While even the Wakatobi resort with its sheltered areas closes during the wet monsoon period in January and February those islands are closed to fisherman and divers alike during most of the year. Only during about 4 weeks in April and October - that is the relatively calm time between the east and west monsoon - you can visit this area. Our trip took us there at the end of March, beginning of April. The weather was calm and fair, fierce sun during the day and star covered sky at night.

Only a few divers have ever visited the islands east of Wakatobi. Our dive guide Gerry had been here before, but we did quite a lot of exploratory dives. Nearly all the diving was done on very steep walls. They drop down to many hundreds of meters. At some dive sites (around Hoga and Karang Kaledupa, Batuata) there are a lot of small caves and overhangs. The water was quite warm (29 to 30°) specially in some of the shallow areas in the lagoons of the atolls. Visibility was always excellent but currents strong, with some very strong down currents.

Actually we expected large fish and even whales (from reports in books and a article in the Asian Diver magazine) but were a bit disappointed since we rarely saw sharks or big pelagic fish. The coral cover though was just excellent - no damage from fishing, boating or diving at any place. There were huge boulders of hard corals everywhere, sponges the size of a man and sea fans 2 to 3 meters across. Some places with whip corals stretching several meters, whole fields of them. There were not that many small things to see like nudibranchs or other invertebrates. So I recommend this place if you want to see unspoiled coral reefs but not for large fish. The trip is only available for live aboard private charter from Bali or from Sulawesi

SELAYAR DIVE SITE
A narrow island rising 4000m from the bottom of the Banda sea, full of caves, waterfalls and untouched nature. The resort stands alone on the east coast, where steep jungle-covered mountains plunge into the deep blue sea.

DIVE SITES the 3km long house reef is in pristine condition with steep walls thickly covered in hard and soft corals. Fast speed boats allow us to reach a wide variety of other sites, and follow us during drift dives. There are mostly wall dives, some uw.-mountains and slopes to discover.

The marine life includes nudibranchs, reef fish, schools of jacks and barrakudas, turtles, pelagics, groupers, eagle and manta rays, reef sharks and even hammerhead sharks. Dolphins, whales and dugongs have been spotted during our boat trips. Lunch breaks are taken near caves, waterfalls or other attractions.

PEOPLE - living on selayar are Bugis and Bajau, formerly known as sea gypsies, to which have been added islamic, chinese and dutch influences.

Getting there
- plane to Ujung Pandang
- overnight stay in Ujung Pandang (depending on time of arrival)
- transfer to Bira (4h) in AC bus along a beautiful coastline and fishing villages
- In Bira we pick you up by speedboat (2h to the location)

Diving - Three speedboats (up to 230 hp), three compressors, 40 tanks, 12 complete equipments (all gear Mares and Bauer), rebreather in planning. Dive-school next to the restaurant. 27 dive-sites all close (maximum 30 minutes) to the resort. Day-trips to the Takabonerate-atoll possible.

Accommodation - 8 bungalows build out of nature materials, 35m distance from each other, private beach, located in marine park, all sea view, with bathroom (hot shower), toilet, veranda, room service, minibar, fan or air-conditioned, wooden furniture

Cuisine - Our restaurant in the middle of the beach serves Asian-International cuisine. The cook is from 5-star hotel Sedona in Ujung Pandang/Makassar