Trip Report Wakatobi 11-18 August 2025

[Dan]

My buddy has not been diving for 10 years. So we chose Wakatobi to get her back in the groove. We just did mostly easy morning dives, as shown in Table 1, below.

The diving experience & what we saw underwater are pretty much summarized in a 4:15 trip video, below.



One dive site that we like the most is The Zoo, which I put together a 3:58 video just for that dive site. If you plan to dive in Wakatobi, don’t miss this dive site.

 

[potato cod]

Amazing videos! How would you rate the diving there compared to the other places you have dived in Indonesia? We did the Bali-Komodo trip on Mermaid 1 in July (I know you have done that route--your video from that trip was a big factor in our booking it!) and can't wait to get back to the region.

 

[Joneill]

Thanks, Dan. Coral looked pretty healthy and fish life looked pretty good as well! Any bigger stuff (sharks, manta’s etc.,)?

 

[Dan]

Amazing videos! How would you rate the diving there compared to the other places you have dived in Indonesia? We did the Bali-Komodo trip on Mermaid 1 in July (I know you have done that route--your video from that trip was a big factor in our booking it!) and can't wait to get back to the region.

Thanks!

Bali-Komodo on Mermaid 1 is definitely better for hardcore divers who are, not only like Macro, but also like diving in current and seeing big animals. On the other hand, for those who like easy diving, less experience divers, like to see pretty & healthy corals, enjoy eating delicious food, like to relax in an open bar at the pier, watching sunset, listening to life music played by the crews & guests, Wakatobi is hard to beat.

 

[Dan]

Thanks, Dan. Coral looked pretty healthy and fish life looked pretty good as well! Any bigger stuff (sharks, manta’s etc.,)?

That’s what missing in Wakatobi. We saw no shark, nor manta.

 

[cetacean]

That’s what missing in Wakatobi. We saw no shark, nor manta.

@Dan

When the resort first opened, "The Zoo" and a few other dive sites had a fairly healthy population of reef sharks. They were all fished out before the area became an MPA.

No pelagics at Wakatobi, although very healthy reef and fish life. And there is the story of a whaleshark swimming by the house reef a number of years ago

 

[Dan]

@Dan

When the resort first opened, "The Zoo" and a few other dive sites had a fairly healthy population of reef sharks. They were all fished out before the area became an MPA.

No pelagics at Wakatobi, although very healthy reef and fish life. And there is the story of a whaleshark swimming by the house reef a number of years ago

That’s sad. They need to reintroduce the sharks. The house reef is perfect for juvenile sharks to live and grow.

Raja4Divers & Misool Eco Resort have done it. Some area in Raja Ampat have introduced Zebra shark too.

 

[MikeOWaterloo]

What was the cost like at Wakatobi compared with other locations in Indonesia. I know its more expensive, just curious what ballpark.

 

[TostitoBandito]

What was the cost like at Wakatobi compared with other locations in Indonesia. I know its more expensive, just curious what ballpark.

A lot, comparable to the higher end liveaboards in the region. The cheapest rooms with all food, diving, and your flights from Bali included starts at around $6000 USD per week. Can easily be much more than that with room upgrades, peak season, private guides, or other addons.

For reference, I just paid I think $5800ish per person for a 10 night Raja/MIsool liveaboard (on a good boat).

I've always wanted to go check out Wakatobi cause I love macro and the freedom of shore diving, and probably will at some point, but have never really been able to justify the cost compared to other options around the Indo/Pacific.

 

[tridacna]

A lot, comparable to the higher end liveaboards in the region. It starts at around $700-800 USD/night per person everything, which works out to $4900-5600 per week. Can easily be much more than that with room upgrades, peak season, private guides, or other addons.

Those are bargain basement prices for Wakatobi. Prices can easily exceed $10k/week for some of the better rooms, private flights and tips.