Ai Futaki’s Return to Wakatobi
Fins and mask in hand, world record freediver Ai Futaki moves through Wakatobi Dive Resort with quiet reverence. For Ai, the turquoise and violet waters just beyond Wakatobi’s shore are more than stunning. They hold sentimental memories. As she returns once again, it feels like a reunion between old lovers. With an open heart, she approaches the water ready to learn from the deep blue as if she has lived beneath its surface in a past life. Though peace seems to follow her wherever she goes, Ai views it as a challenge that must actively be cultivated. Moreover, she nurtures it with intention, hoping to give back to what she cherishes most: our oceans.
In the summer of 2025, Ai made her return to Wakatobi Dive Resort—a place and community that captured her heart and respect long ago. During this visit, she shared reflections from her evolving relationship with free-diving and the sea, shaped by years of marine advocacy and exploration. Notably, Ai was thrilled to see that the health of Wakatobi’s reef system had not only been maintained but had improved since her last visit. “Usually, other reef systems I dive are very damaged at the surface due to rising temperatures and traffic,” she explained. “But Wakatobi is the only place I know where the very top of the reef is actually healthy too— this is very rare.“
More Than a Sport
While Ai might hold the record for women’s free diving, this isn’t her primary motivator for staying submerged. In fact, the sport of free diving doesn’t pique her interest as much as it had previously. Now more than ever before, the immersive and meditative aspects of free-diving keep her inspired to go further. On every dive Ai takes, there is a sense of oneness and tranquility with the underwater world. Her goal, as she simply states, is “to be the same as the underwater wildlife, to experience what the other animals do.”
Freediving eliminates the exhaust divers experience when using the conventional open circuit regulator system. In other words, when you free dive, it’s just you. There’s no tank strapped to your back. Consequently, there are no sounds emanating from the bubbles that would otherwise flood the environment with unnatural noise and scare away sensitive wildlife. This creates an incredibly intimate underwater experience, allowing divers to come as close to the natural world as possible.
This way, Ai isn’t scared to get up close and personal with the wildlife—and perhaps even more remarkably, the wildlife isn’t afraid to approach her. Shortly after her visit to Wakatobi, she was invited to present her own exhibition at the Women’s Pavilion Expo 2025 in Osaka, held in partnership with Cartier. The showcase featured a mesmerizing photographic print collection capturing her otherworldly encounters with marine life: Ai dancing beneath the aquamarine surface alongside spectacular pelagics like mantas, seals, and even whales. The exhibition was a visual ode to coexistence—Ai’s reminder that humans are one part of the family of life that lives together on planet Earth.
Wakatobi Resort is really honest. They walk the talk. It’s not just beautiful on the surface. The entire team is committed to transforming tourism into something that gives back—to the reefs and to the people.
As a keynote speaker at the expo, Ai joined the CEO of Cartier on stage for a live panel conversation, where she shared stories from her underwater journeys. She was excited to share her recent experience at Wakatobi, highlighting its colorful reefs, pioneering sustainability model, and how it shows that true luxury is defined by meaningful impact.
Walking the Talk: Wakatobi’s Living Reef Legacy
“Wakatobi Dive Resort is really honest,” Ai explained to the panel. “They walk the talk. It’s not just beautiful on the surface. The entire team is committed to transforming tourism into something that gives back—to the reefs and to the people. I have dived all over the world. Often, locals say the reef’s best days are gone. But at Wakatobi, the reef is alive, the fish are vibrant, the animals seem joyful! You can feel the difference their protective efforts have made over the past 29 years.”
At Wakatobi, the outlook is clear: the best days of the reef are not stuck in the past. The resort is proof that with strategy and care, the reef’s future is as vibrant as its present. Outside the spotlight of the expo, Ai shared more personal reflections.
“If I could send one message to the world about ocean protection,” Ai says, “it might not sound directly about the ocean at first… but I really believe we have to take care of ourselves first. You have to know thyself. If you’re not healthy, if you can’t love yourself, how can you do that for others— or for nature? When you feel harmony inside, you will have more space to do positive things out in the world.”
She pauses, thinks for moment, and then adds, “Being at Wakatobi really helps with that. You’re surrounded by a healthy reef, and that makes you feel peaceful. And especially the team here— they’re always smiling, they’re always warm, and they make everyone feel good. And you know what? I heard other guests saying: ‘I wish all places were like Wakatobi!’”
Ai’s observations highlight not only Wakatobi’s rare environment, but the people behind it’s legacy.
Ai’s observations highlight not only Wakatobi’s rare environment, but the people behind its legacy. Wakatobi’s commitment to its guests and the ocean is evident in its dedicated team. The dive professionals are natural advocates, demonstrating their care through actions: how they educate guests about the marine world, how they respect the reef, and how they foster a supportive, harmonious atmosphere. This kind of environment lifts everyone up. Truly, the Wakatobi team brings Ai’s reflections to life; it’s this spirit that consistently draws guests back.
“For me, this is my mission,” Ai explains, “to be a bridge between the underwater world and humans. We’re not the owners of this planet. We’re part of it. And if we want to live in harmony with the sea, we must start by being in harmony with ourselves.”
Contact us at office@wakatobi.com to learn more, or complete a quick trip inquiry at wakatobi.com. A guest experience consultant will be in touch with you to answer your questions and provide information about your next dream dive vacation.
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