iDiveToday: September 2016

Underwater photos taken in Wakatobi are found here, MsDeviant

GETTING THERE:

Destination

The name Wakatobi is a combination of 4 islands: Wangi-wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko. There are diving spots in all 4 islands but the island known for diving is Tomia and that is your main destination.

Routes / Flights

Warning in advance, reaching Tomia is a long long long journey. My flight from Jakarta left at 4am and reached Tomia at 6pm same day (though note the time difference, Tomia is one hour ahead of Jakarta).

As the map illustrates, you need to...

1. Fly from Jakarta (CGK) to Makassar via Lion Air

2. Fly from Makassar (UPG) to Kendari (KDI) via Wings Air

3. Fly from Kendari (KDI) to Wangi-Wangi (WNI) via Wings Air

4. Take a boat from Wangi-Wangi (WNI) to Tomia via chartered boat

From Makassar (UPG) to Wangi-Wangi, Wings Air will be flying an ATR aircraft, I call it a 'propeller plane'. Basically its a small plane so consider the size of your hand carry bags.

*Makassar airport is listed as Ujung Pandang (UPG)

As of Sept 2016, only Lion Air and Wings Air flies to Wangi-Wangi. These two airline belongs to same company so if you book your flights through Lion Air, it will create your flight itinerary that includes Wings Air flights or Batik Air.

Booking the flights are easy but getting on a boat from Wangi-Wangi to Tomia might be a bit of a challenge. I searched the web on public boats fares and schedules, I found these: Wakatobi Tourism, Discover Your Indonesia and LittleNomadID. I didn't find a boat schedule that sails from Wangi-Wangi to Tomia.

Boat chartered for us

If you are going there on a dive trip, its best to ask the dive operator/organizer to arrange a chartered boat to pick you up from Wangi-Wangi to Tomia (that's what I did). If you are going there for a non-dive trip (but why?), its best to ask your resort to arrange everything for you. The island has limited choices of resorts/accommodation, here a list from tripadvisor.

Or if you are feeling fancy, try booking everything through Wakatobi Resort.

Alternate route: If you happen to be in Bali (Depansar DPS) already, then direct to Wangi-Wangi (WNI) then take a boat to Tomia.

TRAVEL TIME:

1. Fly from Jakarta (CGK) to Makassar - 2 hours 5 minutes

2. Fly from Makassar (UPG) to Kendari (KDI) - 40-60 minutes

3. Fly from Kendari (KDI) to Wangi-Wangi (WNI) - 40-60 minutes

4. Boat from Wangi-Wangi (WNI) to Tomia - 2 hours

Airport in Wakatobi - it's really nice and clean

Dive Organizer / Operator

Krystal Klear Dive (KKD)

Contact Details:

Florianus Jeheman - Customer Relation

KRISTAL KLEAR DIVE - PADI S-6267

Hotel Kristal, ground floor, Jl. Terogong Raya, Cilandak Barat,

Jakarta Selatan 12430

P: +62 21 75818025 | W: www.kristalkleardive.com

E: info@kristalkleardive.com, course@kristalkleardive.com,

travel@kristalkleardive.com

KKD WAKATOBI DIVING TRIP PACKAGE
SEPTEMBER 8-12, 2016
IDR 8,350,000,- PER DIVER (about 615* USD)
IDR 7,600,000,- PER NON-DIVER (about 560* USD)

Price includes: 8 dives at Tomia Island, 5 day 4 night stay at ABI JAYA Guest House and PATUNO Resort (the last night), Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), Transportation from Wakatobi Airport – Guest House – Dive Spot – Wakataobi Airport, Dive guide / Dive master, Scuba tank, weights and belts, Travel Insurance

Price does not include: Airline tickets, Equipment rental, Additional charge for dedicated guide, Additional charge for extra dives, Gratitude tip, Extras (meals, drinks, alcoholic beverage), Personal expenses (massage, telephone calls, laundry, etc.), Any items which we did not mention in “The price includes”

QUINN'S REVIEW

Journey to Tomia Island...

Its really a long journey and it can be really tiring since its 3 flights and one boat ride to Tomia. Bring whatever you need to stay comfortable. And also expect flight delays, it could be as long as 1 to 2 hours delay.

Lion Air is know for their flights delays. We were lucky our departure from Jakarta wasn't delayed but our departure from Makassar was delayed for more than 2 hours. Airline provided us snacks (piece of break and water). Good thing is that Makassar airport is a nice airport, there are places where you can eat properly and wait comfortably. Airport have Starbucks, Gloria Jeans, Dunkin Donuts, Food Court and shops for souvenirs.

From Makassar airport, we flew to Kendari and lands in the airport to pick up / drop off passengers. We were bound to Wangi-Wangi airport so we didn't have to get out of the plane. We waited inside the plane with its engine off (no ac) and while the plane re-fuels. Total waiting time 45-60 minutes.

Reaching Wangi-Wangi island felt like a huge relief. Aerial view of the island is amazing. You'll know you're up to something awesome. From Wangi-Wangi airport, there's already a car waiting for us to bring us to the pier where our chartered boat awaits. Wangi-Wangi airport is small but nice and clean. Drive time from airport to pier is about 30 minutes. No Traffic and the view is enjoyable; you'll see lots of 'greenery', farm fields, traditional houses, locals waving and smiling at you, etc. Before getting on the boat, there is a restaurant near the pier and we ate our late lunch there - authentic local food, I like it.

After eating, we went to a small convenient store, we were told to buy our basic needs like water, snacks or toiletries because Tomia island doesn't have convenient stores and ATM machines, they have small stores but with limited supplies and options. I bought one 600ml bottle of water and one small bag of biscuit - which I regretted after reaching Tomia island. I should have bought more water and snacks but it didn't bother me much, I didn't starve in Tomia island and they have drinking water dispenser at the guest house we stayed at (I don't want to know how they refill that bottle!).

We stayed at Tomia from Thursday to Sunday, Sunday after lunch (after 2 dives in the morning) we started traveling back. We got on a boat back to Wangi-Wangi, spent a night at Patuno resort to catch our morning flight next day. We flew from Wangi-Wangi to Kendari, to Makassar and to Jakarta.

Dive Organizer (KKD)...

Organized! Florianus is very diligent in sending information needed to prepare for the trip. I didn't have to follow up on anything. On departure, we met the dive leader (Deden) at Jakarta airport, I didn't have to worry about anything on the itinerary. Aside from the flights which I need to arrange on my own, everything else is already set: transportation (land and sea), accommodation and dive schedules.

KKD also gave us free souvenir t-shirts which is awesome because I collect diver designed t-shirts.

Dive Operator (Wakatobi Dive Trip)...

Two wooden boats provided for us

Wakotobi Dive Trip (local dive operator through KKD), they provided us 2 boats for 6 passengers plus 4 crew, they didn't want us cramped in one boat which I totally appreciate. I have previously experienced a dive trip with only one smaller boat with 10 divers plus screw. It was cramped as hell.

The dive guide, Achamd, he is a seasoned dive guide in Wakatobi who used to worked for a dive resort in Wangi- Wangi and now he started running his ow in Tomia. He can't speak English much but he tries his best to brief us using a lot of sign languages and using few English words he knows. He knows the dive spots well though he is not the best spotter underwater.

They also gave us freebies, drinking bottle made from tin which looks like a dive tank. I love it.

Diver's Level...

Its best to dive in Wakatobi if you're an advanced diver (all dive sites are 20+ meters deep) or if you are already very comfortable underwater. Honestly, I find Wakatobi dive trip a very expensive trip and its best to enjoy the dives when you're very comfortable (some dive spots have medium to strong currents which will require divers back roll, negative entry). If you're still panicky underwater or gets easily sea sick or gets easily tired every after each dives, I wouldn't recommend going on this dive trip. Because if in case you get sick, its too expensive to miss the dives, its not refundable.

Overall Dive Experience...

It's very enjoyable! Though I love all dive trip experiences. What I saw underwater is not much different from what I saw in Bali, Manado or Lombok. Here are the underwater photos I took, MsDeviant

I met people who dove in Wakatobi, Raja Ampat and Komodo, all of them said that they very much prefer and enjoy diving in Komodo than Wakatobi and/or Raja Ampat. Komodo is also way cheaper and more accessible than Raja Ampat and Wakatobi. Well, I have yet to experience diving in Komodo.

If you want to use Nitrox, you have to inform KKD in advance because it is not readily available in the island. Same with night dives, you have to inform KKD way in advance.

Tomia Island

You probably already have a picture of how Tomia Island is, based from description above. Staying there is really "back to basics". Which I totally didn't mind at all as I grew up in a farm and my generation didn't grew up with mobile phones, internet connections nor cable TV. Electricity, the island is powered by a generator that is only turned on from 3pm to 6am next day. The island is very serene, I can hear myself breathe. In the morning, I hear children playing in the water and in the afternoon, I hear children playing outside our guest house. There are few motorbikes and cars in the island. Starting 5pm onward, the whole island becomes so quiet, the water is so calm I can't hear any waves. If all of these bothers you, then come prepared or book the more expensive option, Wakatobi Resort or don't come at all.

Our first day in Tomia, we arrive at sunseet, Beautiful!

2 minutes walk from our guest house is a plaza

Across the plaza is a beautiful viewing deck for sunset

Just Amazing! Beautiful Sunset!

The Beach...

Accommodation

Heavenly! Like really?! Beautiful beach and you are the only ones there?! No noise! No annoying tourist (hahaha)! No annoying vendors! Just you and the beach!

At Tomia, we stayed at Terapung Guest House for 2 nights. Traditional Indonesian house (though its made of concrete not hut), traditional meaning some rooms have bathrooms and some rooms doesn't. The bathroom is also traditional, it doesn't have a shower. There's only a pail and a water dipper (no option for hot water). Toilet, traditional floor toilet where you need to squat and some bathroom has the not so normal toilet - you can sit on it but it doesn't have a flush. You have to use the pail to flush.

The bedroom is basic, there's air conditioning but it takes time to cool but theirs an electric fan. The bed is not so comfy, one pillow and no blanket. Good thing I brought my jumpers and long pants pajamas and a 'sarong', it can get cold at night. I didn't dare asking for blankets.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take photos of the room and the guest house. Overall, the house and room are okay. It's not disgusting. It's just basic. I see the staff every morning and afternoon sweeping and mapping the floor. Oh and you are to leave your shoes/flip flops outside the house / by the door. You have to be barefoot inside the house.

We spent our last night at Wangi-Wangi island, at Patuno Resort. It's a proper resort with awesome comfortable rooms and OMG! soft pillows, bed and duvet. It felt like I was rewarded for enduring 2 nights of rough sleep at the guest house.