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rocman1954
Swarthmore

Great diving, not much for non-divers

3.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed Jul 8, 2017via mobile
The staff at this resort are (mostly) amazing. They are all exceptionally friendly and helpful. My "mostly" remark relates to the restaurant, where, while the staff is also friendly and helpful, they were sometimes inattentive to guests while talking among themselves. The bungalow was so-so. The diving and the dive staff are amazing. Sylvia and Yoeri made every dive an enjoyable and memorable experience. The boat staff were very good. Now, the reason I gave only three stars: very little for non-divers to do. The resort needs more activities for non-divers to prevent boredom. Also, the WiFi in the bungalow was unreliable, and slow when it worked. I don't understand why the WiFi in the bungalows is not as good as in the main building. That should be a simple fix that, at the resort prices, one would expect to have been done.
Date of stay: July 2017
Trip type: Traveled with friends
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    Reviewed July 3, 2017

    Spent a little more than two weeks with a large group of families as UW videographer/media support part of a summer program, Kid's Sea Camp. 40 some odd people with ever changing schedule and boats handled with grace!
    The resort is beautiful and in a idyllic Pacific island setting. One room bungalows for singles or couples and villas for families. You are on a very isolated island with the resort for support and as such, they supply everything needed. The food is outstanding (ask for Americano coffee though!) and the bar is something out of a movie. Spa available, but a bit pricey for Indo, if you ask me.
    The dive team caters to every need. Do not expect to pick up, wash, or set up gear unless you want to. Nitrox analyzing on shore, boat schedule and board prepped the day before. Small dive groups of 4 or 5 per guide. 63, 80, and 100 cbft cylinders available on request in DIN or INT. Hot face towel, dry body towel and warm beverage of choice available on boat immediately after the dive. Dry, AC camera room with outlets of varying international plugs and towels.
    The diving itself consists mainly of wall dives with zero-moderate current. Dives last up to 70-75 minutes and offer gorgeous coral reefscapes, beautiful gorgonians, sponges, soft and hard corals. Macro life is extensive on every site with the highlights including banded sea kraits, pygmy seahorses, oraguntan crabs, decorator crabs, frogfish, scorpionfish, and eels (just to name a few).
    Shout out to all the boys who lugged my gear and camera around as well as Greg, Lisa, Mariza, Silvia, Andrea, Jaka, and Ishmael (sorry if I missed anyone) for some great dives. Also, thanks to Valentin, who I saw on the premise often interacting with customers. Great place you've got.
    Thank you!

    Room tip: Bungalows on beach and behind those, some close to longhouse, some far.
    Date of stay: June 2017
    • Trip type: Traveled on business
      • Value
      • Cleanliness
      • Service
    Thank JAlpert91
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Reviewed July 3, 2017

    I just spent 18 days at Wakatobi Dive Resort with family and friends.
    We flew into Bali Denpasar airport. It's a pretty long haul from the US. You can go through Korea, Hongkong, Singapore, and even Doha to get here. DL, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, and a few others have regular flights. Prices range from about $1800-$2200 Coach and you can get business class starting around $3500 if you buy your ticket early. Once you arrive in Denpasar, you are required to have an overnight stay arriving the day before the Monday or Friday private charter to Wakatobi. I decided on the Discovery Hotel in Bali. It's on the beach, has a big pool and great food, walking distance to shops and very kid friendly. It's about 15min from the airport.

    Wakatobi has a meet and greet service that's very convenient and makes arriving and departing hassle free. We were met inside the baggage claim and received help with our bags, walked through an easy customs and immigration and into a private car to our hotel. The next morning after breakfast around 6:30 we were promptly picked up and taken to a private gate, with easy check in by Wakatobi representatives and then departed on time at 9:30 am for Wakatobi.

    This flight is mostly on time but can have delays due to rain storms that move around the islands. This has happened to us twice. We had to stop in one of the other islands to allow storms to pass. So what is a standard 2.5-hour flight can turn into a much longer adventure. Safety comes first, so when that occurs be glad they have your safety as first priority. I recommend packing a small overnight back with several days of clothes for your travel to and from Indonesia.

    Once you land in Tomia, you are then taken by a 15 min boat ride over to Wakatobi Dive Resort. The resort as Villas, Bungalows and Palm rooms. They are all very different in price. Wakatobi, in my opinion, is a 3 Diamond resort. The Villas come with private butler and pools, and they are extremely spacious without door showers, the Ocean Bungalows are sitting right on the beach. The best Ocean Bungalows are 1-4 as they are sitting on the sandy beach, while the others have a sea wall that does not have a beach but are right on the water's edge. Villa 3 is the only villa without a pool, Villa 4 has the smallest pool, and Villa 1 & 2 are two bedroom villas with large pools.

    The palm bungalows are just about 20ft behind the Ocean Bungalows. #10 and #11 are larger and have ocean views and steps from the beach. The others are scattered around the island with hammocks and tropical plants. They are a similar size to the Ocean bungalows and in my opinion the best value if you don't mind not being on the beach.

    The food is incredible. The chef caters to any dietary needs and that's remarkable considering the remoteness of this island. The chef provided Vegan, Vegetarian, Glutin Free menus as well as took care of the families with nut allergies. We were provided almond milk, soy milk and made from scratch peanut butter. There is a smoothie bar with fresh fruits, gormet omlets and made to order anything you like.

    Activities other than the most incredible diving, is paddle boarding, yoga, snorkeling, knee boarding, Kite boarding, wake boarding, volley ball, soccer with the staff, bird watching, island tour, village tours and culinary classes.

    Kids are very welcome here and it was the perfect place for Kids Sea Camp. Kids were scuba diving on their own boat with their own private instructors. Each day was filled with fun organized activities and marine life presentations and photo classes for the kids. Kids Sea Camp is 2 weeks each year and the best time to bring families.

    Wakatobi Indonesia is a long way to travel, but well worth it. The diving conditions are easy and relaxing. The reefs are pristine with some of the best macro life to be seen any place on earth. Wakatobi is also a tech facility and can cater to rebreathers and mixed gas diving. Freediving is also a sport that can be done as well.

    I highly recommend Wakatobi for family and enjoyed my experience to near perfection.

    Room tip: Ocean Bungalows 1-4 were the best right on the beach. Palm Bungalow #11had ocean views and were a bit larger. Villa #3 has no pool.
    Date of stay: June 2017
    • Trip type: Traveled with family
      • Value
      • Rooms
      • Service
    6  Thank scubamom3483
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Reviewed July 2, 2017

    The diving, the people, the food, the service and attention to details is outstanding. Have never experiened anything like this, although traveling and diving have been our passion for years. We have been to Wakatobi two years in a row and celebrated my 70th birthday there in February 2017. First time in a great bungalow and then in one of their luxurys villas. Please do your self a favor and go there, if you are a passionate diver or want to learn to be a diver. You will not believe the colors of the corals or the variety of fish.

    Date of stay: February 2017
    • Trip type: Traveled with family
      • Location
      • Rooms
      • Service
    1  Thank Hesner
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Reviewed June 26, 2017

    Imagine giving your bags to the staff at the Bali airport and not seeing them again until you arrive at your room an airplane, ride and boat trip away. The luxury dive experience starts now.

    Arriving at Tomeo airstrip , despite the pouring rain , you are greeted by smiling staff who escort you under what is to become the favourite umbrella to you waiting car. It is off to the Wakatobi Dive boats that ferry you to Paradise. Arriving at the hotel, there are more staff members to greet you with huge smiles under more Wakatobi umbrellas. Never a drop in the teeming rain as you reach your Casita. The Indonesian wood and craftsmanship are evident in the structures and furniture.

    Oh , wait lunch is a noon with your first dive at three folllowing your briefing with one of the many smiling dive guides. A shore dive off the dock and we are ready to rock and roll. Over the next seven days we dive 18 dives at a minimum of 75 minutes each.
    Nitrogen, shallow dives and lots of bottom time. No need to go deep here, it all lives in the bright top reef.

    Dives guides who know you are here to njoy and if you have come his far to explore, you are a die heart dive freak. Welcome to dive heaven! One rule, come back in Deco and you are off the island. Safety first as we are a long way from medical care. We brought all our own doctors and nurses.

    Just when you think the dive master can not do enough for you, he or she is offering to make you hot tea of your choice while the crew is busy handing you a hot menthol face towel and fresh beach towel. While changing your tanks, the captain is handing out fresh cut fruit and sandwiches and of course cookies and cakes.

    We get back to the dock and it is teeming. The staff has assembled to hand you a Wakatobi umbrella, not to get wet as you return back to your casita to ready for lunch.
    Unbelievable customer service and always with that beautiful smile.The dive shop led by the beautiful Moe has members from around the globe. They are kind, knowledgeable and always glad to help. Everyone knows your name ,even if you are not diving with them.This reminds me of the theme to "Friends".

    I will let others rave about the fabulous food and the terrific staff and chefs. Always willing to share the global recipes. Take a cooking class and learn about Balenses, Javan and Indonesian foods.

    Get to Wakatobi and meet Bryan and his concierge team.You will not be disappointed.
    It brought tears to my crust soul and the waved good bye on the dock ,seven days later.

    Tip: Please leave a day or two on either side of your flight to Paradise. Weather can play havoc at an airport that operates on visual take off and landings.

    Hilton has nothing on Wakatobi Dive Resort!

    Bill and Carol
    Bonaire

    Room tip: Waterfront if it is in your budget
    Date of stay: June 2017
    • Trip type: Traveled with family
      • Value
      • Sleep Quality
      • Service
    1  Thank William M
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Reviewed June 22, 2017

    Had a ocean front room. shower was outdoors with plenty of hot water. Hot water comes from the air condition unit. If you don't use the air condition, they can hook it up to the electrical circuit.

    Food was 5 stars. there is plenty of food and if there is something that is not there on the tables, they will make it for you.

    Diving was awesome never seen so many fish and soft coral. 1 dive guide per 4 people. Most of the dives were drift dives.

    The resort pays the villages not to fish around the reefs so there are plenty of fish to see.

    Room tip: ocean front is the best and well worth the money
    Date of stay: May 2017
    • Trip type: Traveled as a couple
      • Service
    Thank Dhinkle47
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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