How guests make a visit to Wakatobi Resort even more special

Any stay at Wakatobi Resort is sure to create marvelous memories. Some guests ensure this by scheduling their visit to coincide with significant life events such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and holidays. We are always happy to go the extra mile to ensure these special occasions. The intimate nature of the resort, the high level of personal service we pride ourselves on providing, and our capacity for personalization, make Wakatobi an ideal place to turn those special occasions into truly unforgettable memories. Here are some such recollections, as described by our guests.

The moments were magical when Benita Fuson and Kevin Hacken said “I do” amidst a stunning oceanfront setting created by the Wakatobi Resort team. Photo by Wakatobi Resort

A special day surprise

When Elizabeth Hill and Matt Westphal arrived at Wakatobi with a group from Silent World Diving, they brought a secret with them. Months before, the couple had decided to tie the knot, and do it while on vacation at Wakatobi. Details of the event were arranged with our Bali office well in advanced, but none of their traveling companions knew of their marriage plans. “Even the trip leader didn’t have a clue,” Elizabeth recalls, “and the Wakatobi staff did a great job of keeping the secret.” The couple’s magical day started with a private sunrise ceremony on the beach, followed by breakfast for two served on the deck of their Villa.

The couple’s magical day started with a private sunrise ceremony on the beach, followed by breakfast for two served on the deck of their Villa.

Then, while the group was out on morning dives, the resort staff placed invitations in the rooms of each of their friends, announcing the marriage and inviting everyone to a sunset reception featuring champagne and canapés at the Jetty Bar. “They were all truly surprised,” Elizabeth says, “and there were few tears of happiness. Everything went just as we had hoped.”

Couples can get into the Wakatobi Flow with a rejuvenating couple’s massage at the Spa. Photo by Wakatobi Resort

The couple’s special day continued with a private catered lunch of local delicacies served on their Villa deck, and a post-dive visit to the spa for massages. Following the sunset reception, the wedding day concluded with a romantic candlelit dinner.

Resort staff put special care and attention into every detail to create some of life’s most memorable experiences for guests. Photo by Wakatobi Dive Resort

“The food was delicious, the setting was amazing and every detail was taken care of with such loving care and perfection,” Elizabeth says. “They even arranged for a photographer to capture the events of the day, so we have photos, which we’ll now cherish forever. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.”

The wedding day was the highlight of the Westphal’s time at Wakatobi, but there were many more special occasions during their visit. “Everything about our trip to Wakatobi was wonderful,” says Matt. “The diving was fantastic. And the staff did an excellent job at handling our different diving styles and interests.”

A promise kept

Several years ago, Jim Bishop had to cancel upcoming anniversary plans due to a medical procedure. “I promised I would make it up to my wife, Judy,” he says. As avid divers, the Bishops knew of Wakatobi, and a visit to the resort had long been on their list of destinations. Jim decided to fulfill his promise with a surprise. On their anniversary a year after his canceled plans, Jim folded a confirmed Wakatobi reservation into a greeting card. “I’d booked a week at the resort followed by a cruise on the Pelagian liveaboard, on a date exactly one year later.” he says. “This trip to Wakatobi made up for all of my past anniversary mistakes. It also gave my wife a year to look forward to the trip!”

It’s a welcome sight to return to your villa or bungalow at the end of the day to find turn down service, and perhaps a personalized palm frond design on the bed. Photo by Jim Bishop

The anticipation was justified, Jim recalls. “Based on comments from previous guests, we had high expectations for our trip,” says Jim. “The resort, staff, the diving and especially the service exceeded all our expectations.” What makes the service at Wakatobi so exceptional,” he says, “is the little details and personal touches the staff provides.“ “We looked forward to seeing the unique towel art and other decorations the staff created in our room. A special moment was coming back from a dive and finding Happy Anniversary written at the foot of our bed. It made the day.”

“What makes the service at Wakatobi so exceptional is all the little things and personal touches the staff provides.”

The Bishops were also impressed with the diving at Wakatobi. “The diving was incredible, unlike anything we’d done before,” Judy recalls. One dive stands out, she says. “Right after we dropped into the water at Roma, we were surrounded by a school of more than 70 Barracuda.

A particularly memorable dive at Roma for the Bishops included a school of barracuda swirling about when they entered the water. Photo by Wakatobi Resort

They made three and a half rotations around us and then departed.” Equally memorable was their time aboard the Pelagian, she says, which included encounters with mandarinfish, blue-ringed octopus and free-swimming frogfish.

Sharing the memories

Couples aren’t the only ones who come to Wakatobi for special occasions. The resort is equally well suited for families looking to create poignant holiday memories. The spacious bungalows and villas allow families to stay together, and in addition to diving and snorkeling, there are a whole range of additional activities to share, from water sports to island tours and Indonesian cooking classes. By engaging a private dive or snorkel guide, a family can discover the resort’s underwater treasures at their own pace. And for those times when adults wish to enjoy some grown up time, there are nannies, as well as engaging activities for older children.

By engaging a private dive or snorkel guide families and individuals have opportunities for underwater discoveries they may not have otherwise experienced. Photo by Walt Stearns

These were just some of the reasons why the Sanford family chose Wakatobi for a Christmas/New Year’s vacation. Parents Cathy and Lindsay traveled to the resort with their 13-year-old son Connor and 16-year-old daughter Nicole, and were able to enjoy Wakatobi together. “We prefer resorts that are small with a unique character, and also those that make good use of local resources and give back to the community,“ says Cathy. “We chose Wakatobi because it embodies all these qualities. My research also indicated that the diving was spectacular, which we certainly found to be true.”