The Wakatobi

The Wakatobi is situated in the western area of the Banda Sea. It is a tropical paradise with beautiful beaches and pristine reefs.  The Wakatobi Dive Resort on Tolandono island (near Tomia) is currently the major dive resort within the Wakatobi, although a small backpacker dive operation exists on Hoga Island called Tukangbesi Diving that runs dive packages around Hoga. On Hoga island there is also the marine research centre run by Operation Wallacea from where diving occurs; this is  conservation research diving only to which paying volunteers are welcome to sign up.

Some of the best places can only be reached by liveaboard boat though, and a number of liveaboard charters can be booked that include visits to the Wakatobi. Grand Komodo and Wakatobi Dive Resort are among a number of companies that run such charters. The Operation Wallacea research vessel (MV Bintang Sedang) also tours the Wakatobi during the summer months conducting volunteer based reef monitoring and cetacean surveys. For Wakatobi liveaboard info click here

Here we review all divesites within the Wakatobi known to the authors, but this is by no means a complete list, we would welcome any additional contributions to this list.

To download list of divesite GPS coordinates click here

To download a copy of the Wakatobi navigation chart click here

Wangi-Wangi

A number of great dive-sites exist around the Island of Wangi-Wangi, many of which are accessible all year round, the large harbour at Wangi-wangi is also a very useful place to anchor or moor-up for supplies. A particularly spectacular yet hair-raising site is Karang Gurita (Octopus Reef), due to the very strong currents (many unpredictable downwellings) this is one of the best sites in the park for seeing ‘large pelagics’ and ‘big-things’. Large barracuda, reef sharks and Hammerheads have recently been sighted here.  Wangi North Wall (Barrier reef near Waha) is a great area for wall diving that is often a high speed drift, during the later summer when devil rays commonly frequent the area this is a good place to see them. An interesting site is the Wangi Pinnacle (NW Wangi), although the top of this deep pinnacle was dynamited a number of years ago (hence it makes a good anchor point) this can be a great night dive with lobsters, Spanish dancers and pencil urchins a common sight. Other good locations around Wangi-Wangi are the reef walls of Pulau Kapota and Pulau Kapenaue.

Hoga and Kaledupa

Diving around Hoga offers many varied dive sites (see above map - Operation Wallacea) that can cater for all levels of experience and interest. The divesites close to Hoga are some of the most heavily dived sites within the park due to the close proximity of the Operation Wallacea base, however due to their conservation ethics limited diver damage exists. Along the west coast of Hoga is a steep Operation Wallacea ‘home reef’ where a whole series of mooring buoys exist to make diving relatively easy. These buoys are designed only for small buoys and should not be used for mooring large boat potentially damaging reef. As these buoys are provided by Operation Wallacea it is best practice to first ask permission to use them, the Hoga research centre operates a VHF service enabling simple communication.

At the Northern section of this wall are some of the more interesting sites as these comprise a mixture of pinnacles, saddled ridges, lagoon bowl reefs and deep water drop-offs that can vary from day to day in what you’ll see. The outer-pinnacle is an impressive dive that hides a deep water ridge leading to crazy corner and ridge 1 – this is a great dive. The north wall is often difficult to dive due to poor weather, however this is also a recommended site due to sheer scale and enormity of sponges, corals and reef walls (this is also a site to be cautious with currents). Coral gardens and the coral bowl are also worth a visit. Operation Wallacea also operate a deep water mooring that can can be used (when available) with permission, it is also possible (tidally dependent) to moor close to the villages of Ambeua and Sampela.

Their also exists a number of great Wall dives off the northern west and east coasts of Kaledupa, a particularly impressive dive is Kaledupa double spur (close to the northern tip on the eastern coast of Kaledupa). Although there are areas of bomb damage this is a good site for seeing turtles and the deep water walls are very impressive for their caves and swim throughs.

For additional info on Hoga and Kaldeupa dive sites download a pdf click here

Tomia and Biningko

The popular Wakatobi Dive Resort is situated on a small island Pulau Tolandono (near Tomia), the reefs around the resort are well protected and hence remain stunning examples of Indo-Pacific coral reefs at their finest. Although no one has the right to own the coastal realm within SE Sulawesi the Wakatobi dive resort effectively controls the waters surrounding the island of Tolandono. Anyone keen to dive these reefs may face obstruction from the resort or park rangers working on behalf of the resort; it is advised that before diving visitors consult with the dive resort who may be willing to allow access.

Close to the Wakatobi dive resort is their home reef which is frequently described as the 'Best House Reef in the World'. It features turtles, rays, batfish, crocodile fish, scorpion fish, ghost pipe fish, leaf fish, four species of pigmy seahorses and much more. Their are around forty known dive sites around the resort including impressive pinnacles and ridges as well as a small wreck dive.

It is possible to moor at the village of Waha where their is a small harbour and a number of mooring sites, it is advised that visitors consult with park rangers within the village. From this site their are number of stunning dives (but be careful of strong currents). To the right of the jetty (when facing island) 400m from the shore is a wonderful reef full of life and packed with big trevally and emperor. In between the reef and the shore is a lagoon covered by foliose corals at around 30m depth which can make a good dawn or dusk dive.

The Northern Atolls

Anano and Pulau Runduma make great dive sites although current can often be strong, their is a good chance of seeing sharks, whilst the reefs are in very good condition. Their are a number of pinnacles in between the two islands that make a great couple of dives. With a small vessel it is possible to moor within Runduma lagoon in front of the village, however the entrance is small and requires careful manoeuvre.

The South East Atolls

Karang Koromaha: this is an atoll, about 6 km across, relatively close to Tomea island in the west. There exists numerous dive sites on the outer rim in the north and northwest close to the two entrances to the atoll. The walls are nicely covered with black corals, large sponges, whip corals and gorgonians. The site is good for night dives on the walls.

Karang Koka: this atoll lies to the southeast of Binongko island. The atoll is very large with two entrances in the south and a third in the east. Great walls, caves and overhangs. Impressive diving! The outer rim on the east has the best dive sites. It is possible to anchor in the calm area inside the atoll allowing additional days trips to Moromaho. 

Moromaho island: this is a small island with a lighthouse. Many divers have described this as some of their best ever diving with an unparallel abundance of fish, diving is hard work due to persistent currents but reports suggest it is well worth the hard work and long journey to the remotest Wakatobi island.

The Western Atolls

The western atoll offer reasonable diving and have the bonus of many anchor points within the large atoll lagoons. Karang Tokabao has one thin entrance but the lagoon is deep, this creates large flow of water on an ebbing tide that can make for a very fast drift dive, often including lots of large pelagics.

For additional info on wakatobi dive sites click here