Wakatobi is a destination that some divers put at the top of their “someday” list of dream vacations. Recently, one couple who are freshly certified divers decided there was no need to wait for “someday.”  For Brent Grohman and Amanda Tanner, the allure of Wakatobi provided the inspiration to transition from snorkelers to divers, and the resort became the site of their first dive vacation. Here, in their own words, is the story of their introduction to the wonders of Wakatobi.

“We couldn’t be happier with our decision to come to Wakatobi and feel that the investment in diving has paid off in multiples.”

Our honeymoon was delayed due to the pandemic, so we had plenty of time to look into potential destinations for when travel resumed. We originally researched the best house reefs for snorkeling on our trip and after a lot of reading about the best tropical locations such as the Maldives, Bora Bora, Seychelles, etc., we eventually discovered Wakatobi.

After speaking with our local dive shop, we became convinced that we should take the next step by obtaining our diving certification to witness the spectacular dive sites Wakatobi offers. We couldn’t be happier with our decision to come to Wakatobi and feel that the investment in diving has paid off in multiples.

Set at the north end of the resort, two-bedroom Villas create an atmosphere of refined yet understated elegance. Photo by Didi Lotze

A Very Special Place

We’d heard and read many great things about Wakatobi both online and from our local dive shop, but as we’d never been to a dive resort of any type before, we didn’t have a preconceived notion of what a dive resort experience typically entails. After visiting Wakatobi and listening to other divers at the resort compare it to other places they’d been diving, it became clear that Wakatobi is indeed a very special place. While there are many individual reasons for this, they can be summarized in three broader observations.

Authentic Experiences

First, there were the non-diving components of the resort – refined yet understated accommodation, grounds and common spaces, excellent food, genuine hospitality, and close attention to detail – are on par with or exceed any other world-class five-star resort we’ve visited. Most importantly, it’s all a very authentic experience that does not leave the impression of being contrived or patronizing as some other high-end resort experiences sometimes do.

The Wakatobi airport concierge staff makes your transitions to and from international flights easier and more enjoyable. Photo by Wakatobi Resort

There were so many nice personal touches that began even before reaching the resort. It was such a nice surprise to have the airport hosts meet us when we arrived in Bali and for them to check us into a hotel for an overnight rest. We enjoyed the guest flight as well. It was a very smooth trip both ways and we felt in very good hands with the pilots and airplane staff.

Villas offer privacy and spacious comfort, complemented by unobstructed views of the ocean and Wakatobi’s spectacular sunsets. Photo by Didi Lotze

We were very impressed with the way that our two-bedroom Villa provided an excellent balance of luxury, comfort, and the ability to entertain guests. It was the perfect place to rest and relax, incorporating fine natural materials such as local stone and hardwood with clean, modern fixtures and classic furniture. The villa’s functional, understated indoor spaces and three separate outdoor seating areas provided an excellent indoor/outdoor living experience during our stay.  The spacious outdoor areas were particularly well-suited for hosting new friends and watching spectacular tropical sunsets, while the pool was a fantastic amenity for cooling off in the afternoons and evenings. And our well-traveled new friends were just as impressed as we were with the Villa!

Guests enjoy a premier dining experience in a relaxed, elegant setting inside or out at our oceanview restaurant. Photo by Walt Stearns

We are in awe at how impeccably the resort is run. Exceptional concierge service, an amazing personal butler, and a restaurant and kitchen staff who all knew our names on the first day and provided some of the most delicious food we have ever enjoyed.

At the end of the day, the Jetty bar is the ideal location to make new friends and take in a wonderful Wakatobi sunset. Photo by Didi Lotze

A Place to Make Friends

Second, since it is a smaller resort and the guests repeatedly share a primary activity during their stay, the experience yields a unique camaraderie that simply does not occur at other highly regarded five-star resorts like the Broadmoor or the Four Seasons.  In meeting and learning about our fellow guests, we were struck how by accomplished, interesting, and kind most of them were and that we were all thrilled by our experiences at Wakatobi. This dynamic resulted in us making numerous friends with wonderful people from all over the world. We were more than pleasantly surprised by this, as we’d had no reason to really consider this possibility before we visited Wakatobi.

Dive sites with Wakatobi’s marine reserve are known for pristine coral growth and a diverse abundance of marine life. Photo by Mathis Weatherall

Otherworldly Diving Experiences

And finally, the diving experience itself was incredible. While we admittedly do not have another dive experience, we can compare it to, both the in-water and out-of-water experiences with the dive team, and natural surroundings suggest that they are certainly among the best in the world.

“The reef sites were pristine with almost no trash or pollution of any kind evident, while the vibrancy of each location was most impressive.”

Before and between our dives, all our equipment was meticulously attended to by the dive team. When it was time to prepare for a dive, our outstanding private guide reviewed the dive plan with us.  After he’d clearly outlined all relevant information about the site and how we’d go about seeing it, we were confident we were properly prepared to remain safe and enjoy each dive. The dive crew then helped us don our BCs, cleaning our masks and even assisting us with putting our fins on before entering the water! After the dive, the crew helped us out of our gear, carefully managing it on our behalf until the next dive. We were also provided with hot moist towels and dry towels, along with water, tea or coffee, and snacks such as sandwiches and pastries.

Color-changing cuttlefish patrol Wakatobi reefs, creating mesmerizing displays that have a hypnotic effect on prey and delight divers. Photo by Walt Stearns

The underwater experience itself can best be described as something “otherworldly”.  Virtually every dive site was teeming with life of all types – it was like being dropped into a water-filled snow globe packed with a dazzling array of life.  A seemingly endless parade of colorful and exotic fish (there are over 30 species of butterflyfish alone in Wakatobi), numerous hard and soft coral species (one rose coral colony was 60-80ft wide), anemones and clownfish of all colors and types, and two species of sea turtles greeted us as we dropped below the surface.  We saw all three types of cephalopods in Wakatobi and of these, the octopus and cuttlefish we experienced were the most fascinating, as they changed their colors and skin textures before our eyes.  Best of all, the reefs all appeared to be quite healthy with no bleaching evident.

The dive site Roma is known for its intricate flower-like coral formations, including one that resembles a giant rose. Photo by Walt Stearns

Roma was probably our favorite dive site.  The diversity of life there was staggering, and we felt like we’d hardly scratched the surface of everything it had to offer, even after multiple dives. We also thoroughly enjoyed our two dives at The Zoo, including our first-ever night dive that we completed there. The reef is a completely different – and maybe even more fascinating – place once the sun goes down and we felt very fortunate to be able to experience it then.

Mutually Beneficial Relationships

We had heard that Wakatobi has an arrangement with the local villagers that compensated them for significantly limiting their fishing activities on the reefs near the resort. Once at the resort, we realized that the conservation program encompassed additional areas of social and environmental benefits, and the results of these programs were evident. The reef sites were pristine with almost no trash or pollution of any kind evident, while the vibrancy of each location was most impressive.

We could go on and on about how perfect everything was with our first stay with Wakatobi! We say first because we hope to return again and again in the future. Thank you so much for having us – we made happy memories for life!

If you are ready to make new friends and your own “happy memories for life”, please contact our team. We’re here to help create a dream dive vacation just for you.  Inquire >here.

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