Under Shoko’s guidance, Mathilde gained confidence quickly, and soon wanted to do more. “We felt it would be appropriate to have her accompany us on some of the boat dives,” Elisabeth says. “The first trip was to Fan Garden. Everyone went into the water, and Shoko and Mathilde stayed in a secure zone, while Pierre and I went a little deeper, where we could see her but still allow her to act independently.” Mathilde was enthralled by the fish life and was quite comfortable diving with Shoko. It was a proud and extremely emotional experience for us, seeing our little girl scuba diving for real.”

Wakatobi’s spacious dive boats provide ample protection from the elements. Convenient schedules, with returns to the resort between dives, offer parents opportunities to check in on the kids yet not miss out on any of the diving. Photo by Walt Stearns

Attentive service, inclusive adventures

The diving infrastructure at Wakatobi is very accommodating for younger divers, claim the Fichants. “The staff handles all the equipment, assists with entries and exits, and is right there in the water to assist throughout each dive.” The dive boats are spacious and provide ample protection from the elements, and with many dive sites located close to the resort, boat rides are often short. “Having three boat departures each day, and returns to the resort between dives, provides a lot of flexibility,” Elisabeth says. “Any parent can see the advantages of this schedule; if events cause you to miss a morning boat, you still won’t miss out on the rest of the day’s dives. You can pop back in mid-day to check in with your younger children, and those who might not last all day on a boat can go out for shorter durations.”

 “Any parent can see the advantages of this schedule; if events cause you to miss a morning boat, you still won’t miss out on the rest of the day’s dives.”

With literally thousands of acres of shallow reef to explore, children don’t have to be divers to discover Wakatobi’s underwater wonders. Often, the upper portions of the same sites that enthrall divers are equally suited to snorkeling. This allows the snorkelers in the family to share the adventure with the divers. And, of course, there is always the House Reef, which can be dove and snorkeled at any time of the day.

Kids love snorkeling on the House Reef. Just off the beach or jetty ladder is a world of colorful and fascinating marine life, including Nemo himself. In fact, there are at least seven species of clownfish found within a short distance of the resort’s jetty. Photo by Walt Stearns

One of the highlights for children at Wakatobi is seeing turtles on the resort’s beach. Photo by Wakatobi Dive Resort

A Special Place

It’s not just the diving and snorkeling that make Wakatobi a special place, Elisabeth claims. “The resort setting is both safe and scenic, and the staff is amazingly warm and attentive. We found the bungalows to be very comfortable, and the food is excellent and well presented,” she says. “Regarding the food, I can only say the staff treated us well! Sixtine was extremely difficult with food. The chef was happy to cook a special portion of pasta every meal for her, and they always accommodated Mathilde’s special requests.”

“We asked for plain yogurt and grapefruit juice in the morning; three years later we did not even have to ask, both were there on the very first day!”

“Between the water sports, the land activities, and the social and cultural interactions there’s plenty to keep the children engaged when they aren’t diving or snorkeling,”Elisabeth says. “And for parents, there is no better feeling than being able to relax knowing that everything will run smoothly and that for once they can allow others to handle all the details. We were so happy to have been able to share this special time with our daughters, and like so many who visit Wakatobi, we know we will be back.”

At Wakatobi, couples traveling with children can relax and enjoy their vacation knowing that their children are being cared for and occupied with stimulating, engaging activities. Photo by Didi Lotze

Elisabeth and Pierre Fichant live in Singapore with their daughters, Mathilde and Sixtine. They are experienced divers and enjoy traveling where they can scuba dive and snorkel while at the same time enjoying memorable family experiences.

Special thanks to Elisabeth-Loison Fichant for sharing her thoughts and pictures!

It’s time to take the kids to Wakatobi. Contact us at office@wakatobi.com or complete a quick trip inquiry at wakatobi.com.