Hotelupwell.com – It seems that it is not an exaggeration to assume that eastern Indonesia is rich in various kinds of marine or marine tourism. As one of the largest archipelagic countries in the world, there are countless marine tourism attractions that have successfully bewitched local and international tourists. Starting from Papua with Raja Ampat and Pianemo, Ora Beach and seaside cottages to Wakatobi National Park or Wakatobi Island which offers the best underwater beauty in the world. The name Wakatobi itself is an abbreviation of the four largest islands, namely Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko islands.
Wakatobi’s long journey to become Wakatobi National Park itself began in 1989. At that time, Wakatobi was still a marine conservation area through surveys conducted by the Directorate General of Forestry and Nature Conservation in collaboration with WWF. The survey results show that Wakatobi has abundant marine resources, including various types of coral reefs, fish and a diversity of habitats that produce stunning marine panoramas.
Furthermore, the Wakatobi Islands finally changed their name to Wakatobi National Park through a decree of the Minister of Forestry in July 1996 and was formalized through Decree of the Minister of Forestry Number 7651/Kpts-II/2002 dated 9 August 2002 which also explained that the area of the Wakatobi National Park was 1,390,000 hectare.
Of course, there are various reasons and processes why a natural resource or conservation area, whether on land or at sea, can become a national park. For Wakatobi National Park itself, one of the strong reasons is because it is located in the Coral Triangle. What’s that?
Imagine you go to a painting museum in the middle of the city and inside you can find around 76% of the paintings from the best artists in the world, of course you want to linger in the museum, right? Well, Wakatobi National Park is one of the artists who also provided these beautiful paintings.
Coral Triangle or Coral Triangle itself is a term that refers to an area of 6 million km that passes through Malaysia, Indonesia with Wakatobi National Park, Solomon Islands to Timor Leste. Not only is it a tourist spot, but scientists from all over the world have also made Wakatobi a learning place for the newest coral reef species which of course continue to evolve. The Coral Triangle is so special that former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono established Coral Triangle Day, a special day to encourage local people to care about the coral reef ecosystem, which falls on June 9.
Underwater Paradise, Home to Coral Reefs and Fish
Wakatobi National Park is known for being one of the areas with the largest number of coral reefs and fish species in the world. This National Park, which is located in Wakatobi district, Southeast Sulawesi, is only second to the Great Barrier Reef which is located in Queensland, Australia. Not only is it a comfortable home for coral reefs and various kinds of fish that live sustainably under the sea, Wakatobi National Park offers 50 diving spots that are very easily accessible from the large islands. Not only is it fun for tourists, the many diving access areas are also a playground for various species of turtles, dolphins and whales. It is said that Wakatobi National Park has more than 942 species of fish and 750 of the 850 coral reef collections in the world.
The diverse beauty of Wakatobi National Park is also demonstrated by the local population consisting of 3 tribes, namely the Buton, Bajo and Bugis. Wakatobi itself consists of a total of 143 large islands, but only 7 of them are inhabited.
Get to know the four big islands in Wakatobi
Even though it is known for its marine tourism, Wakatobi National Park also provides unforgettable experiences on its four islands, especially those related to the cultural traditions of the friendly residents. Starting from releasing baby turtles into the open sea, white sand beaches, to traditional forts and historical heritage, here are some of the beauties of Wakatobi:
Wangi-Wangi Island: The first gateway to the beauty of Wakatobi National Park
Whether you are an experienced diver or just a casual adventurer, your journey to explore Wakatobi National Park starts here. Commercial flights to and from Matahora Airport on this island are the right opening gate to treat you to the beauty of Wakatobi. Seeing the sun rising on the horizon while dolphins swim and jump around your boat is the right start to start your adventure. Don’t worry, you can rent a boat at Sombu or Mola Harbor and they will immediately take you to Tanjung Kapota to see the attractions above. As a bonus, you can see the attractions of local fishermen and dolphins.
Kaledupa Island: Feeling Tranquility
In contrast to Wangi-Wangi Island, Kaledupa Island, which is surrounded by mangrove forests and coconut trees, offers a more peaceful and calm atmosphere compared to other islands. Especially those close to Hoga Island, Operation Wallace’s research and data processing center. The clear sea, white sand, swaying coconut trees and the sound of waves lapping the beach make this island the perfect place for you to relax.
Tomia Island: Divers’ paradise
The third island, namely Tomia Island, has been famous as a dive site for the past 10 years. Having more than 40 dive sites that have been named and mapped makes this island not only famous in Indonesia, but also in the eyes of divers spread throughout the world. One of the challenging and beautiful coral reefs that is often the target of veteran divers is the Rome coral reef, which is taken from one of the largest cities in Italy.
Binongko Island: Blacksmith Island
Binongko Island is the furthest island in the Wakatobi archipelago. However, that doesn’t mean that Binongko Island offers an ordinary experience. Once again, when you visit this island, you will be greeted by young women dancing to strong gambus music. On this island, apart from finding skilled blacksmiths, you can also learn how iron is shaped and sharpened using traditional techniques passed down from generation to generation. In fact, the knives and machetes produced on Binongko Island are considered to be one of the best Rokokbet in Indonesia.
