In the spring of 2024, CORAL SHAW packed her bags for her first solo travel trip to the Indo-Pacific. Here she tells us why Wakatobi, a resort for diving and snorkelling in Indonesia’s southeast Sulawesi, is now at the top of her list of where to go on holiday.
Flying into the Indo-Pacific
When searching where to go on holiday, particularly if it’s a solo travel trip, safety and convenience are important considerations. Guests who fly into Bali before catching the guest flight to Wakatobi, can organise a day or two of sightseeing with a Wakatobi tour guide.
“The Wakatobi staff meet you on arrival in Bali – and they’re amazing! So helpful, friendly and kind. Nothing is too much trouble. Everyone was very respectful and although some were a little surprised that I was travelling alone, people went out of their way to help me,” Coral says.
Creating connections on a solo travel trip
An equally important element of a solo travel trip is the social aspect. This is where Coral says Wakatobi shines.
“Literally everyone at the resort knew the guests’ names. It was so nice to walk into the dining room alone and meet a sea of friendly faces calling out ‘Hello Coral!’ and helping me to find somewhere to sit.”
One of the great things about Wakatobi, Coral says, is that everyone has a common interest, and there is always something to talk about.
“The resort atmosphere is very conducive to social times with other guests. There is a beautiful lounge area at the heart of the property with drinks and snacks where we would gather to chat about the day’s adventures; plus a lovely bar on the end of the jetty to watch the sun go down and spot turtles coming up to breathe. Other guests would generally invite singles to sit with them, and it was easy to join the conversation by asking ‘So what was your favourite creature today?’”
Encounters with authors
“I was lucky enough to be there while the authors of books about Wakatobi were there. Their photos of marine life are out of this world, and it was fun to hear their expertise,” Coral says.
During her stay, Coral got to meet authors Wade and Robyn Hughes, who wrote Wakatobi: Conservation. In Depth, which won the Explorers Club 2021 Underwater Photography Book of the Year. It documents the success of Wakatobi Resort’s conservation programs through more than 200 pages of photographs created over several years of visits to Wakatobi.
She also met authors Wayne and Pam Osborn who have published two books about Wakatobi including Wakatobi’s House Reef and Wakatobi Reef Life.
Exploring Wakatobi
“The most enjoyable aspect of snorkelling at Wakatobi is that I felt just as important as the divers, which is not always the case at other dive resorts,” Coral says. “The guides were wonderful and kept us safe. I was really lucky that my most frequent guide was kind and knowledgeable – and excellent at finding nudibranchs!”
The resort’s house reef is widely regarded as the world’s premier snorkelling and shallow-dive venue. This site, which begins right at the water’s edge, encompasses hundreds of acres of seagrass meadows, shallow coral gardens and a spectacular outer reef slope adjoining deep water. It’s monitored from shore to ensure diver safety and comfort, and the resort maintains a fleet of taxi boats to carry divers to more distant areas of the reef.
One of Coral’s standout memories of Wakatobi came on her last snorkelling excursion at the end of the resort jetty. “A huge moray eel went gliding past me,” she recalls. “It must have been almost three metres long. I hesitated only momentarily and then took off after it, though not as gracefully, as we were going against the current. It knew I was there, as it kept looking back at me. But it graciously allowed me to tag along!“
In addition to the House Reef, the Wakatobi Marine Preserve offers more than 30 dive sites that begin at shallow depths perfect for snorkellers. The resort’s fleet of spacious, comfortable dive boats welcomes snorkellers and provides comforts such as fully weather-protected seating and spacious bathrooms and showers.
A final word
Here is Coral’s verdict for others thinking of where to go on holiday or thinking about booking a solo travel trip this year.
“If you’re a solo traveller contemplating a trip to Wakatobi, don’t hesitate. You’ll be embraced by warm friendly staff, fun companions and a stellar marine experience. Even though I was alone, I never felt lonely. And don’t even get me started on the fabulous food!”
Getting there from Singapore
Just catch a flight to Bali’s international airport. The Wakatobi concierge team will greet you and take care of all the details (including letting you relax in a VIP lounge before departure). You’ll then board a direct private guest flight to the beach resort’s own airstrip to start your holiday in the Indo-Pacific!
Find out more at wakatobi.com or email office@wakatobi.com.
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