A few shots from Wakatobi

I got back from my first trip to Indonesia and it was great. Here are some pics.

nice group of shots. can you tell us more about Wakatobi and what it was like?

nice group of shots. can you tell us more about Wakatobi and what it was like?

Sure thing. Wakatobi is a resort in the Banda Sea in Indonesia, reached by a two and a half hour charter flight from Bali. I went there over Christmas and New Years with my wife and teenage son (we all have about 150 dives, and started diving 3 years ago). Wakatobi is a dedicated dive resort, although the snorkeling is good according to a few families that were there with some non-divers. The resort is extremely isolated, and there is little else to do except dive, snorkel, read, and relax. On the other hand, it is easy to do all of those things and not feel like you are missing anything. There are about 25 bungalows, and they are nice and comfortable. The diving is great, although I can't compare it to other locations in Indonesia, as it was my first trip there. It is the best diving I have done by a pretty good margin, though. I have been to several locations in the caribbean, and also twice to Tahiti, just as a point of reference. The house reef is beautiful with an excellent diversity of coral and fish. Both hard and soft coral are everywhere, and so is a tremendous variety of fish, including cuttlefish, pufferfish, stonefish, scorpionfish, lionfish, batfish, crocodilefish, anemonefish, dartfish, quite a few fish that I still have not identified, as well as the more common gobies and butterflyfish. Lots of nudibranchs, too.

There are three boat dives per day, a two-tank morning dive, and an afternoon dive. Of course, you can do additional dives if you wish on the house reef. We did not, because we were there during the rainy season and the currents were a little strong on the house reef. So the boat dives were a better option for us, which was fine. The dive boats are large and designed in the fashion of traditional Indonesian boats. I think that there were 5 or 6 boats, and they use however many they need based on the number of guests. The boats are never crowded at all. There are very accommodating to photographers. The main aspect that made our trip to Wakatobi so enjoyable was that the reefs had lots of beautiful specimens, and they were very healthy. I have already booked a second trip for my family (myself, wife, and teenage son). I think that the weather will be better than over the Christmas holidays, although I have been told that the water is a little cooler. With that said, I would go back during the rainy season, as the diving was still great.

- Erwin

thanks for the report and a belated welcome to wetpixel.

sound slike you had a nice time.

btw folks might be keen to know what sort of gear you're using.

darren

Thanks for the photos and the description of the area and resort. Really enjoyed the shots, that top shot really keeps on catching my eye with the position of the fish and the coral wrapping (also liked the others )

Dive, read & relax is just my speed. One day I have to make a trip to those areas

... that top shot really keeps on catching my eye ....

forgot to mention I think the light is really nice in that image too

Thanks everyone. I have been lurking around these forums for a while, and it is fun to participate. I have updated my signature with the equipment that I am using. I just got a 60mm macro Nikkor, too. I am looking forward to using it.

I've been looking into Wakatobi myself. I had been chatting with a couple who have dived all over Indonesia and they reckon its the best place to dive for both reefs and Muck.

Then again since its supposedly so clean muck probably isn't the right word.....macro!

Thanks for the Wakatobi report, EDPdiver.

I am heading there in June with my fiance, so I am glad to hear your positive review.

Nice pics too!

Thanks for the Wakatobi report, EDPdiver.

I am heading there in June with my fiance, so I am glad to hear your positive review.

Nice pics too!

ohoho, same thing here, I'll be there in 3 weeks, so thanks, fantastic timing

and great pictures, thanks for sharing!

Thanks for posting. I think the second shot is a winner!

Thanks for posting. I think the second shot is a winner!

edp,

I too am intrigued by the second shot. It is really striking and different!!!

Thanks, Carol