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.