Dive Wakatobi #3: The Diving

SPLASH!!! I have just taken a giant stride off the side of the dive boat at a site called Table Coral City in the Banda Sea. I am diving with Wakatobi Dive Resort in the southeastern side of Sulawesi, Indonesia.  Table Coral City is a sea mount and we are going to circumnavigate it over the next 70 minutes.  This was a special dive as most of the dive sites at Wakatobi Dive Resort are wall/drift dives with just a couple seamounts/coral terraced areas.

Five divers (the dive guide, 3 other divers, and I) descend to about 60 feet.  The site is an assault on the senses in that hundreds of square feet are covered with table coral and literally hundreds, no – make that thousands – of fish are busy being fish. Enormous schools of black triggerfish, yellowtail fusilier, black snapper, chromis, and other fish blanket the reef.  I don’t know where to look first. Luckily, our fantastic dive guide leads us through a saddle in the coral.  Within minutes we come upon a seemingly motionless school of barracuda hovering just below the surface of the water. We watch and photograph them for several minutes before getting distracted by a Denise pygmy seahorse. 

On this dive and other dives this past week I have seen three species of pygmy seahorse (Bargibant, denise, and Pontoh), ghost pipe fish, winged pipefish, various species of leaf fish, frog fish, turtles, sea snakes, a solar-powered nudibranch along with several other species of flat worms and nudibranchs, several species of anemone shrimp, coral crabs, orangutan crabs, Zanzibar shrimp, a sea spider, large schools of puffer fish, squat lobsters, and so much more!  In addition, there are hundreds of species of soft and hard coral, sea squirts, sponges that support reef life.  I did observe a few larger marine animals such as eagle rays, blue spotted rays, and black tip reef sharks, however, Wakatobi is known for its macro marine animals.  

The water temperature consistently stayed at 82 degrees. However, even with a 7 millimeter wetsuit, booties, and a hood I was shivering at the end of most of the dives.  Granted, the dives are generally 70 minutes and I was making three to four dives per day so my ability to maintain normal body heat was challenged.  

At the end of the dive at Coral Table City eight giant trevally swaggered (yes, swaggered, just like John Wayne coming into town) through the water column seizing up the thousands of fish in their realm. Wakatobi is world class diving.

If you would like more information on Wakatobi Dive Resort please contact Outdoor Travel  Adventures at 800-554-9059 / info@otadventures.com.

Dive Wakatobi #2: Food

Eat. Sleep. Dive. This dive-trip mantra holds true at Wakatobi Dive Resort, a luxury eco-resort located on a small island in the Banda Sea southeast of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

It's 6:30 a.m. and time for breakfast. I leave my bungalow and walk the quite shell-lined sandy path to the resort's open-air restaurant. As I walk up the steps I am greeted by name by staff and am escorted to a table. Within moments, my usual order of hot ginger tea has arrived at the table. The meals at Wakatobi Dive Resort, although technically considered buffet in that guests help themselves, are not set up in the typical buffet style of lukewarm food in large, ugly, tin chafing dishes.  This buffet is set out elegantly with attractively plated dishes appetizers, colorful ceramic bowls for the entrees where the Bunsen burner is hidden, individually decorated desserts, and other food items on lovely platters and bowls.  

The food options are plentiful! Breakfast options include homemade granola, fresh fruit, yogurt, eggs to order, bacon or sausage (including turkey sausage), French toast/waffles/pancakes, freshly squeezed juice, homemade pastries, and more.

After the first dive we have snacks on board the dive boat that include muffins, cookies, fruit, fresh coconut, and slider-sized sandwiches along with hot and cold drinks. After the second morning dive we head back to the resort for a hot lunch.

Ayo makan! Bahasa (the local language) for “let's eat.”

I am starving after my second 70-minute dive of the day as I walk to the restaurant for the second time today. Today, the lunch menu consists of vegetable pakoras, wahoo ceviche, and mini chicken wraps for the appetizers. The entree options were sweet and sour fish, beef rouladen, rice, pasta, two hot vegetable dishes, two soup options (one hot and one cold), along with a salad bar and bread. Don't forget dessert! Three plated desserts (i.e., chocolate ganouche cake, key lime tarts, or similar) are offered each lunch in addition to fresh fruit, ice cream, and sorbet. I could have imbibed in every dish offered, however, there is a wetsuit hanging up on the boat that I will still need to fit in at the end of the week.

In the late afternoon, following the third dive of the day, appetizers are served in the Longhouse – the Resort's equivalent of a reception area –­ or on the jetty bar and typically consists of fresh fruit, pastries, prawn chips, and something akin to fried wontons or spring rolls along with drinks while sharing stories of the day's dives. 

Dinner is similar to lunch with the addition of a carving station of roasted chicken breasts, beef, or lamb and more appetizer and dessert options.

All food items are freshly made at the resort, including the bread, pastries, salad dressings, ice cream, sorbet, and desserts. And all are delicious!

Terima kasih (thank-you in Bahasa) to the chefs at Wakatobi Dive Resort! You make our bellies happy so that we can enjoy the diving.

If you would like more information on Wakatobi Dive Resort please contact Outdoor Travel Adventures at 800-554-9059 / info@otadventures.com.

Dive Wakatobi #1: The Service

by our Outdoor Travel Adventures Consultant and Dive Guru

I surfaced from a fantastic night dive on the Wakatobi Dive Resort house reef to a cloudy sky and occasional bolts of lightning cutting through the darkness. As I swam to the exit point and began climbing the stairs to the jetty I heard peals of laughter from the bar a mere 30 feet away. Staff waited for me at the top of the stairs, helped me shrug out of my gear, and then carried my gear to the dive center for me.  It was my fourth dive of the day and if I hadn’t been starving I would have done a fifth dive. 

The name “Wakatobi” is an acronym taken from the first two letters of four nearby islands (Wangiwangi, Kaledupe, Tomia, and Binongko).  Wakatobi, a luxury dive resort, is located just southeast of Sulawesi, Indonesia.  

My trip has been smooth sailing thanks to the amazing Wakatobi staff located in Bali, Tomia, and at the resort itself. Upon arrival at the Bali airport I was met by staff (as are all guests) who proceeded to escort me effortlessly through immigration and customs. Check-in for the chartered domestic flight from Bali to Tomia also went smoothly.

Upon arrival at the small airport on Tomia I was greeted by more smiling and helpful staff who shuttled all the guests to a nearby dock for a 15-minute boat ride to the resort. It was during this boat ride and subsequent landing at the dock that I noticed much flotsam in the water consisting of plastic bottles, cereal boxes, flip-flops overgrown with algae, and other trash. Disappointed and concerned about the state of the ocean that I was soon to be diving in I asked about the trash in the water. Apparently, a storm had recently come through bringing trash from other islands and towns. Much to my relief, there were about 10 staff members busily picking up trash and seaweed that had blown onto the white sandy beach. Although the beach was kept clean throughout my stay, I did continue to see some trash in the water, but I also continued to see staff picking it up. They are keenly aware that this is an issue.

Upon disembarkation from the shuttle boat more staff greeted the guests by name and all guests were individually escorted to their bungalows.  For the duration of the trip each staff person greeted us by name and made each of us feel at home!

Ayo menyelam! Bahasa (the local language) for “let’s go diving!” 

The Wakatobi system for diving is a well-oiled machine. For the 10 divers on my boat there are three dive guides: two groups of four divers and one group of two divers. The boat drops each group off at 5-minute intervals along the wall so that we all feel that we are the only ones at that dive site.  In addition, there are always three to four crew members to help with gear.

Suited up we take a giant stride into the 82-degree water.  I drop down and begin searching for macro animals while huge schools of pyramid angel fish, black snappers, giant trevally, and other fish swim around me. At the Wakatobi dive sites the visibility typically ranges between 75-150 feet with the best diving no deeper than 60 feet or so.  Five minutes into my dive at around 55 feet deep I spot a pygmy sea horse - on my own and without a magnifying glass! Yes, people were using magnifying glasses. I was so excited that I missed seeing another pygmy sea horse just inches away. That dive was particularly amazing in that our guide found three additional pygmy sea horses along with a minuscule sea spider, two leaf fish, a tiger flat worm, and so much more. The reefs are healthy with large schools of fish circling about. The soft coral is spectacular in various shades of red, purple, and orange. Turtles, sea snakes, eagle rays, black-tipped reef sharks, and tuna occasionally made an appearance during my dives.

As I climb up the ladder after another fantastic the dive crew is always there to help me out of my gear.  Out of the gear I am immediately handed a dry towel and a warm wash cloth. As our boat motors back to the resort we all share the highlights of the dive with the other divers and a sense of camaraderie pervades the air.

If you would like more information on Wakatobi Dive Resort please contact Outdoor Travel Adventures at 800-554-9059 / info@otadventures.com.

The Perfect Carry-On Bag

Winter travel can often mean that delays are the norm versus the exception. Here's a quick list of things to include in your carry-on to make your life a little easier should you get delayed, or worse have a canceled flight.

• Passport/Identification: You're not going anywhere without this. You'll also need it if you have to book a hotel, or get a cocktail at the airport. 

Comfort Items

• Blanket/jacket/sweater:  Airports are often over-chilled with A/C pumping out at all times of the day and in all weather climates. Keep toasty while you wait for your flight. 
• Cash: Everyone should always carry a little cash. At the very least, you can use it for vending machines at those odd hours of the night, or use for tips. 
• Credit card: Credit cards are widely accepted everywhere, and it's the easiest thing to use in an airport for meals, hotels and entertainment to pass the time away. 

Should you get stuck in the airport over night, these things can make the experience a bit more tolerable. 

• Change of clothes: You'll feel better the next morning, and it's probably Murphy's Law that you will inevitably spill on yourself if you don't pack extra clothing. 
• Earplugs or noise canceling headphones: To avoid hearing the PA system all night, crying babies and pretty much the world.
• Inflatable pillow: It's one of those items that are easy to forget, but are so appreciated in a time of need. They don't take up much space and it's nice to have your own soft, clean surface to get a few winks. 
• Cosmetics/Toiletries: Basics like deodorant, toothpaste (under 3 oz in a bag), hand sanitizer (under 3 oz in a bag), toothbrush, wet-wipes and chapstick/lipstick will make you feel like a million bucks after a rough night in the airport.

Snacks

If you are tight on space, you can skip this - but food and drinks in airports can be pricey. A few non-perishable snacks are great to be able to grab - no lines, instant satisfaction and you don't have to lose your seat in the waiting area should space be at a premium for overpacked flights.

Electronics

Electronics, sweet electronics. A smart phone is essential. You can surf the web, rebook flights, and play Candy Crush. A laptop or tablet will be a bit more convenient to use, especially if you find yourself in need of re-booking rooms and changing other travel plans. Don’t forget to pack the chargers!