Wakatobi

Diving Options At 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.