You’ll have a great time, but don’t take our word for it…

It’s the small things, and in Wakatobi’s case there are so many of them, that make a place, an experience, a culture and an adventure truly unforgettable. Coming from Cape Town, we are very used to the ocean, but ours is cold, wild and vastly different, so one of the first joys of arriving was simply the gorgeous warmth of both the sea and the air. And then there is what lies beneath the water. The ocean here is extraordinary. The clarity of the water, the abundance and diversity of marine life, and the seemingly endless, pristine coral reefs in the most magnificent colors are simply jaw-dropping. There were moments when it was difficult to believe what we were seeing was real.

What took the diving completely off the charts for us were our three wonderful dive guides. What incredible gentlemen: kind, thoughtful, patient, and absolute masters of their craft, both in and out of the water. We learned so much from them, felt completely looked after, and had so many laughs along the way. The same must be said of our fantastic boat crew and their captain. They were always smiling, always ready for a chat, and somehow always anticipating what we needed, often before we knew it ourselves. I work in the hospitality industry, and I can honestly say I have rarely experienced service at this level. It isn’t forced or overly formal. It feels completely natural, intuitive and genuine, and that is what makes it so special.

Back at the Courtyard Residence, the food and service were equally exceptional under the watchful care of our butlers, and the residence itself is superb. Everything you could possibly need has been thought of. You feel genuinely cared for from morning until night. We arrived expecting incredible diving. We leave with wonderful memories, new knowledge, many laughs and enormous appreciation for the extraordinary team who looked after us. Highly recommended doesn’t come close. For us, Wakatobi is a 10 out of 5.

What a wonderful experience. Absolutely every employee I dealt with was very helpful and attentive, and they all seemed genuinely happy in their work. Our bungalow is lovely and so well thought out, and we were treated like royalty everywhere we went. The snorkeling was amazing. The corals and variety are mind-boggling. Thank you for your part in keeping the area so healthy. And the dining experience… wow! So many delicious and beautiful options, and the entire team there is wonderful. Every dish was clearly labeled, and I was brought non-dairy smoothies and treats as a complete surprise. As the friend who recommended Wakatobi to me said, anywhere else I go will never measure up. I can’t imagine a more wonderful place. Thank you for creating it.

After traveling and diving for 50 years, I can say that Wakatobi Dive Resort is one of the best places I’ve ever seen. The resort is at the top of the scale in every single detail, and every member of the staff is kind and professional. The snorkeling and diving are at the highest level you can imagine, and the reef is stunning, with the highest biodiversity in the world. It’s a place anyone who loves the sea, nature and diving should visit at least once in their life. A real underwater paradise!

Wakatobi exceeded every expectation! We cannot say enough wonderful things about our dive boat. The entire crew was absolutely incredible: attentive, professional, genuinely friendly, and always one step ahead of everyone’s needs. A very special thank you goes to our personal dive master, who was simply outstanding. His knowledge, experience and attention to detail were exceptional, and we always felt completely safe, comfortable and confident diving with him. It was obvious how much he cares about both the diving and his guests, and we would request him again without hesitation. He is a true asset to the Wakatobi team!

A huge thank you, too, to the entire Wakatobi staff. Everyone we met was warm, welcoming and genuinely cared about our happiness. The meals were beautifully prepared, fresh, varied and delicious, and our villa team kept our villa absolutely beautiful, attentive to every detail. And we cannot forget the grounds crew. Day after day, they worked tirelessly to keep the resort looking beautiful. It was obvious that maintaining the natural beauty of Wakatobi was a true priority for them, and they did it with pride, always with a smile and a friendly greeting. Their hard work does not go unnoticed. Thank you for making our stay such a memorable part of our Indonesian adventure. We can’t wait to return!

While the trip from California to Wakatobi is quite a haul, we will be the ones to say it’s worth it. The staff were so attentive, friendly and highly competent. The restaurant service was exemplary, the food was flavorful and delicious, and the desserts were works of art. The staff clearly take pride in their food and service, and remembering everyone’s names is no small feat. The front office team were so nice and professional, and no request was too small. Housekeeping did a fantastic job!

Now for the diving! We had an absolute gem as our dive guide. What an informative, knowledgeable and kind man. He knows his craft, and because of that, he instills confidence in his divers. We have dived all over the world, and no dive master has ever been as brilliant. He truly cares about his divers and takes his time with them. And your boat staff: wow! Anticipating our needs, helping with our gear, and the small but significant touches of hot tea and warm towels. Talk about concierge dive service! We loved our bungalow too. We will be back.

A barefoot paradise, both below and above the water. I have nothing but positive things to say about our stay. The friendliness of your staff and their willingness to help on every occasion are beyond anything I’ve experienced before. The meals were all truly outstanding. They introduced me to a wonderful variety of Indonesian dishes alongside offerings from around the world, and I loved the placards describing each dish’s name, origin and preparation. The accommodation and housekeeping were excellent, and there was a lot of thought given to the small details of the villas. I even took notes so I could re-create some of those comforts at home.

The aquatic environment here is world-renowned, but it takes a good guide to reveal its true beauty, and we had the great fortune of an exceptional divemaster. He had a thorough knowledge of the dive sites and the creatures found at each one, and his skill at actually finding them was amazing. He even found us an ornate ghost pipefish, the very creature on the cover of the famous reef fish identification guide! At the end of each day, he gave us a complete list of everything we had seen. Wakatobi is fortunate to have him. We will be fondly remembering our experience for many years to come.

I love Wakatobi! This has been a dream vacation. The diving was perfection and the food was five stars, but it’s all the wonderful people who run the resort that I will remember most. They were all so kind, so helpful and so much fun, and being greeted by name everywhere I went made me feel like a celebrity! Even more special, since this was my second year here, I had established relationships with many of my friends who work here. I guess the biggest compliment I can give is that I have already booked for April 2028, and I cannot wait to return! A special shout-out to our dive guide. What an amazing human being: patient, knowledgeable, helpful and so fun to be around!

Every day in Wakatobi is a good day. For us, Wakatobi is much more than a beautiful place. It is the people, the diving, the warm smiles, and all the little details that make every stay so special. Our private guides impressed us with their extensive knowledge and the way they shared it. What stood out most was their patience. No matter how many questions we had, they always took the time to explain everything and made sure we felt comfortable and confident before each dive. They struck exactly the right balance between a relaxed atmosphere and the focus diving requires, with plenty of humor and laughter, which gave us a strong sense of trust and safety. Their enthusiasm was contagious.

We would also like to highlight the crew of our dive boat, who created a pleasant and reassuring atmosphere from the moment we stepped on board, and our captain, who navigated so skillfully that we felt completely at ease. Our butler team was remarkably attentive and warm, often noticing what we needed before we had to mention it, and the service never felt formal or distant, but caring, natural and sincere. The restaurant team was kind and cheerful, and one waiter had remembered many of our preferences within the first few days. The massage was first-class and one of the most relaxing experiences of our stay. We always feel genuinely welcome and incredibly well cared for, and we leave once again with wonderful memories, already looking forward to the day we can return.

One of the most amazing weeks of my life. I can fault nothing. Beautiful surroundings, kind and attentive staff, fantastic food, amazing diving and that incredible house reef. Whenever you thought something would be a good idea, it had already been done. The food quality and selection were perfect, and I loved the small dessert portions so I could try a bit of everything! The staff couldn’t do more for you. Thank you, Wakatobi.

Diving Wakatobi was simply an awesome experience, which had a lot to do with the outstanding dive and boat team. Our private dive guide was excellent: super conscientious, flexible with our requests (including a first night dive!), and able to find the animals we wanted, which we clearly couldn’t have done on our own. His explanations mixed marine biology with the history of the sites, and he was very patient, especially in helping us improve our buoyancy. The boat teams were friendly, helpful and worked beautifully together. Our villa team gave excellent, quick service and were very accommodating of our dive schedule, especially by delivering meals to our villa after tiring dives. I also appreciated their concern and help on our first evening. The restaurant staff were super attentive and knew our names immediately. The friendliness of the entire resort staff made us feel welcomed with open arms.

Our dive guide was fantastic: very patient, made us feel safe underwater, and has a knack for finding tiny sea creatures and helping us identify them. He has so much knowledge about the marine life at Wakatobi! The local team was highly attentive and took the time to learn our names and preferences. The team made a birthday very special, with a creative and thoughtful cake from the chef. We loved the spacious dive boats, where the crew proactively took care of anything we might need, as well as the afternoon snacks in our room after diving, the pillow menu, and the reef guides in the room and library.

Wakatobi continues to be my little happy place. The service was exceptional, seamless and hassle-free, from booking and pre-arrival information to being met at the airport on arrival and again on the departure morning. Once the Wakatobi representative met me, I knew I could just relax! Everything was great: the flight, the welcome, the accommodation (I love the outdoor shower, hammock and sun lounger), the ground staff, the restaurant team, the food (especially the Indonesian and Asian dishes), the dive crew, my dive guide, the well-maintained equipment, and the diving itself. It was nice to see a member of the senior team take the time to mingle with guests. A big shout-out to the dive crew and tender drivers. They remind me of the turtles: wise, calm and relaxed, not saying much but making everything run smoothly.

Nothing negative to say! What stands out is the individual service that started as soon as we landed in Bali. A Wakatobi representative met us at the gate and helped us through the airport, we were expedited through check-in for the domestic flight, private SUVs took us to the boats on arrival, and check-in at the resort could not have been better. That kind of individual service continued throughout our stay. The staff make arrival and departure as easy as can be, and they are the key to your reputation! The room was great, and the food was great, whether from the buffet or special orders. We’ve never been to a resort that bakes fresh bread, and I loved it! The diving was great too. The larger boats made the trips very comfortable, and our guide was the best. I thank him for his patience!

The hospitality and service provided by the Wakatobi staff are stellar and unparalleled. The dive operation is a well-oiled machine, and it is amazing to watch how the staff get everyone’s equipment organized and ready for diving or snorkeling. Our dive guide showed us a wide variety of critters on every dive, and it was a pleasure to spend the week diving with him. We don’t have enough adjectives to describe the restaurant’s amazing staff and culinary offerings. The food is varied, delicious and beautifully presented. We also enjoyed our visits to the spa. Thanks for everything. We hope to return soon.

Our stay at the Courtyard Residence was amazing! The accommodation is lovely, as are the staff. Our butler team was really awesome and went above and beyond to make our stay perfect, and our chef is incredible. The boat staff on our dive boat were also awesome, and of course, our dive guides were the best!