Take a Ride on Wakatobi dive resort’s iconic dive boats
Most dive and snorkeling trips begin with a boat ride. It’s true at most destinations around the world, including Wakatobi Resort. Yes, there is the House Reef, which is one of the most acclaimed shore dives in the world. But to discover the full scope of the resort’s marine preserve, you’ll have to get aboard something that floats. We’d like to introduce you to the Wakatobi fleet and share some of the reasons why many divers feel they are the ideal boats for comfort, personal attention, and diving enjoyment.
Mød flåden
Wakatobi Dive Resort driver en flåde på ni dedikerede dykker-/snorkelbåde, alle omkring 20 meter/67 fod i længden, med en strålebredde på 4.5 meter/14.7 fod. Fordi hver er håndbygget af håndværkere, er ikke to identiske, men alle følger et lignende design og layout. Selvom de er traditionelle i designet, er de udstyret med moderne sikkerheds- og navigationsudstyr såsom oxygen, GPS og marineradioer.
One of the most important common features of Wakatobi’s boats is the full-length roofs. Sun protection is a vital but too-often overlooked aspect of diving and snorkeling activities in the tropics. The cooling effects of water and wind may keep passengers from noticing the full impact of sun exposure, but it doesn’t take long to develop debilitating sunburn or dehydration. That’s why Wakatobi’s boats are covered from bow to stern, and don’t require passengers to slather sunscreen or don cover-ups just to keep from burning. And for those who want to catch some rays, there is a roomy open section for relaxing on the bow.
” I’ve done a lot of boat diving and know how uncomfortable it can be when there are 12 or 14 people on a smaller boat trying to gear up with no elbow room. I fell in love with Wakatobi’s boats. They’re open, spacious, and super comfortable.” ~ Guest Mitchell Bennett
Another design feature that guests on Wakatobi’s boats really appreciate is the location of the bathroom, or what nautical types call “the head.” Aboard many boats, a trip to the head involves negotiating a ladder down into a forward cabin, then entering a confined space to take care of necessities while the boat bounces over the waves. Wakatobi’s dive boats place a spacious head complete with a full hot water shower in the more stable stern area, and at deck level.
Personlige rum
The long profiles of Wakatobi’s boats allow for ample bench seating and plenty of elbow room for gearing up and moving around. In theory, each boat could comfortably accommodate a large number of divers, but bulk capacity is not Wakatobi’s style. For example, the resort’s largest boat takes a maximum of 16 divers, while their slightly smaller boats run with a maximum complement of 12 guests.
Items like face masks, fins, booties, and other personal items are stowed in individually-numbered storage baskets beneath the gunwale benches. Each guest is assigned a numbered basket when they first check in with the dive center, and those baskets are then transferred to and from boats by the dive staff throughout the guest’s stay.
Et dedikeret kamerabord og skyllestation er placeret tæt på bådens bagende, mens udgang til og fra vandet sker ved brede sidedøre på begge sider af båden. Disse åbninger er placeret midt mellem kamerabordet og de forreste bænksæder, hvilket giver fotografer plads til at samle deres udstyr uden at være i vejen for andre dykkere og snorklere, der kommer ind eller ud af vandet.
“The side entry points on Wakatobi boats is a real plus. They make it very easy to get in and out of the water, and you’re not exposed to any engine exhaust, which makes it a lot more comfortable than most dive boats I’ve been on during my travels.” ~ Gæst Ken Glaser
Water entry is more of a step off than a giant stride, with a foot and a half drop to the water. Divers needing an easier entry for reasons such as lower back issues can simply sit and allow the deck crew to help them in and out of their gear. Getting back into the boats is also easy, as there’s a very sturdy ladder with easy-to-use handles. An additional benefit of the side entry points is the separation from the boat’s engine exhaust, which is far away in the stern.
Private Anliggender
Wakatobi-flåden omfatter to fartøjer bygget specielt til at rumme private chartre og give enkeltpersoner eller små grupper en virkelig personlig dykkeroplevelse. I stedet for bænksæderne i fuld længde, som findes på resortets andre både, omfatter det rummelige overdækkede dæk en skyggefuld spiseplads, forreste liggestole, en køkkenstation og et omklædningsrum med et komplet badeværelse og bruser. Et særligt træk er et øvre dæk, som kan bruges til sightseeing, solbadning eller til at nyde middagen under stjernerne. Mere om private både >link..
Lokale praktiske forhold
Du kan undre dig over, hvorfor et førsteklasses dykker- og snorkelresort som Wakatobi ville drive en flåde af, hvad der ser ud til at være traditionelle indonesiske færger. Hvor er de slanke glasfiberlanceringer udstyret med et par halsede turbodiesels og skinnende metalskinner?
Der er mange grunde til, at de gik den traditionelle vej, begyndende med deres forpligtelse til bæredygtighed og samfundsforvaltning. Som en del af Wakatobi-missionen om at skabe økonomisk fordel for lokalsamfundet i stedet for at importere fabriksbyggede dykkerbåde, bestilte de lokale bådebyggere til at skabe vores ikoniske både.
At bygge lokalt holdt ikke kun indtægterne i samfundet, det gav også nogle miljømæssige fordele. Valget af bæredygtige træsorter frem for glasfiberharpikser reducerede emissionerne forbundet med byggeri, mens bygning tæt på hjemmet også reducerede det CO2-fodaftryk, der skabes ved at importere både fra fjerne steder.
Ud over "feel good"-aspekterne ved at bygge lokalt, er der adskillige praktiske årsager bag Wakatobis valg. Den første er pålidelighed. Fordi bådene er bygget af lokale håndværkere, kan reparationer udføres hurtigt og nemt – ingen ventetid på, at en proprietær del bliver fløjet ind fra en fabrik tusindvis af kilometer væk. Som et resultat håndteres mekaniske problemer og vedligeholdelse mere hensigtsmæssigt af deres team.
And then there’s efficiency. The long and relatively lean shape of their dive boats allows them to be powered by a single engine, consuming far less fuel, and creating fewer emissions than high-speed, turbo-diesel launches. The resort’s boats ease along at speeds in the 17km/11mph range, which is plenty fast enough for our style of diving. At Wakatobi, most sites are typically just ten to 30 minutes away, and even our most distant sites are reached in less than an hour.
Dette bringer os til den tredje fordel ved deres traditionelle design, som er komfort. Ved de afslappede hastigheder, vores både sejler, er der ingen dunkende eller slingrende, og motorstøj reduceres til en lav burble, der giver mulighed for normale samtaler. Skrogdesignet er ekstremt stabilt både undervejs og i hvile på en fortøjning. Passagerer kan slappe af på vej til pladsen og bevæge sig uden at skulle gribe fat i gelændere for at holde balancen. Og selvom de sjældent støder på råt vand, giver Wakatobi-bådenes skarpe stævner og stejle profiler dem mulighed for at skære sig igennem hug og bølger med en let bevægelse.
Det menneskelige element
One of the most important and valued features of the Wakatobi dive boats isn’t a physical element, it is the human element. Our boat crews and dive staff take great pride in providing the highest level of personal service and attention. It begins even before guests step aboard. The dive staff handles all equipment transfers to and from the boat and set up your gear. If you’d prefer to set up your own gear, that’s fine, and we’re there to assist if required.
Hele dykkeholdet er fremragende. Efter briefingerne følte jeg, at jeg næsten selv kunne navigere på webstederne, så grundige og personlige beskrivelserne er." - Joe Bennett
Prior to each dive, Wakatobi’s guides not only provide a thorough briefing on what to expect, but also discuss expectations with each guest, and tailor the dive accordingly. In the water, our dive guides are experts at providing just the right level of attention, whether it’s being there to assist less experienced divers, allowing more accomplished divers to set the pace, or serving as expert critter spotters. Equal attention is provided to snorkelers, who often accompany divers to the many sites in Wakatobi’s marine preserve that have extensive shallow reefs.
After each dive, guests are presented with a cooling, mint-scented towel and offered snacks and beverage. Wakatobi’s chefs will also accommodate dietary requirements or wishes on the boats; guests need just ask and they’ll make sure it’s there before the boat leaves the jetty. It is touches like this that make time on a Wakatobi boat more than just a surface interval or a necessary prelude to the in-water experience. In fact, many guests consider the relaxing time spent cruising to and from dive sites to be a thoroughly enjoyable part of the overall resort experience.
If you haven’t yet experienced how enjoyable a dive boat really can be, go to wakatobi.com, book dit besøg og kom ombord.
