Dive Tomia with a local who knows every reef
Small-group boat dives and snorkel trips in the heart of the Coral Triangle, guided by Pak Ahmad and his crew. Pristine pinnacles, walls of sea fans and pygmy seahorses, a few minutes from Waha harbour.
Twenty years on these reefs. Still the first one in the water.
Wakatobi Marine Dive is Pak Ahmad's own small dive shop in Waha, on the north-west coast of Tomia. Before opening it he guided for years at Patuno Resort on Wangi-Wangi and at the famous Wakatobi Dive Resort.
He chooses each site for your experience, the tide and the wind, and for what you came to see. Pygmy seahorses, a turtle on the table corals, a tornado of jacks: he knows where to look. Groups stay small, a second divemaster joins when beginners are on the boat, and he shoots photos and video of you underwater along the way.
Waha harbour · Tomia
Simple boat, world-class reefs
Every trip leaves from Waha by local boat. Most sites are 5 to 20 minutes away, so you spend your day underwater, not in transit.
Guided fun dives
Two or three boat dives a day on Roma, Table Coral City, Fan 38 and dozens more. Ask for a site or a creature and Ahmad plans around it.
Discovery dive
Never dived before? Start with a calm briefing and breathe underwater on a shallow, gentle reef with your guide close at hand.
Snorkel trips
Roma, Mari Mabuk and the Fan 38 shallows rise to within a few metres of the surface. Great for non-diving partners and families.
Macro & photo dives
Slow, shallow dives built around critters: pygmy seahorses, frogfish, harlequin shrimp and nudibranchs. Ahmad is a sharp spotter and photographer.
Pinnacles, walls & coral cities
Tomia sits inside Wakatobi National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Coral Triangle. These are the sites we dive most, with depths, currents and what to look for.
Wakatobi's reefs are protected. A national park ticket is required for every visitor, and gloves, touching and collecting are not allowed. Some sites in the private reserve around Onemobaa island are reserved for resort guests and are not on this list.
Thirty seconds under Tomia
Jacks at Ali Reef, a turtle on the wall, batfish in the blue and anthias over the reef. All filmed on Wakatobi Marine Dive trips.
Who you might meet down there
From pygmy seahorses smaller than a fingernail to schools of bumphead parrotfish. Tap any photo to see it larger.
Diving all year, best in two windows
There are no rivers on Tomia to cloud the water, so visibility holds even after rain. Calm seas and the clearest days come from March to May and September to December.
- Water
- 25–30 °CCoolest in July and August, warmest around October.
- Visibility
- 20–40 mOften more on the outer pinnacles.
- Wetsuit
- 3 mmBring a 5 mm if you feel the cold, or for July and August.
- Currents
- TidalGentle on most sites. We time dives around the tide.
Remote on purpose, worth every leg
Tomia has no crowds because it takes a little effort to reach. Most guests fly to Wangi-Wangi and take the daily boat south. Send us your flight details and Ahmad will help line up the rest.
Allow a spare day. Boats can be cancelled in rough weather and connections in Wanci do not always line up. Plan one buffer night on the way in or out, and keep your last dive at least 24 hours before your flight.
Fly into Indonesia
Bali · Jakarta · MakassarConnect through Makassar or Kendari in Sulawesi for the short hop to Wakatobi.
Land on Wangi-Wangi
Matahora Airport · WNITransfer to Wanci town and the Pattinggu harbour. Ahmad can arrange a pick-up at the airport.
Boat to Tomia
Daily · about 2.5 to 3 hoursPublic speedboats run Wanci to Tomia every day, usually one in the morning and one around midday. Tickets are bought at the harbour.
Welcome to Waha
Tomia · 5 minutes to the first reefWe meet you at the harbour, help you settle into your homestay and plan tomorrow's dives the same evening.
Planned the night before, timed to the tide
- Plan togetherAhmad drops by your homestay to talk through your level, wishes and tomorrow's sites.
- Pick-up in WahaA short scooter ride to the harbour, with gear already loaded on the boat.
- Briefing and first diveA clear briefing, then an unhurried dive with a guide who spots the small stuff.
- Tea, coffee and local snacksSurface interval on the boat or a white-sand beach.
- More dives, then homeBack in Waha in time for a late lunch, with photos of your dive to keep.
“Knows all the best hidden spots”
Ahmad is one of the best dive guides I have ever met.
My sister did two discovery dives (first ever) with Ahmad and he made her feel comfortable and safe in the water.
He came to our hotel the night before to finalise our dive plans and arranged everything. A great spotter.
The diving is really lovely, with practically no other divers around.
Don't expect a luxury boat, but you'll get what is needed: a spotter, a helping hand coming out of the boat, a decent briefing.
We felt we were in good hands, safe diving and the gears worked fine.
Message Ahmad on WhatsApp
Internet on Tomia is patchy, so WhatsApp is the best way to reach us. Tell us your dates and experience and we will reply with plans and current rates.
- +62 822 1468 4248
- @ahmaddivemaster
- Shop
- Waha-Usuku, Jl. Poros, Waha, Tomia, Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi 93793, Indonesia
- Open
- Every day. Replies can take a few hours when we are out on the water.
Good to know: bring your certification card and logbook. A Wakatobi National Park ticket is required, and dive insurance that covers evacuation is strongly recommended, as Tomia has no recompression chamber.