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WAKATOBI
SCUBA DIVING
HOTEL BASED DIVE HOLIDAYS

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TRAVEL INSURANCE

Day 2
Take your connecting flight onto Bali where you will be met by our representatives and transfered to your hotel for the night.

Day 3
Our reps will pick you up and take you to the plane terminal for your flight to Wakatobi (approx. 2hr30mins)

Then your 7, 10 or 11 day stay in Wakatobi Resort or on Pelagian

Last resort day
On your last day you will take an afternoon flight back to Bali to join your return overnight flight to the UK.

On the day of your arrival (depending on arrival time) there will be a 30 min Check Out dive where we help check your buoyancy control and safety skills. Depending on weather conditions there are 3 boat dives every day which are guided by experienced diving instructors. One or two night dives (depending on length of the trip and weather) will be offered from the boats. On other nights diving on the house reef is always open. You can dive the amazing house reef in buddy teams after clearance from the dive center from 06.00 a.m. Night dives should be finished at the latest by 10.00 p.m. Our house reef is more than 3 miles in length and contains several dive sites which can be reached with a taxi boat ( available from 06.00 a.m until 5.30 p.m.) or directly from the beach. To protect the reef there is a strict “No Gloves” policy at the resort, and we kindly ask you, not to use any Macro frames.

Early morning beach dives are possible before breakfast. Two-tank boat dive trips before lunch. Afternoon taxi boat dives on the extended house reef. Night beach dives before and after dinner and occasional evening night boat dives when conditions allow. Note: Our 5 km / 3.5 mile house reef has multiple dive sites. Boat dives always with guide. Beach dives and taxi boat dives accompanied by guides upon availability. Maximum number of dives included in package: unlimited (some guests do 7 day).

1 - Shore diving

Our "signature dish": This is what has made Wakatobi the number one choice among not only resort divers but also liveaboard lovers. World's best shore diving. Simply get your gear and step right out on the beach, get in the water, flip your fins a few times and enjoy some of the most amazing reef life you will ever see.

Here on the house reef you can spend hour upon hour throughout your stay. Sometimes you will enter from the beach, other times at the end of the jetty. Most dives will be in a slight current meaning that you will drift at various speeds along the reef while exploring its beauty. You can enter and exit the water right in front of the resort at high and medium tide while at low tide you will need to use the jetty or the canyon "second gully" at the corner of the island. Due to our location next to this unique island corner canyon you can shore dive at any tide!

When getting in the water in front of the resort you will first gently drift over an area completely covered in lush sea grass. This is a superb macro site with tons of wondrous critters. Then, as you get about two thirds out on the reef flat you'll start to see the corals and lots of 'em. The outer part of the house reef is completely covered with lush coral, both soft and hard. Enjoy!

2 - House reef tender boat taxi service

A service that allows you to explore dive sites on the house reef normally not accessible from the Resort. Due to the house reef being so expansive this adds several sites for you to enjoy. Simply let one of our boat crew know that you and a buddy (or a group of up to 6 divers) wish to go out with a tender boat and they will help you get your gear on board. Then, as the boat glides out over the reef you fine tune your gear and get ready for the dive. Once over the site you will do a back roll to enter the water. The dive location will be chosen so that the current will bring you back to the resort (we can't guarantee that the current won't change mid-dive but then you can always surface and wave for one of our tender boats to pick you up). After a perfect, impression-intensive dive, you can then exit the water at the end of our jetty (or on any part of the beach) where our attentive local staff will be standing by to carry cameras and dive gear.

3 - Boat Diving

Because of our very fortunate location there's a wide range of superb dive sites within reach of our dive boats. We have about 40 sites that we regularly dive, all accessible by a normally short boat ride. (Boat rides range from 10 minutes up to max. an hour for the most remote sites.)

Prior to each scheduled dive boat departure, there will be a briefing at the resort by your guide. A sketch of the dive objective is displayed, the likely conditions discussed, and a dive plan rehearsed. Known marine inhabitants and their locations are explained, along with specific advice for photographers. On arrival at the dive site, your guide will enter first. If conditions are as expected, the "pool is open". Otherwise, your guide will amend the dive plan before opening the 'pool'.

Once underwater, buddy teams are free to do their own thing. However, due to the remoteness of Wakatobi, there are three rules: 1) decompression diving is not recommended; 2) solo diving is not allowed, except for (a) guests having prior clearance by our resort manager (b)certified instructors equipped with pony bottles; and 3) one hour minimum surface interval between dives.

Unless you are an expert critter spotter yourself, staying within visual distance of your guide will likely greatly enhance your experience. Our staff members have razor sharp eyes, and will seek to get your attention to share their finds with you. If you want to see a specific creature, let them know, and you may be in luck. As a courtesy, we ask that non-photographers get first looks.

During the average dive in Wakatobi, you will likely experience a gentle current. Like most any other dive destination, the strength and direction of current will vary with tides, moon phase, winds, etc. Varying currents are why the marine life at Wakatobi is so prolific - the food chain would stagnate without it. Water column feeders like soft corals and siphon feeders such as tunicates deflate in the absence of current, so dives totally void of current aren't nearly as interesting. When diving at Wakatobi, let the current do the work. After all, you are on holiday. Just drift along with it. Should the current change direction during the dive, go with it. Your dive boat will stand off the reef in deeper water, following the bubble trails. When you decide to end your dive, simply surface and swim a short distance away from the reef so that you can be safely picked up. While on the subject of currents: diving in Wakatobi is generally easy and we in no way wish to discourage reasonably inexperienced divers from visiting - this is not like the channels of Tahiti or, sometimes, Cozumel. All we ask is that everyone's careful and make sure not to damage the reefs. If you are unsure of how to move smoothly UW then stay a little away so your kicks don't do to the corals what Mike Tyson used to do his opponents.

Snacks are served between consecutive boat dives, as well as liquid refreshments such as tea, hot chocolate, and water. Dry fresh towels are also available. For safety purposes, all divers are encouraged to remain well hydrated.

Gear Transfers
Since we want you to have the flexibility of diving the house reef at any time, when not on a boat dive, your gear is stowed in a numbered basket in one of our dive sheds. These open-air sheds are immediately adjacent to the Longhouse. When you have confirmed your intent to participate in a scheduled boat dive on our status board, resort employees will transfer your gear basket to the relevant boat for you, as well as all required tanks. Need help with cameras? No problem! When the boat returns, this process is reversed, and once again your gear is conveniently available for house reef diving at your leisure.

Sample 11 night trip

Diving on the Pelagian includes some of the best resort dive sites plus exciting channel current diving, deep overhang and wall diving offered in the great Wakatobi region. It's a bit more adventurous setup that's ideal for experienced divers who would like to visit dive sites further away from the resort while being pampered on the Pelagian yacht.

Day 1 Arrival day, check dive at Table Coral City

Day 2 Four dives leaving Tomia towards South (i.e. Waitii Teluk, Pinki’s Wall, Lintea Channel, Dusk Dive inside Channel). Anchorage inside Karang Lintea.

Day 3 Pastell, Lorenzo’s delight, Channel dive (Niko’s Channel) on Western Big Reef. Anchorage inside Karang Kaledupa. Night dive inside Channel.

Day 4 Kitt’s Channel, Western Reef two dives. Anchorage at Pintu Timur and night dive at Pintu Timur.

Day 5 Binongko Fish Wall, Cavern Wall. Cruise to anchorage inside Karang Koka. Night dive at Karang Koka

Day 6 Diving around Karang Koka

Day 7 Cruise to Moromaho two dives there (no anchorage possible there) and return to anchorage in Karang Koka. Night dive at Karang Koka

Day 8 Pulau Cowo Cowo, Koromaha. Anchorage at Koromaha.

Day 9 Pulau Ndaa two dives, Treasure Chest afternoon dive (or dive small wreck east of Tomia, weather permitting). Night dive Kollosoha Beach

Day 10 Last diving day. Mari Mabuk reef one or two dives: Roma, Rose, Coral Garden

Day 11 Departure Day. Snorkelling at the resort in the morning.

Note: All cruise routes are approximate and subject to the whims of nature. Routes may be changed without notice.

The Pelagian has a number of Cabin options:
All the cabins have individual AC controls, unlimited hot/cold water supply and fresh towels daily.

Pelagian Master Suite
This is probably the largest live aboard cabin available in any dive liveaboard in the region today. The Master Suite # 1 is located at the center of the boat in front of the kitchen and the camera room on level with the main saloon. This means that there's no staircase to ascend / descend to access it. It's right on the main deck. The ensuite bathroom is spacious and offers a separate shower cabin, a long vanity with double mirrors and a WC. The bathroom is very bright and airy. The cabin has one full-size queen bed with ample space for two. It also has a full cabin length shelf on the port side for cameras, gear etc. A sofa and lounge chair is located right next to the entertainment center that has a stereo, DVD player and a good-sized TV. Additionally there's a separate little beauty room in the front of the cabin - excellent for when she wants to attend to herself while he's having a shower;) This cabin has by far the best floor space and largest spring bed.
Pelagian Superlux Room
Cabin # 2, the Superlux cabin is sternmost located cabin and is accessed by its own staircase directly from the main saloon. It has two beds, one wide enough for two people, the other for one person. In-between the bunks (that are laid out in a V) there's a lowered "loveseat", excellent for reading and lounging about. This cabin also has a nicely sized bathroom and good floor space. In fact, it's many guests' favourite cabin due to it's very cozy feel and private access.
Pelagian Deluxe Room
Cabin # 3 and 5 are located just forward of the main saloon down a flight of stairs. They are on port and starboard side respectively and as they are equipped with two beds positioned length-wise with storage shelves in-between. These cabins are very long and, due to many port lights, bright and airy. One bed has space for two persons while the other comfortably sleeps one. Ensuite bathroom of course, just like all other Pelagian cabins. Pelagian Standard Room
Cabin # 6 is on the starboard side of the boat directly in front of # 5 but is accessed from a separate staircase by the camera room. It has two beds that are both best suited for a single person. One bed looks directly out the porthole above the waterline and it's a pleasure lying there reading with a nice view of the ocean in close proximity. Sized perfectly fine for two persons. Not big but also not small, it's just nice and has of course it's own bathroom.

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