Wakatobi October 3-16, 2017

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Wakatobi pier Wakatobi_014w Wakatobi beach Wakatobi_beach_2006 wakatobi massage Wakatobi diver Wakatobi croc Wakatobi Pigmy Wakatobi cuttle Wakatobi RomaA trip to Wakatobi with a stop in Bali is something I always look forward to and enjoy, and this trip was no exception.  And I’m sure that all in the group, all 17 of us, including some from Texas and Washington D.C., experienced some amazing sights, sounds, and of course – dives!

You would think that, after visiting Wakatobi for the 11th time, that I’d get a little blasé about it, but I can honestly say, that just does not happen. I return home every time with a deeper affection for the island, the resort, and of course the superior diving.

Although amazing even on visit #1, as I think back now, the owners and staff have worked incredibly hard year after year to improve and make Wakatobi resort even more comfortable, more spectacular, and to provide visitors with the absolute ultimate in an exotic dive destination. They’ve grown from 18 to 30 guest rooms, all fully air-conditioned and beautifully decorated. Several rooms have outdoor showers; several have their own private plunge pools.  And then there are the villas – over the top accommodation to make you feel completely pampered in paradise.  The now popular hangout at the Jetty Bar, which didn’t even exist on my first visit is better than ever with the latest expansion.  From large improvements to the tiny details, the resort just continues to evolve and improve.

The Wakatobi staff was friendly and efficient and each and every one went out of their way to be sure we were a happy group. The food was exquisite – truly gourmet. The dive staff took care of our every need, looking after our gear and making sure we got in and out of the water safely and easily. No resort can succeed unless the staff is first rate, and the folks at Wakatobi are exactly that.

The coral reefs in this area seem to just get better every time I visit.  When I commented on this to the owner of the resort his reply was, “Isn’t that the way it should be.”  Well I guess he is right but the reason is that he and his team focus on efforts to minimize fishing, dropping anchors and pollution.  This combined with the deep walls that bring cooler currents to the reefs keep this area pristine.

The icing on the cake for me personally was having my brother and sister-in-law join me. Watching them experience the beauty and wonder of Wakatobi diving through their eyes is a memory I’ll never forget. My sister-in-law came up from the first dive and commented immediately, “I could go home tomorrow and be completely satisfied.”  She was blown away by the healthy corals, the schools of fish, the colorful nudibranchs, and on and on….. This was the very first dive of the trip, and she said it just continued to get better and better.

I couldn’t say it better myself. No matter how many times I return, it just gets better and better.