes an orca passed by the jetty. The proof is seen in the photo and we had two reliable witnesses: the operation manager Markus and a 4th time Wakatobi visitor Uta Meyer who was skipping the first dive to enjoy the island! The orca stayed around 15-20 minutes and nobody knows from where it was coming but one thing is sure: nature is full of surprises and gave us a wonderful Christmas present!
The next day it was in the divesite Spiral Corner that some deep action and emotion took place. Alex, who had already been to the resort a few times, proposed underwater to his girlfriend Sabrina ... and the mermaid said yes!!! Congratulations to this lovely couple and we wish you a fantastic wedding!
Now critter wise, the price must go to the two gorgeous frogfish found in The Zoo (divesite). One is a clown, Antennarius maculatus, and the other one a juvenile painted, Antennarius pictus. If you look closer on the picture you will notice that the juvenile has a "French manicure" on his nails!
On New Year's Eve everybody was ready for the party and it was a fabulous night!Happy New Year Whale Shark Encounter! Report from Lorenz Maeder (December 2008, Trip36)Diving Conchita (divesite) always presents a promising opportunity to see big marine life. I spent half an hour among a dozen white and blacktip sharks who were cruising around and above me. There were schooling barracudas, giant trevallies and eagle rays in 42 m. Not a bad day at all, but then even more thrills! For the second dive I visited the Waitii Bay to do a reef check (300 m south of Kollo Soha) and found a cleaning station where I was able to swim in the queue with two Mobula Manta Rays for about 25 min before moving on. Just this past week a group of guests had the ultimate surprise, an encounter with a whale shark! This is not an everyday occurrence, but averages about three times a year. The baby whale shark approached the boat and interacted with curiosity for about 10 minutes as the guests snorkeled. We were fortunate to have a guest in the group who had a video camera and was able to get a little footage and some still photos. All photos and video by Glyn Davies.
