I have a flyer from Wakatobe resort in Indonesia that looks great.  Has
anyone been there and what can you tell me?
Thanks,  Pat

Pat, I have been a couple times. I found it superb for a small land based
resort.

The first time I went was in 1999 and an extended boat ride (from Kendari)
was necessary to visit. When I went in 2004 we holed up in Bali and Wakatobi
sent a charter plane over to pick all of us up. They built a landing strip
on Tomia so Wakatobi has become far more accessible. The approach to
Wakatobi from the air really is a sight to see. The surrounding reef system
is like a siren calling to your scuba diving soul.

Were I you I would not stay in the main house, but rather in a Grand
Bungalow. Some are garden and some beach. Take a beach. They have been
adding AC to all residences as they were able to increase their power
output, and by now I believe they are complete, but e-mail Crispin before
booking to find out for certain ( crispin@wakatobi.com ). There is a
beautiful fine sand beach, few if any bugs (which I thought was quite
strange but it's what I experienced), and an ever increased list of services
for the guests.

I thought Wakatobi is one of the best weeks of diving a person can do from a
land based operation. It's quiet, the resort is nicely done and nicely run,
the food is sometimes extraordinary and the diving is predictably splendid.

I believe I could spend a week or two at Wakatobi and do nothing but dive
the house reef. This isn't a house reef like those found in the Caribbean or
other locations, this house reef is immense, teeming with life, healthy in a
way few diving areas are, and always rewarding in the critters it offers and
the fish that inhabit it's area. I don't think one could overstate just how
good the diving is on this reef. The boat accessed reefs are equally
rewarding, but the house is so easy and so good you may very well find
yourself doing 50% of your dives there. But if you are looking for big fish,
this isn't the place except for the incidental arrival of some pelagics.
This is coral reef diving, but within that sphere is amongst the best I have
seen. In my view only Raja Ampat could be considered better.

I highly recommend Wakatobi for all the reasons above as well as the fact
that it will be one of the few places a diver can visit reefs so fresh and
lacking in damage. I wish everyone could see this place, but with the
ability to accommodate a few more than 1,000 people per year (some of whom
never dive) it's very likely that this will forever remain a place that few
divers get to dive.

If you have questions that my comments above do not answer please ask here
and I'll try to help. This isn't the easiest place to get too, but it has
become decidedly easier to access since the landing strip was built and they
began sending the charter over for passengers.

Pat,

Nice destination with healthy corals, variety of critters, good food
and very relaxing atmosphere. Don't expect big animals.  I was there in
June and lots of sunshine.

Davis AZ