Advice on Wakatobi shore diving ....

[highdesert]

Off to Wakatobi in October, and I have a question about the shore diving entries/exits there. Is this a place where you want serious soles on your booties, or will something a little softer work? On my only Bonaire trip, I would have been happy with Vibram soles on my booties; those I had were too soft, and downright uncomfortable on the limestone/coral entries to so many dives there. What's the verdict for Wakatobi?

Thanks!

 

[alcina]

I sure hope not - I don't even own boots Let us know how it goes.

You might want to email crispin crispin@wakatobi.com or Henrik henrik@wakatobi.com for the full scoop. We're not going until Oct 08 so figured I had plenty of time to find out

 

[highdesert]

Good idea! Took your suggestion and e-mailed for an answer. Soft sand in the shallows, then seagrass. They ask divers to be off their feet and swimming over the seagrass to preserve it. They say soft booties will do the job. And I thought I had an excuse to buy more gear! I actually wrote back to ask if the entries are all soft enough to consider bringing closed-heel, barefoot fins, which I would rather carry and dive with if I have the choice. I'll let you know what the response is ...

 

[gabyne]

when I was in wakatobi, i just had closed fins and i slowly shuffeled along, over the sand to avoid stingrays or stonefish (didn't see any in the shallows but always good to be careful) with my bare feet. not a problem at all. no surf, no waves or swell.

as stated already, since there are lot of juveniles in the seagrass, you are asked to start swimming on your back quite early not to disturb this delicate area.

not at all comparable with bonaire - I also did this bare footed and it was quite hard...

gaby

 

[alcina]

I'm perfectly happy to start swimming as soon as I have enough water Rather do that than walk any day

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Travelnsj]

I will be in Wakatobi in October also...I'm bringing both my lite booties and heavy ones... last year in Bali....walking on those rocks...Ouch!

 

[bperrybap]

Just got back from a week there. No need for hard soles at all.
Shore there is pure soft sand.There is nothing hard or sharp to worry about.
The way it works for diving the house reef is that you can
enter from soft sand beach or if the tied is low you take a "taxi".
This involves getting a small boat that will take you from the beach
entry point up current to the edge of resort reef.


You then dive along the reef at your leisure and exit either
at the pier or further down at a specific area along the beach.
You have to go further down to exit when the tied is low because
the water level at the pier is too shallow during this time.
There is a specific exit point for low tied that is a gully/inlet
where the dive boats are tied off.
They will meet you on shore at exit and remove your tank from your
BC (while you are still wearing it) so all you are carrying is the BC.
This is really nice and makes the short walk back to the gear area even easier.

Currents vary dramatically depending on lunar phase and
tide level. I dove the reef when the current was REALLY
moving and then the next day at a different time there was
zero current.
There are a couple of inlets along the way where the current
slows down.

It is a great house reef. I saw very large turtles on every dive.
All kinds of life and corals along the wall. There is also a
school of 15 HUGE (4-6ft) bump head parrot fish that hang
out.

Water temps were 77-80F.

You will have a great time!

--- bill

 

[Travelnsj]

Just got back from a week there. No need for hard soles at all.
Shore there is pure soft sand.There is nothing hard or sharp to worry about.
The way it works for diving the house reef is that you can
enter from soft sand beach or if the tied is low you take a "taxi".
This involves getting a small boat that will take you from the beach
entry point up current to the edge of resort reef.


You then dive along the reef at your leisure and exit either
at the pier or further down at a specific area along the beach.
You have to go further down to exit when the tied is low because
the water level at the pier is too shallow during this time.
There is a specific exit point for low tied that is a gully/inlet
where the dive boats are tied off.
They will meet you on shore at exit and remove your tank from your
BC (while you are still wearing it) so all you are carrying is the BC.
This is really nice and makes the short walk back to the gear area even easier.

Currents vary dramatically depending on lunar phase and
tide level. I dove the reef when the current was REALLY
moving and then the next day at a different time there was
zero current.
There are a couple of inlets along the way where the current
slows down.

It is a great house reef. I saw very large turtles on every dive.
All kinds of life and corals along the wall. There is also a
school of 15 HUGE (4-6ft) bump head parrot fish that hang
out.

Water temps were 77-80F.

You will have a great time!

--- bill

Thanks for the info.....but water temps 77 to 80??????....I plan on 82...OMG...it better warm up in the next 10 days!

 

[bperrybap]

Thanks for the info.....but water temps 77 to 80??????....I plan on 82...OMG...it better warm up in the next 10 days!

It was quite funny the first day there watching folks unpack their gear.
I had been diving on the Pelagian for the previous 2 weeks and
was familiar with the water temps (low 70s around Komodo
and mid/upper 70s around Wakatobi area).
There was a group of "testosterone" divers bragging about how
warm it was and how they dive in shorties down into the low 70s
and that they were going to burn up using full wetsuits in these
water temperatures.
After the first boat dive the next morning, a few of these
same guys were running back to the gear area to get their
full wetsuits and hoods.

In their defense, they took a temperature reading of the water
in the shallows along the beach, where afternoon water
temperatures are in the 90's.
But still it was kind of funny, because they had just been bragging
about diving in shorties in water colder than their first Wakatobi
dive.

I'm a weenie. I get cold really easy. I dove in a Mares 5/4/3
trilastic suit with a beanie or hood.

I did notice a thermocline on some of the dives at around
5-15 ft on some sites above the reef. So if you get chilled
toward the end of the 70 minute dive time, you can go
real shallow and warm up during the safety stop and end
the dive looking at all the beautiful colors and smaller fish.

Anyway, I think the water temps are rising, but I'd still
take a beanie or hood if you have it. If not, and you do get cold,
they have some really nice logo'd vests and hoods in the gift shop.



--- bill

 

[Travelnsj]

It was quite funny the first day there watching folks unpack their gear.
I had been diving on the Pelagian for the previous 2 weeks and
was familiar with the water temps (low 70s around Komodo
and mid/upper 70s around Wakatobi area).
There was a group of "testosterone" divers bragging about how
warm it was and how they dive in shorties down into the low 70s
and that they were going to burn up using full wetsuits in these
water temperatures.
After the first boat dive the next morning, a few of these
same guys were running back to the gear area to get their
full wetsuits and hoods.

In their defense, they took a temperature reading of the water
in the shallows along the beach, where afternoon water
temperatures are in the 90's.
But still it was kind of funny, because they had just been bragging
about diving in shorties in water colder than their first Wakatobi
dive.

I'm a weenie. I get cold really easy. I dove in a Mares 5/4/3
trilastic suit with a beanie or hood.

I did notice a thermocline on some of the dives at around
5-15 ft on some sites above the reef. So if you get chilled
toward the end of the 70 minute dive time, you can go
real shallow and warm up during the safety stop and end
the dive looking at all the beautiful colors and smaller fish.

Anyway, I think the water temps are rising, but I'd still
take a beanie or hood if you have it. If not, and you do get cold,
they have some really nice logo'd vests and hoods in the gift shop.



--- bill

Thanks for the heads up.....I only have my 7mm hood when i used to dive CA...and I have not had it on in a while...and i do not want to pack it...LOL....but I do have a vest to go over my shorty....so that is now packed...thanks again.

Scott