Wakatobi

**jacewindu** · 07-11-2007, 15:41

Anyone been to Wakatobi - small island resort in Indonesia? I've heard amazing things!

**chinacat46** · 08-01-2007, 18:07

I was there in 2004 and am returning this fall. Very pristine reefs and great variety of fish and coral. Lots of kewl stuff as well. If you like macro you will love Wakatobi. Nudibranchs of every color, mandarin fish, cuttle fish, frog fish and more. As much as I like Wakatobi there are a couple of other places in Indonesia I like even more. Lembeh Strait and Raja Ampat with Komodo about tied with Wakatobi.

**Travelnsj** · 08-01-2007, 23:27

I will be there October 2nd...heard a lot of good things....looking forward to it.

**bversteegh** · 08-02-2007, 00:02

I've never been to Wakatobi, but have been to Indonesia 4 times. Wakatobi will be very nice diving; although friends of mine that dove there were a little disappointed with dive restrictions - very strict on bottom time for example. Also, they are photographers, and the dive guides were very strict on keeping the group together (the majority of the group were non-photographers, so traveled much faster) - making it hard to concentrate on one subject for a while. Also, Wakatobi is relatively expensive for Indonesia. If you want to resort dive (vs live aboard, which I did the last 3 times) - I went to Bunaken/Lembeh Straits for 12 days two years ago for around $1500 US (diving, lodging and meals). The other advantage of North Sulawesi (Bunaken and Lembeh) is that it is serviced by a nice modern airport at Manado (direct flight from Singapore four days a week) - other places I have been in Indonesia require traveling through some nasty airports (avoid Jakarta if at all possible).

**chinacat46** · 08-02-2007, 07:08

When I was at Wakatobi they told you 70 mins on the dive. We came up after 70 min on many dives. If 70 mins is restrictive to you stay away from Cozumel. I'll be there in Nov/Dec so I'll see if they have changed things. I'm also going to Lembeh Strait on the same trip. It will be my second time for both places. I wouldn't call the airport at Manado a nice modern airport although compared to Wakatobi it is. I do prefer Lembeh over Wakatobi though and it is easier to get to although the drive from the airport to the resort can be a bit long. I'm staying at Lembeh Resort which also requires a 5-10 min boat ride.

**bversteegh** · 08-03-2007, 00:43

When my friends were there (late 2004), 60 minutes or 50 bar (about 750 PSI); whichever came first were the limits - I remember them complaining when we compared notes. I was in Lembeh at the same time they were in Wakatobi, on the shallow muck sites (diving with Lembeh Resort - very nice and great dive guides) it was not uncommon to have 90 minute dives. Could very well have changed since then, though.

Besides Manado, I have flown into Jakarta and Sorong; Manado was MUCH nicer than either of those 2 (and in my opinion, nicer than any of the airports I have flown into in the Caribbean (Bonaire, Provo, Coz, Cayman, Curacao, Roatan). I will have to admit that the drive from the Manado airport to either the Bunaken or Lembeh side of the island is a little harrowing - narrow roads with mopeds everwhere.

In Jakarta, the customs officer tried to shake me down for duty on my camera equipment (had to prove to his supervisor it was used). In Sorong, no AC, they weighed everything and charged excess baggage cost on every bag ( although to be fair, the end cost was like 15 US after a little negotiation, so not a big deal. The other nice thing about Manado is direct flights from Singapore on Silk Air - Indonesians airlines don't exactly have a great safety record lately........

But all that said, I am sure Wakatobi has great diving - I have heard the house reef is incredible, so that gives you a lot of flexibility if you want to get in some extra shore dives.

**chinacat46** · 08-03-2007, 07:41

Don't even mention the Sarong airport that is fourth world. Got stuck there over 3+ hours waiting for our flight on Lion's Air back to Manado. It was extremely hot and as you mentioned no AC. They did have huge fans on the wall which were turned off. I went and turned one on and people cheered. I'm flying to Manado from Bali in Dec on Garuda keep your fingers crossed. It was either that or fly back to Singapore. When I was in Lembeh earlier this year(Feb) staying at Lembeh Resort they had a 60 min limit on dives. I'll be at both places in Nov/Dec so I'll be able to do a side by side comparision on dive restrictions. But Wakatobi was 70 mins when I was there in Sept of 2004. Also at Wakatobi I did an 80+ min dive on the house reef which has no restrictions. But for me I like Lembeh better it's the critters!!! I'll be staying at Lembeh Resort again as well. Nice place and as you said great guides.

**Travelnsj** · 08-03-2007, 09:27

I am going to get killed on the luggage excess charges....I am headed to Lembeh and then to the Sorido Resort in Raja...3 airlines I am sure each one will charge for the overage going and coming back....Chuck one of those Airlines is Lion Air...were they good?....LOL

**chinacat46** · 08-03-2007, 10:56

Scott you know how I feel about Lion Air. They SUCK ! ! !

**highdesert** · 10-02-2007, 21:30

Originally Posted by chinacat46

I was there in 2004 and am returning this fall. Very pristine reefs and great variety of fish and coral. Lots of kewl stuff as well. If you like macro you will love Wakatobi. Nudibranchs of every color, mandarin fish, cuttle fish, frog fish and more. As much as I like Wakatobi there are a couple of other places in Indonesia I like even more. Lembeh Strait and Raja Ampat with Komodo about tied with Wakatobi.

When you going back? We arrive there 10/19.

Oops, finished reading the thread ....