Need information on Tukangbest diving on Hoga Island in Wakatobi

[kathydee]

I found this "budget" kickback backpackers alternative to the expensive Wakatobi resort in Sulewesi Indoneisa. Has anyone been? Tukangbesidiving.com is a small budget dive resort on an almost uninhabited island surrounded by a beautiful sea house reef where you can enjoy your dive holiday perfectly. This diving holiday island is a little paradise in the national marine park W

I'll be hanging in the area for a few months this summer. I;d love information or even a partner if anyone interested in going !

Maybe Manado (Lembeh/Bunakan) next? I know budget backpackers there too !!!

 

[weeksd]

hi-i have been to wakatobi twice. I probably will go back again as the diving is great. Wakatobi does pay for 23 miles of reef not to be fished so there will be more fish there but the walls are covered with marine life as there is alot of tidal action so the filter feeders have alot of nutrients in the water. The only hard part of the backpacker resort you have picked is it will take 2 days from bali to get there. But you are going for a long enough time so the getting there will not affect your trip. There is a large 50 foot high speed ferry service to the island about once a day as well as the low speed ferry service every day also. Wakatobi has about 900 species of life in the area so bring a good id book. But even then i still can't find some species i have photographed in the books i have. Have a great trip.

 

[kathydee]

hi-i have been to wakatobi twice. I probably will go back again as the diving is great. Wakatobi does pay for 23 miles of reef not to be fished so there will be more fish there but the walls are covered with marine life as there is alot of tidal action so the filter feeders have alot of nutrients in the water. The only hard part of the backpacker resort you have picked is it will take 2 days from bali to get there. But you are going for a long enough time so the getting there will not affect your trip. There is a large 50 foot high speed ferry service to the island about once a day as well as the low speed ferry service every day also. Wakatobi has about 900 species of life in the area so bring a good id book. But even then i still can't find some species i have photographed in the books i have. Have a great trip.

Thanks for the information! Have you actually been to this backpackers dive shop or just to the main wakatobi resort. I am wondering if the diving is similar.

Don't mind the long transit, it's all part of the fun ;-). I believe there is a flight that makes it all easier. Any other suggestion for other ways do dive wakatobi on a semi-backpackers budget?

 

[weeksd]

hi- i have just been to wakatobi but we see the interisland ferry just about everyday. The walls and reefs should be just as nice at hoga as the currents are 3-4 knots. The airstrip on Tomea is a private airstrip owned by wakatobi. As one of the guides did the interindonesia transit from bali it took 2 days of interisland ferry as well as flights. Maybe flights go from kendari-beubau now. It has been 1 years since i was at wakatobi last and things change.

 

[Seahorse2]

Hey I have stayed at the resort on Hoga and it is well worth it. The wall off the beach is spectacular with lots of trevally. There is also a pinnacle to the N that is also good. The reportedly best diving is on the very north facing side but usually the waves close this down for most of the year. The resort is owned by Pak Kasim from Bau Bau and he never is there or dives. He owns Wolio Travel (also a lawyer) reachable at 62-022-1189. If in Bau Bau stay at his 'Hill House' bungalows above the Wolio fort. One of the nicest hotels in central Indonesia. Beautiful views out over the island studded bay in Bau Bau. THe resort on Hoga is very nice made of iron wood. There are lots of mosquitoes. Bring anti-malarial meds and repelents. There is no electricty and not many people know about it so you will probably be alone except for the staff and students at 'Operation Wallacia" down the beach. A dutch woman also rents bungalows her but she is involved helping the locals so the bungalows are built by local villagers from Kaledupa and the proceeds go to them. Her name is Gertje and her dive guides name is Imin Beng, his mobil phone number is (628)1355-459-398. I belive she now handles diving for both resorts. When I was there there was no compressor so to dive I just went down to Operation Wallicia and made friends. This was during their off season so anybody could dive when they wanted for cost. I have just returned from Raja Ampat where I rented a boat and camped and snorkled for a week with my wife. If your interested in doing this area more cheaply than the two resorts drop me a line. Also if you are going to be in Kendari anytime soon call my wife Rima (62)81337598918. She can help you out and her english is pretty good. She will be leaving about July 20th but until then she can help you with finding the right ferry and anything else. Good luck