Wakatobi Dive Resort

We started planning a trip to Wakatobi in November of 2021. We paid our deposit on time. The first of May we had to cancel our trip due to my husband's health and the fact that he can no longer dive. While I am aware that not all of our deposit would be returned, they have failed to return any of it and just keep getting told they are busy. Obviously they are perfectly willing to take your money, just not adhere to their own cancellation and refund practices. Will no longer recommend.

Before I arrived, I thought a dive trip to Wakatobi would be a once in a lifetime, dream come true luxury adventure. The private plane ride to the island, the dive staff to guest ratio at 5 to 1, the dive boat with a real restroom onboard, a stunning ocean villa with our own butler, fabulous food, cocktails watching the sun set and listening to the waves, night snorkeling on my schedule above the amazing house reef, incredible marine life and great visibility on every dive…that’s what I was expecting. I have to say, the people, the facilities, the environment- everything about Wakatobi exceeded my expectations. I honestly don’t know how it could get any better.

Our first and certainly not the last trip to Wakatobi! Amazing dives - all the dive sites were simply gorgeous with rich and beautiful marine life. What makes the trip extremely memorable was the service we received. Our dive guide, Yusuf, was one of our best guides we have had, within our 12 years of diving. Our son just obtained his junior open water certification 2 months ago and this was his first dive trip. Yusuf was very patient and took really good care of him underwater, and after 9 dives, he is now a much more confident diver. Yusuf is very knowledgeable about the marine life and was always showing us the different beautiful and interesting sea creatures - Pygmy seahorses, leaf fish, crocodile flathead fish, scorpion fish, lion fish, sea snake, turtles… The restaurant team is also fantastic. Special thanks to Ibram and Diman, who noted our preferences of food and drinks. All these attention to details by the staff really makes our trip memorable. This level of personalised service is what sets Wakatobi dive resort apart from many of the other luxurious dive resorts we have been. We will be back soon to this paradise island!

This was my first visit to Wakatobi Dive Resort and it will definitely NOT be my last. I discovered this resort by hearing praises from other divers and booked just before the pandemic hit. Unlike other postings on this website, I had no problem with Wakatobi continuing to revise my reservations and maintaining the pricing they quoted from 2019. This resort takes care of you from the moment you step off the plane in Bali (they met me off the jetway!) until you depart the country. The service was impeccable in all respects. No request was met with a "can't do" for the entire 17 nights I was at the resort. The diving was incredible -- every inch of real estate covered by healthy corals--and the divemasters are simply superb at locating incredible finds. I think I saw various types of Pigmy Seahorses on every dive. Crocodile fish, Leaf Scorpion Fish, Ghost Pipefish and even Lembeh Sea Dragons did not escape the keen eye of my Divemaster Yusuf! The dive boat was spacious, clean and well-appointed. My boat crew was fantastic and the restaurant service excellent. A shout out to my dive crew and Wira in the picture attached. I will see you all again!

I cancelled our trip under the terms of our contract, expecting to only be reimbursed for 12.5% of the 25% deposit. I cancelled before the due date of full payment over 90 days before departure. Two months after this request, they are now telling me they will not be honouring their original contract due to Covid. I find this unacceptable.

After flying into their private airstrip and taking a short boat ride to the small resort, we encountered the staff waiting for our arrival. The 70's version of the TV show Fantasy Island suddenly popped into my head. And that's pretty much what it felt like I was living in for a week. I cannot say enough (as others said) about the exceptional service. The staff remembers everyone's name, which is such a nice touch. They go out of their way to make sure your experience is perfect, starting with a greeting sign at the jetway! As you exit the airport you see many signs of drivers waiting for their party. Wakatobi somehow got right to the plane. Wow! Any minor issue, and they will try to be sure it is taken care of. I was unfamiliar with how dive computers work, and several people made sure I knew how to use it. Internet access was a great lifeline. Spotty, but sometimes as fast as home. The food was fantastic…BUT several people in our group and others at the resort had some intestinal issues. We never could determine a cause. Others ate the same food and had no problems. But I recommend having a good stock of immodium ready at the first sign. You don't want that distraction when diving at all their spectacular dive sites, which are usually within a 10 minute boat ride. We only had one night dive. More would have been a nice option. I really enjoyed the excursion to the nearby village. The young kids followed us around, and it's interesting to see life in a remote Indonesian village. The behind-the-scenes tour was also fascinating. Wakatobi has a very interesting relationship with the area - some money goes for conservation, agreements are made not to fish in the area, and a large number of people are employed or helped by this small resort.

Wakatobi Dive Resort has the most stunning house reef for endless dives and snorkeling. The surrounding dives sites will also take your breath away with beautiful seascapes and endless critters to find and discover. The staff are so gracious and courteous. The professionalism they show to ensure you stay is the best it can be is amazing. The dive staff are super talented and their knowledge of the reefs are second to none.

As older divers, my husband and I went to Wakitobi to dive with maximum freedom and yet constant care. Everything WAS top care and kindness. To help celebrate my 70th birthday, we were given a special candlelit dinner away from the restaurant - just for the 2 of us with a complimentary bottle of wine! I love turtles and on one dive saw 18 turtles! The best!

Amazing diving on pristine reefs. The dive boats and staff are perfect, they looked after us really well with little touches such as heated and scented flannels after each dive, along with home made cakes. Dive groups of no more than 4 with each dive master. A special mention for Kiara who looked after us really well. The accommodation is really nice, not over the top but idyllic and beautiful. Around 200 staff looking at a maximum of 60 guests.

Our room on the water was gorgeous with a great view of the water. Roomy front porch is a great place for filling out your dive log or taking a quick nap. I loved the outdoor shower. We enjoyed the open air restaurant. The staff were all extremely accomodating making special meals when necessary due to our unique dietary requirements. All of the staff were attentive,friendly and polite. We felt like family by the end of the trip. The staff are incredibly helpful offering advice and any service you can think of to include photography instruction!! It takes a couple of days to get here from the US, but well worth the trip! We were met in Bali by Wakatobi staff who called the hotel when the shuttle hadn't arrived and met us again in the morning for our concierge service onto the charter flight to the island. If you are looking for an exotic get away off the beaten path without huge crowds, gorgeous reefs, tons of fish (no pelagics) this is the place to go!!