Wakatobi National Park, World's Best Dive Sites

Wakatobi beach, Indonesia.
Source: wikipedia.org

Wakatobi National Park is a marine national park, that located at the south-east of Sulawesi island in Indonesia, between 05°12’-06°10’S and 123°20’-124°39’E. The name of Wakatobi is an acronym of the four main Tukangbesi Islands: Wangi-wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko. With an area of about 1.39 million hectares, this area has the potential of marine natural resources, which presents a stunning underwater panorama.

The types of vegetation found in the national park are mangrove forest, coastal forest, lowland swamp forest, riverbank vegetation, lowland rainforest, mountain rainforest and coral reefs. The Wakatobi Archipelago has 25 groups of coral reefs including fringing reefs, barrier reefs and atolls. Approximately 112 species from 13 families of coral, located at 25 points along the 600 km coastline. The types of corals are: Acropora formosa, Acropora hyacinthus, Psammocora profundasafla, Pavona cactus, Leptoseris yabei, Fungia molucensis, Lobophyllia robusta, Merulina ampliata, Platygyra versifora, Euphyllia glabrescens, Tubastraea frondes, Stylophora pistillata, Sarcophyton throchelliophorum, Sinularia species.

The park also has a variety of fish species, including: Argus Spot (Cephalopholus argus), Takhasang (Naso unicornis), Pogo-pogo (Balistoides viridescens), Napoleon fish (wrasse undulatus), Red fish (Lutjanus biguttatus), Rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus), Amphiprion melanopus, Chaetodon specullum, Chelmon rostratus, Heniochus acuminatus, Lutjanus monostigma, Caesio caerularea. Among the recorded species of seabird are the Brown Booby, Common Kingfisher and Malaysian Plover. Turtles in the park include the Hawksbill turtle, Loggerhead sea turtle, and Olive Ridley.

Coral reefs at Wakatobi. Source: wikipedia.org

For tourists who love the beauty of the underwater to do some activities in the Wakatobi National Park, such as diving, snorkeling and swimming to see the beautiful coral reef and other underwater animals and also see various cultural communities. Hoga Island, Binongko Island and Tomia Island are attractive location to visit, especially for diving, snorkeling, marine tourism, swimming, camping, and cultural tourism.

How to get to Wakatobi ?

Towards Wakatobi, there are lots of ways. But the easiest access is via Kendari. From Kendari, there are two options, by sea or air. By air, there was a plane that connects Kendari to the Matahora airport in Wanci, as the capital of Wakatobi. Susi Air is the airline, a travel distance of less than 1 hour. By sea, there are two choices as well. From Kendari through Baubau in Buton, or directly to Wanci. Baubau can be an alternative route because the waves are not strong. Voyage from Kendari to Wanci about 12 hours. Whereas voyage from Kendari towards Baubau taken within 6 hours, and then headed Wanci taken within 8 hours.