At Wakatobi, getting away doesn’t mean being out of touch.
In our hyper-connected world, it can be a real pleasure to get away and unplug. That’s certainly one of the charms of Wakatobi Resort. Whether you are submerged on a coral wall, walking a deserted beach or enjoying a sunset libation at the Jetty Bar, the concerns of the outside world seem far away.
But while getting totally off the grid is appealing, it’s not always practical. That’s why, behind the scenes, Wakatobi maintains solid contact with the outside world. So should the need arise, guests can easily reconnect to attend to business or resolve unexpected events without major interruptions to their holiday plans.
Multiple lines of communication
After flying into our private airstrip on the relatively remote island of Tomia and taking a boat ride to the smaller island that is home to Wakatobi Resort, it might seem like you are a million miles from anywhere. However, the resort is actually linked to the global communications grid through various technologies. The Internet and email reaches our idyllic oceanside palm grove, both in the form of a Starlink satellite link and as a terrestrial connection that provides a backup should weather interfere with the satellite.
The islands of the Wakatobi group are now linked to cellular service, and it is possible to send and receive SMS texts or make voice calls to anywhere in the world. In the unlikely event that the cell network is down, texts and calls can also be made through our on-site satellite phone system. Finally, there is the additional tried-and-true option of long-range radio transmissions, which was the region’s original line of communication. The bottom line is that one way or another, the entire world is just a call, text, or email away.
Backup from Bali
The best communications technology in the world won’t work if no one is listening and able to respond. This is why the resort remains in constant contact with our central office in Bali and is able to provide prompt attention to all manner of guest needs and unforeseen contingencies. Our director of operations, Crispin Jones, and concierge Stijn Loones and his team coordinate everything from last-minute itinerary changes to emergency response efforts and the fulfillment of special requests.
“I discovered two items that I needed and didn’t bring,” recalls guest Andy Bernat. “One was a set of tiny magnets for my camera strobe. Stijn tracked them down in Singapore, had them overnighted, and put everything on the next flight to the resort. There’s nothing like Wakatobi service!”
In some cases, requests to the Bali team may be as simple as procuring and sending specialty items such as almond milk or scent-free laundry soap. Other times, fast reactions are called on to provide prescription refills or replacements of important medications.
Anticipating the unexpected
Wakatobi has well-established protocols that have resulted in an exemplary record of safe diving throughout our twenty-nine years of service. We have procedures in place to passively and unobtrusively enhance the safety and well-being of our guests, and every effort is made to ensure guest comfort and satisfaction at all times. But accidents will happen, and it is the response to those situations that sets Wakatobi apart from many other resorts operating in remote destinations.
Wakatobi’s dive and snorkel guides are always close at hand to offer needed assistance while guests are in the water or aboard our boats. For an added degree of guest safety, all Wakatobi guides now carry a Nautilus marine rescue GPS unit. When activated, these units transmit an alert to radios aboard our boats and at the dive center and share the guide’s exact location with boat-based GPS displays to facilitate a response for assistance or retrieval.
Wakatobi has invested millions of dollars into building and maintaining an infrastructure that provides our clientele with both necessities and luxuries. We maintain a paved airstrip to dramatically reduce travel time to and from our resort. This dedicated airstrip, coupled with our intimate knowledge of options available for medevac charter, provides us with an unrivaled opportunity to assist in arranging a prompt and appropriate medical evacuation for guests requiring emergency treatment.
We maintain a full stock of medical gear and medication, and there is a clinic on the neighboring island sufficiently equipped for general treatments.
In cases of a genuine medical emergency, we have always succeeded in bringing the guest to medical treatment promptly. Fortunately, these true emergency evacuations are rare occurrences, and more often, we are called upon to arrange evacuations for reasons more closely aligned with comfort or convenience. In the majority of cases, the Wakatobi team can provide on-site solutions to the more routine bumps and scratches that occur.
The resort maintains a full stock of medical supplies and medication, and there is a clinic on the neighboring island sufficiently equipped for general treatments. We encourage all of our guests to check with your medical insurer before the trip to verify you are covered while traveling abroad.
It is also important to consider purchasing supplemental dive insurance offered by firms such as Divers Alert Network (DAN), PADI, and Dive Assure, which may also include travel, gear, and accident coverage all in one comprehensive policy. With these safeguards in place, you will be able to relax and enjoy your time at Wakatobi, knowing that no matter how remote the setting the world is just a call away.
Ready to visit our corner of the world? Contact us at office@wakatobi.com or complete a quick trip inquiry at wakatobi.com. A guest experience representative will be in touch with you to answer your questions and provide information about your next dream dive vacation.
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