Page 83 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

Wakatobi

a share of the income generated by Conditions
Wakatobi dive tourism in exchange for
adopting more sustainable practices,
such as leaving large stretches of Diving conditions around
reef completely untouched. Other Wakatobi are suitable
contributions go towards education for all levels of divers –
and strengthening local support for the including beginners. Dive
marine park. sites range in depths and
there is prolific coral growth and marine
The local people of the Wakatobi region life at all depths. Numerous sites with
largely belong to the Bajau ethnic soft sand bottoms also make Wakatobi
group – an ethnic group with a long an ideal location for those learning to
seafaring history. Industry and work dive. Likewise, the range of topographies
from walls through to gentle sloped make
has traditionally been based around
WAKAToBI the ocean with many people relying on advanced level training a good option
here too. For experienced divers there are
fishing for both subsistence and trade;
numerous deep walls and drifts.
in some areas there are still traditional
‘Bajo’ villages where the houses are built
(the Tukangbesi Archipelago) on stilts over the water. Visibility is excellent and can reach highs
of 40 meters, on average 15 – 25 meters
can be expected.
Word is beginning to spread about
Wakatobi but it is still relatively new.
Indeed there are even new sites Water temperatures are constant
ising from the depths of the Banda Sea, south east of the mainland of out there waiting to be discovered, throughout the year with the coolest
Sulawesi, the main islands of Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomea, Binongko particularly in the outer atolls which being 26 degrees, through to a high of 30.
R(AKA: Wa-Ka-To-Bi) dish up large portions of all the world’s reef types - are virtually untouched. These pristine On average expect around 28 degrees.
fringing, atoll and barrier - and are served with lashings of healthy corals and reefs could keep one entertained for a
lifetime.
dense schools of fish. Jacques Cousteau was sufficiently moved to claim this
area the finest dive site in the world.

There are two main diving destinations morning to Tomia Island, alternatively it
in Wakatobi; the first (and most is possible to charter a private boat.
pristine) is around Tomia Island
including the islands of Onemobaa, The reefs for Wakatobi diving are
Sawa and Lintea, the second is around unlike any others in the region because
Wangi-Wangi Island including the of the drier climate and uplifted
islands of Kaledupa and Hoga. limestone. Or, in other words, these are
fossilized reefs. This means there is an
There is an airport on Wangi-Wangi exceptionally clean environment due to
Island (Matahora Airport) which is the lack of soil erosion.
serviced by flights from Makassar
which can be reached from either Bali Being a national park, fishing is strictly
or Jakarta. If you are diving the Wangi limited and the reefs of Wakatobi
Wangi region it is just a short boat or are protected, meaning plenty of fish
car ride to your destination, if you are life underwater. These superb reefs
diving around Tomia there are public are supported and protected by the
boats leaving Wangi Wangi every local fishing communities who obtain

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