WAKATOBI MARINE NATIONAL PARK

Just off the south-eastern tip of Sulawesi lies one of the undiscovered jewels of Indonesian diving site, the Wakatobi Marine National Park (Wakatobi is named after the four islands that surround it, Wangi Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko which belong to Tukang Besi Islands).   A stroll through any of Tukang Besi Islands reveals fascinating fossil reef formations, including the occasional giant clam or nautiloid shell.  The entire area serves as a cetacean thoroughfare, and night dives along the walls here are absolutely breathtaking.  The entire wall burst into vivid color as Tubastrea and soft corals ‘bloom’, and the diversity of invertebrates such as crustaceans, nudibranch, pencil urchin, etc. is bewildering. 

How to Get There:

• From Kendari, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi Province, take a regular speed boat to Bau-bau which takes about 5 hours of sailing. Continue to Lasalimu (an hour drive) and then use a speed boat to Wanci, the first entering gate to Wakatobi. The trip from Lasalimu to Wanci takes about 2.5 hours.

The Best Season to Visit:
April to June and October to December every year

Contact:
Wakatobi Marine National Park Office
Jl. Dayanu Ikhsanudin,
Bau-bau Buton – Sulawesi Tenggara
Ph. (0402) 25652