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WAKATOBI : A MUST VISIT DESTINATION FOR UNDERWATER LOVERS
Wakatobi is one of the World's Best Marine Tourism objects and also one of the Best Diving Destination in South East Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Widely recognized as having the highest number of reef and fish species in the world. The islands are also famous as the largest barrier reef in Indonesia, second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The Wakatobi archipelago is located in the Coral Triangle, a treasured ecoregion where we’ve identified hundreds of reef-building coral species. This means the islands themselves may already look like picture-perfect vacation destinations, but Wakatobi’s underwater world is even more breathtaking. The Coral Triangle only covers 0.6% of the planet’s oceanic area, but the region is home to a whopping 76% of all known coral species in the world.
Here can be found fringing, atolls and barrier reefs and offer more than 50 sites easily accessible from the major islands. This is the habitat of large and small fish species, the playground of dolphins, turtles and even whales. Wakatobi alone is said to have 942 fish species and 750 coral reef species from a total of 850 of world's collection, which comparing with the two world's famous diving centers, the Caribbean Sea owns only 50 species with 300 coral reef species in the Red Sea, in Egypt. Due to its magnificent underwater life, Wakatobi is fast gaining worldwide attention for its quality dives that can be made by beginners to professionals. There are four main islands in the chain; Wangi Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko. The name Wakatobi comes from the first two letters of the islands; Wangi Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko. Beside the underwater beauty, Wakatobi has also other beauty and richness such as white sandy beach, clear sea water, sunset in every islands edge, historical ruins like ancient fortresses and cannon that spread out in the four main islands, old village with its pillar house, traditional waving, blacksmiths, Bajo tribe and various particular dances. This nature and culture heritages put Wakatobi as the world's famous marine tourism objects.
