Wakatobi Flow

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Coral polyps, stimulated by a near UV light. Initially believed to be a plant, coral is in fact an animal. While a coral head appears to be a single organism, it is actually a group of many individual, yet genetically identical, polyps. The polyps are multicellular organisms. Polyps are usually a few millimeters in diameter, and are formed by a layer of outer epithelium and inner jellylike tissue known as the mesoglea. They are radially symmetrical, with tentacles surrounding a central mouth, the only opening to the stomach or coelenteron, through which food is ingested and waste expelled. (Photograph: Mick Gulson)

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During the day the Saron shrimp is brown with green spots and variable amounts of white speckling. The legs have darker brown bands on a brown background with alternating white speckled bands. Tufts of cirri (feathery appendages) are found decorating the back of the males, and their first pair of walking legs are elongated. The Saron Shrimp is nocturnal, and at night, the color of its body changes colour, turning primarily red, which helps it blend into the shadows of the twilight. It is found in the coral rubble at the base of the reef. (Photograph: Doug Richardson)

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Also known as Godeffroy’s Soft Coral, this tree coral looks like the Japanese ‘sakura’ or cherry blossom tree. They feed on plankton and can grow to about 17cm in length. (Photograph: Eric Schlogl)

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The Persian carpet flatworm has a very small geographic range mostly in the temperate shallow intertidal ocean waters of the Indo-West Pacific. Flatworms can move fast along the bottom by rapidly beating tiny hairs which act like millions of feet to propel them along in an undulating manner. They feed by placing themselves over their victims and sucking in their prey, a tube like extension in its mouth acts as a grinder. (Photograph: Anne Lecuire)

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On the morning’s first dive, your guide leads you right to a pastel gorgonian that you would have otherwise swam right past. Following his gestures, you look close, then closer, and suddenly the timely and perfectly camouflaged profile of a Denise’s pygmy seahorse is revealed. Your guide places a steadying hand on your shoulder, allowing you to ease in for a close up without disturbing this tiny reef dweller or its surroundings. Your day is off to a pretty good start. (Photograph: Cor Bosman)

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The colors and patterns of this fire urchin are as bright as a string of holiday lights, and seem to be lit from within. You’ll most likely encounter one of these colorful characters in the inshore areas of the House Reef and other sand-bottom dive sites. They are usually easy to spot, and they grow to diameters of eight inches. (Photograph by Erik Schlogl)

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Into mucking around? If you are unfamiliar with the term muck diving, it is basically a treasure hunt for small and often highly cryptic critters hiding among the supporting columns of a pier or in debris - like this frogfish nestled, comfortably we assume, in the sandy bottom. (Photograph by Saskia van Wijk)

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Wakatobi’s reefs are also rich in a rich variety of life. The region is known as the most bio-diverse coral ecosystem in the world, and with plenty of time to hover and watch, snorkelers can discover hundreds of fascinating species of fish and invertebrate life. Found just a few feet from the resort jetty, this orangutan crab took a stance as he shuffled within an anemone. (Photograph: Leon Joubert)

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From this angle, it seems as if these red tube sponges are topped with seasonal greenery. Closer examination reveals it’s actually a black crinoid, growing from the reef just above, and silhouetted by morning light filtering down. (Photograph: Walt Stearns)

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Some fish lay their eggs on convenient structures such as an extension of wire coral. (Photograph: Richard Smith)

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Some of the garden eels live in big groups, but the spotted garden eel is more often found in smaller colonies or even singly. They rely on water motion to bring food to them, the garden eels typically live in current prone habitats. (Photograph: WDR)

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Wakatobi delivers select luxury without sacrificing natural beauty. It is best known for its spectacular reefs, diverse marine life and world-class diving operations. But as thousands of our guests attest, it is not just the diving, but the entire resort experience that sets us apart. From the magnificent natural setting to the premier levels of personal service provided, we strive to make every element of a Wakatobi stay exceed expectations, and create memories of a lifetime. (Photograph: Didi Lotze)

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Most cleaning stations can be found in the shallower areas of the reef, which allows divers to spend more time observing the activity. Finding one for the first time is not hard, but can require a watchful eye and little patience to see and recognize the activity. Wakatobi’s dive guides are experts at locating cleaning stations and will often help guests learn how to quickly spot the services being performed. (Photograph: Walt Stearns)

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Spirals of electric blue pigment, created by granules suspended within the translucent bodies of these colonial tunicates, create the underwater equivalent of a sparkly light show, brightening up the reef on which they live. (Photograph: Rob Darmanin)