Mixing it up

Snorkelers wanting to mingle with their diving friends or partners will find excellent shallow formations along Sawa Reef. A relaxing choice is Sawa Utara, where a small bay curves towards a corner in the reef. Here on gentle slopes, dense colonies of whip corals, sea fans, and massive barrel sponges decorate the reef. Adding to the scene are frenetic schools of oriental and harlequin sweetlips, color-changing unicornfish, and squadrons of black snappers. As divers navigate the contours of the site, snorkelers can mirror their route from the surface while enjoying unimpeded views of what lies below.

At Vivien’s Reef and Pastel Reef soft corals in shades of yellow, pink and bright orange cover a vertical face that reaches nearly to the surface. Photo by Richard Smith

Moving to the western side of Sawa brings divers and snorkelers to some of the most dramatic dropoffs in the region. Favorites that start shallow and abruptly go deep include Vivien’s Reef, and Pastel Reef, where soft corals in muted shades of yellow, pink and orange cover a sheer vertical face that reaches almost to the surface. For more color, divers can descend to find gardens of neon yellow wire corals spiral out into surrealistic shapes. Even more dramatic contrasts between deep and shallow await at Lorenzo’s Delight, where a precipitous wall rises to within two meters of the surface. Here, divers will want to wave goodbye to the snorkelers and go deep to take in forests of immense yellow wire corals that spiral 15 feet or higher off the wall. On the way back up, divers pass through bands of huge encrusting sponges that cover the wall, and past an overhanging ledge that harbors large sea fans framed in colorful soft corals. Back in the sunlight, they can then spend time with the snorkelers, taking in the bright colors and fish life of shallows.

Whether you’re meandering about the surface or diving down you can share the experience on the reefs surrounding Wakatobi Resort. Photo by Wakatobi Resort

Whether diving deep or floating on the surface, there are many more underwater wonders to discover on the reefs around Wakatobi Resort. And to make these adventures even more special, you can share the experience with partners, family, and friends, whether or not they choose scuba, or mask and fins.

We’re here to help you plan the perfect trip to our island paradise. Email us at office@wakatobi.com. Complete a quick trip inquiry at wakatobi.com

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