Explore Wakatobi

The Wakatobi region is located in south-east Sulawesi and takes its name from the four islands that make it up, Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongo. Wakatobi is fairly undiscovered by tourists, making the small islands and the surrounded protected waters a small haven to visit. Located at the epicenter of coral reef biodivesity, Wakatobi is designated a UNESCO Marine Biosphere Reserve. The huge protected marine park boasts 600-kilometers of reef, 1,050 different species of fish and 750 types of hard and soft corals, making it one of the best places for scuba diving in Indonesia.

Scuba diving in Wakatobi features drop-offs, overhangs, and walls with stunning coral reef gardens home to a multitude of fabulous, small organisms and fish of all shapes and sizes. Wakatobi is not the prime place to dive alongside big fish in Indonesia yet, sharks, eagle rays and pilot whales have all been spotted in the blue. As tourism is still in its infancy in Wakatobi, there are only a few dive centres and dive resorts in the area but several liveaboards visit the area to admire the archipelago's extensive beauty and marine diversity.

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Dive Activity

Diving in Wakatobi

Wakatobi diving will usually find you in calm, shallow waters enveloped by a wide array of thriving hard and soft corals. These calm waters lend themselves to people wanting to improve their skills through dive courses. On occasion, currents can change and you will find yourself experiencing small drift dives as you feast your eyes on the beauty surrounding you. From muck dives to uncover hidden macro gems to descending down onto pinnacles and walls flourishing with large schools of fusiliers and gigantic booming coral rosettes -when diving Wakatobi you can ensure you'll be in awe every fin you take.

Dive Sites

Peter S. (#417559)
Wakatobi House Reef (★4.6)

Wakatobi House Reef (★4.6)

Wakatobi Housereef is one of the most beautiful house reefs in the world. Entry directly from the jetty / beach or, depending on the current, shuttle service with boats. Incredible biodiversity on the steep face, you should definitely do several dives there during the day and at night to enjoy the high lights.
Mares, Janez Kranjc
Trailblazer (★4.5)

Trailblazer (★4.5)

Dive Site east of Teluk Maya, jump in in sandy bay with giant barrel sponges then continue right shoulder toward a ridge, covered with corals and fishes. Reeftop 3-5 meters. If current is getting to strong dive can be finished in nearby Teluk Maya
Mares
Starship (★4.4)

Starship (★4.4)

About 20 minutes drive from the Wakatobi Resort is Starship, named after the research vessel Starship that visited here during its circumnavigation of the world. Wall diving with many holes and small overhangs where there is a lot to discover.
Mares
Starship (★4.5)

Starship (★4.5)

About 20 minutes drive from the Wakatobi Resort is Starship, named after the research vessel Starship that visited here during its circumnavigation of the world. Wall diving with many holes and small overhangs where there is a lot to discover.

The best Months to dive in Wakatobi

While peak season runs April to May and September through October, it is possible to dive in Wakatobi year-round. The tropical climate sees the sun shining year-round, warming Wakatobi’s waters, which usually have a visibility of 30 to 40 meters/98 to 131 feet. In the months of July and August, the visibility can go down to 20 meters/66 feet with stronger winds and surface movement, but it is also the best time for peak numbers of fish as it’s coral spawning season. The rainy season between January and February sees four times lower rainfall than the national average in Indonesia, so the visibility rarely suffers from river runoff. Keep your fingers crossed and visit Wakatobi between November and April for your best chance to spot pilot whales.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Wakatobi

Dive sites in Wakatobi are known for their vast array of macro life. Hidden among the astronomical amount of hard and soft corals are nudibranchs, gobies, and pygmy seahorses waiting to be discovered. Serious underwater macro photographers come to Wakatobi from all over the world to capture ghost pipefish, mini shrimps and other hidden treasures. While this part of Indonesia is not the prime location for megafauna; turtles, sharks, barracuda, grouper, and rays often come to visit. Not to mention the chance to see pilot whales in the months between November and April!

The reefs in Wakatobi are unlike any other in the region due to the drier climate and uplifted limestone. These fossilised reefs produce almost no soil erosion so visibility stretches for miles allowing you to gaze uninterrupted at the 750+ species of spectacular coral.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle

Green Turtle
340 Sightings
J
23
F
10
M
17
A
16
M
12
J
63
J
58
A
45
S
15
O
31
N
29
D
21
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle
215 Sightings
J
11
F
8
M
8
A
12
M
15
J
54
J
33
A
27
S
4
O
12
N
16
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
167 Sightings
J
13
F
12
M
16
A
22
M
11
J
20
J
15
A
22
S
5
O
9
N
17
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda

Barracuda
153 Sightings
J
9
F
2
M
6
A
10
M
15
J
15
J
16
A
33
S
6
O
12
N
15
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse

Wrasse
115 Sightings
J
5
F
1
M
16
A
13
M
5
J
10
J
12
A
19
S
7
O
11
N
5
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus

Octopus
39 Sightings
J
1
F
5
M
9
A
2
M
0
J
2
J
5
A
3
S
0
O
3
N
3
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray
33 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
0
A
2
M
2
J
5
J
8
A
6
S
2
O
3
N
1
D
1
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle
25 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
2
J
4
A
10
S
0
O
6
N
0
D
0
AdobeStock-wildestanimal
Common Dolphin

Common Dolphin
10 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Udo Kefrig
Clownfish

Clownfish
361 Sightings
J
19
F
14
M
27
A
23
M
22
J
61
J
35
A
53
S
18
O
22
N
39
D
28

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish

Parrotfish
281 Sightings
J
22
F
14
M
25
A
20
M
18
J
43
J
26
A
41
S
10
O
11
N
27
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish

Angelfish
270 Sightings
J
13
F
15
M
24
A
19
M
13
J
44
J
25
A
46
S
14
O
15
N
20
D
22

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish
246 Sightings
J
11
F
17
M
20
A
16
M
13
J
38
J
30
A
46
S
15
O
7
N
14
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

iStock/cinoby
Lionfish

Lionfish
210 Sightings
J
15
F
7
M
28
A
18
M
8
J
32
J
26
A
30
S
8
O
9
N
13
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish

Pufferfish
187 Sightings
J
9
F
17
M
11
A
15
M
7
J
34
J
17
A
21
S
11
O
14
N
18
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl
Bannerfish

Bannerfish
182 Sightings
J
15
F
9
M
29
A
11
M
9
J
21
J
13
A
39
S
10
O
4
N
11
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish

Triggerfish
176 Sightings
J
17
F
16
M
19
A
15
M
14
J
26
J
15
A
14
S
8
O
8
N
5
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish
166 Sightings
J
16
F
9
M
17
A
10
M
10
J
21
J
15
A
34
S
9
O
2
N
8
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix
Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts
162 Sightings
J
11
F
13
M
26
A
9
M
7
J
20
J
18
A
22
S
6
O
9
N
5
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.
Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish
153 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
12
A
6
M
9
J
23
J
28
A
17
S
13
O
7
N
17
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch

Nudibranch
130 Sightings
J
5
F
9
M
7
A
9
M
7
J
10
J
9
A
16
S
5
O
11
N
24
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish

Damselfish
129 Sightings
J
5
F
10
M
7
A
13
M
8
J
25
J
12
A
19
S
7
O
4
N
6
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish

Soldierfish
110 Sightings
J
7
F
9
M
16
A
11
M
6
J
16
J
7
A
6
S
6
O
0
N
14
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays

Stingrays
101 Sightings
J
10
F
8
M
6
A
5
M
5
J
12
J
11
A
16
S
2
O
10
N
8
D
8
AdobeStock-Richard Carey
Banded Sea Krait

Banded Sea Krait
83 Sightings
J
5
F
4
M
6
A
4
M
4
J
23
J
6
A
7
S
5
O
10
N
3
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish
83 Sightings
J
7
F
5
M
7
A
7
M
1
J
13
J
6
A
14
S
4
O
5
N
8
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross
Shrimp

Shrimp
82 Sightings
J
3
F
5
M
3
A
5
M
4
J
16
J
4
A
14
S
4
O
7
N
11
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp
Jackfish

Jackfish
72 Sightings
J
4
F
7
M
6
A
3
M
4
J
15
J
6
A
6
S
8
O
2
N
5
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis
Snapper

Snapper
71 Sightings
J
5
F
3
M
6
A
3
M
5
J
15
J
10
A
9
S
4
O
0
N
6
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7

iStock-atese
Pygmy Seahorse

Pygmy Seahorse
68 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
0
A
4
M
1
J
15
J
17
A
4
S
3
O
8
N
7
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
Boxfish

Boxfish
60 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
5
A
6
M
1
J
13
J
4
A
9
S
5
O
4
N
8
D
2
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Leaf Scorpionfish

Leaf Scorpionfish
58 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
1
A
2
M
1
J
28
J
5
A
7
S
3
O
4
N
2
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler
Crab

Crab
58 Sightings
J
4
F
7
M
6
A
4
M
6
J
11
J
1
A
6
S
4
O
2
N
2
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish

Goatfish
54 Sightings
J
5
F
3
M
7
A
3
M
3
J
7
J
4
A
4
S
7
O
0
N
6
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster
49 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
4
A
2
M
6
J
9
J
2
A
13
S
3
O
4
N
0
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

SSI-Peter-Schinck
Stonefish

Stonefish
49 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
2
A
2
M
3
J
7
J
3
A
14
S
4
O
4
N
1
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets
46 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
2
A
4
M
0
J
7
J
1
A
10
S
1
O
3
N
9
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Shutterstock-Al McGlashan
Tuna

Tuna
43 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
3
A
2
M
7
J
6
J
1
A
4
S
3
O
3
N
3
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

SSI-Peter-Schinck
Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish
39 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
8
J
12
A
2
S
0
O
4
N
6
D
3
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark
34 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
1
A
0
M
1
J
3
J
5
A
4
S
4
O
4
N
3
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish
29 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
1
A
5
M
3
J
4
J
0
A
5
S
4
O
0
N
0
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock-bearacreative
Emperor

Emperor
21 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
5
A
2
M
1
J
5
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
4
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark
21 Sightings
J
3
F
3
M
0
A
0
M
5
J
0
J
2
A
1
S
3
O
1
N
0
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 1500

iStock-ifish
Hard Corals

Hard Corals
18 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
4
J
7
J
0
A
7
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

istock-atese
Frogfish

Frogfish
16 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
4
O
0
N
3
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3500

Unsplash-pascal van de vendel
Soft Corals

Soft Corals
15 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
3
J
6
J
0
A
6
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Shutterstock-Hans Gert Broeder
Garfish

Garfish
13 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
4
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs
Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish
11 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
3
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
2
D
0