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Sea stars are commonly seen while snorkeling at wakatobi

Snorkeling the Reefs of the Wakatobi Regency!

Map of Wakatobi, one of the destinations we visit for our coral triangle adventures snorkeling tours‘Wakatobi’ is the acronym that is based upon the names of the four main islands located in the province of Sulawesi Tengarra, about 100 kilometers southeast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The islands from north to south are WAngi-Wangi (the capital), KAledupa, TOmea, and BInongko. The Wakatobi Marine Conservation Area was established in 1996 to protect the incredibly healthy and diverse reefs around the islands, and in 2002 the entire archipelago became the third largest national park in Indonesia, Wakatobi National Park. In 2012, it was designated as a UNESCO Marine Biosphere Reserve. Rare among the other 17,000+ islands in the Indonesian archipelago, the islands of Wakatobi are part of Indonesia’s largest barrier reef.
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Lying along the junction between the Flores and Banda Seas, the islands are nearly at the geographical center of the coral triangle. Recent surveys have confirmed its status as an area with some of the highest levels of marine biodiversity in the world. Fantastic shallow reefs cluttered with hundreds of species of corals surround the islands and the years of protection have allowed robust populations of reef fish, from the smallest gobies to the largest groupers and sharks, to flourish in the azure blue waters. It’s no wonder that Jacque Cousteau suggested that these islands possessed some of the finest diving in the world.

 


ITINERARY

tour route for Wakatobi snorkeling tour - coral triangle adventuresWakatobi is featured in our special Alor – Wakatobi snorkeling tour in May 2025

DEPARTURES

Wakatobi is featured in our special Alor – Wakatobi snorkeling tour in May 2025

Accommodations: Wakatobi Resort
Guides: TBD
Length:

Prices and Payment schedule:
$TBD USD per person, double occupancy
$TBD USD per person, single occupancy

Reservation deposit: $500 USD
May 1, 2022: $TBD USD / single:
July 1, 2022: $TBD USD / single:

Tour cost includes:

  • Accommodations on day 1 through day
  • All meals on days 2 through  (dinner on day 1 and breakfast on day)
  • All internal transfers including international arrival and departure transfers
  • Non-alcoholic beverages
  • All snorkeling and park fees
  • All gratuities

Tour cost does not include:

  • Round-trip international airfare
  • Additional hotel accommodations and meals as a result of travel outside of the program dates
  • Visa requirements including payments
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • International departure taxes
  • Extra / overweight baggage fees
  • Trip insurance (recommended; (we recommend Travel GuardWorld Nomads, or Travel Insure)
  • DAN insurance (required unless personal insurance program has worldwide emergency evacuation services)
  • Additional accommodations while on tour in the event of flight schedule changes or events of force majeure
  • Fuel surcharges (if applicable)

Cancellation policy:
180 – 91 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
90 days or less prior to departure: 100% of tour cost

Please see our Terms and Conditions


ACCOMMODATIONS

We use the finest resort in Indonesia to host us on snorkeling adventures in Wakatobi, Wakatobi Resort. In Bali, we stay at the Hyatt Regency in the quiet beach village of Sanur. Please visit our accommodations page for more photos or use the link to visit the resort/live-aboard website.

WAKATOBI RESORT

Wakatobi Resort is one of Indonesia’s top 5-star beach resort and is located in the Tukang Besi island group near Tomia, one of the four main islands that makes up the Wakatobi Regency. Their website says it best, “set amidst verdant landscaping along a white sand beach, Wakatobi’s grand villas and bungalows provide the perfect blend of natural surroundings and five-star amenities. Each offers privacy, large shaded porches, climate-controlled comfort and sleeping arrangements for singles, couples or families. Interiors are finished in rich native woods, with separate sitting areas and spacious shower rooms.” Rooms are large and offer twin-share or double occupancy. The dining area is open air and located along the beachfront that allows incredible views of the beach and azure blue sea. More photos 

HYATT REGENCY

The Hyatt Regency in Sanur, Bali, is a beachfront property built on nine hectares of lush tropical gardens. Relax in one of the 363 rooms, designed with contemporary Balinese and Japanese elements and comforts. Each room features a patio or balcony overlooking lush gardens or partial ocean. The property has three gorgeous swimming pools and three restaurants to choose from: Omang Omang, Pizzaria, and Piano Lounge. The hotel is conveniently located near Bali’s main tourist attractions, and the International Airport Ngurah Rai is just 16 km away. Hyatt Regency Bali is a CHSE certified and GBAC STARTMaccredited hotel. Our room type is the Premium King or Twin. These rooms are 39 square meters and feature a sitting/lounging area and a spacious terrace with easy access to the pools, restaurants and gardens. More photos 


WHAT TO EXPECT

Located 5 degrees south of the Equator, Wakatobi experiences year round tropical weather with average air temperatures in the lower 80’s (F) or (upper 20’s C). We can expect some rainfall, but it is usually in the form of early morning or late afternoon showers that pass quickly by. Water temperatures average 82º F (28º C) but with deep water in the area and if there was substantial rain, water temps can reduce into the mid to upper 70's F (mid 20's C).

While water currents are common around the islands,  we often plan our snorkel session around the slack tides when water movement is minimal. We do, however, take full advantage of our dedicated boat and will plan to do a few drift snorkels that allow us to cover large tracks of reef without having to swim too hard. Our snorkel sessions are 100% boat supported and they will be there at all times to assist anyone for whatever reason.

Please read more about our daily schedule.


WHAT TO BRING

The following list is a suggestion of things to bring and applies to almost all our trips. Specific items on a particular departure will be noted on the departure information.

-A good fitting mask, snorkel, and set of fins. If your equipment is brand new, please try it out in the pool. Determining the fit and function of your equipment in the pool includes doing several laps with all your equipment on. Doing several snorkel dives is also very beneficial. It is also important to clean your new equipment, especially your mask. Cleaning procedures for your mask include light scrubbing with toothpaste or dishwasher soap to remove the layer of silicon used to preserve the mask during shipping. Clean both sides of the mask. Doing this greatly reduces the chances of having your mask fog. Not doing this, even when using mask de-fogger, usually results in a fogged mask.

-A wetsuit, rash guard, diveskin, or any type of clothing that can be used for thermal and/or protection from the sun. We suggest bringing a full 3mm wetsuit and some type of core insulation like a vest or shirt made of 1 – 2 mm neoprene (e.g., Lavacore or Sharkskin shirts or vests). These items will not only provide thermal protection but protection from the sun as well. For those who feel that a 3mm suit may be too warm, please consider a full body skin or rash guard to ensure protection from the sun. With regards to thermal protection, remember the saying: It is better to have and not need, than to need and not have. One that note…

-Head protection in the form of a wetsuit hood, a cap, or even a bandana. Anything that can keep the sun off your head is extremely important. It is the most exposed part of our bodies when we are floating on the surface.

-Underwater flashlight on departures with a planned night snorkel

-Biodegradable sunscreen lotion. Sunscreen lotions can be harmful and even kill tiny larvae (baby marine life). It is fine to wear on land, but we highly discourage the use of sunscreen lotions in the water. A full wetsuit or dive skin will protect one from the sun much better than lotions and provide thermal protection. It is truly a win-win for everyone and the marine environment.

-Casual, lightweight, tropical clothing
-Sunglasses (and a spare in case you lose your main pair)
-Comfortable footwear such as active sandals (Teva, Keen, Merrell, etc.)
-Hats. We cannot stress the importance of a hat in the tropics!
-All our boats provide items like shampoo, soap, towels, etc. We bring this up because these items represent added weight or may leak.

Other items to consider:
-Lightweight rainwear to protect from the occasional afternoon shower
-Binoculars


TRIP REPORTS

Wakatobi dive resort - aerial photograph taken by lee goldman - coral triangle adventures

Wakatobi 2018 Trip Report

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