At The Heart Of The Coral Triangle

Wakatobi’s greatness lies not only in its waters. Above the surface, Wakatobi is equally breathtaking. The beaches are no less beautiful than those found in other regions – white, clean and placid. A combination of crystal clear sea water and waving coconut palms… and add to that the cool sea breezes and blue skies, you have a perfect paradise! 

The World Coral Triangle is an outstanding territory that stretches from the Solomon Islands in the east, to the Karimata Strait in the far west, the Sula Islands in the Philippines and the south of Nusa Tenggara. This triangle is host to 85 percent of the world’s coral species.


The Wakatobi Islands in Sulawesi is estimated to boast the highest fish diversity in the world in one location — boasting up to about 590 species. No wonder Jacques Cousteau himself called Wakatobi one of the best diving spots in the world. However, its greatness lies not only in its waters.


Wakatobi and Tukangbesi Islands are two names for this single place. The first time I heard about these islands at the tip of Sulawesi’s “right leg” was about 2 decades ago and by the name “Tukangbesi Islands.” And it was indeed the official name of these islands bordering the Banda Sea. Most likely, it is the same name that you will encounter when looking at a map.
Wakatobi is an acronym for the four main islands in this archipelago (Wangi-wangi, Kaledupa, Tomea, Binongko). Wakatobi’s name was popularized when the islands were barely visible on the country’s map with the advent of the diving scene. Like an artist whose real name and ‘commercial name’ often are different, so is the case with Wakatobi. It is still referred to as the Tukangbesi Islands administratively and legally, a name derived from the famed iron craftsmen of Binongko Island.

As known, Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi are coral islands. Several species and types of coral dwell here; fringing reefs that surround the islands, barrier reefs that are separate from the island with deep lagoons, and coral atolls. One of the atolls is the Kaledupa Atoll. It is said that this is the longest atoll in the world. In total there are about 600 km of coral here.

Wakatobi’s greatness lies not only in the water. Above the surface Wakatobi is equally breathtaking. The beaches are no less beautiful than those found in other regions – white, clean and placid. Combined with the crystal clear sea water and waving coconut palms… and add to that the cool sea breezes and blue skies, you have a perfect paradise!

Various ethnic groups inhabit the Wakatobi Islands. In general the Wakatobi population is divided into two major ethnic groups: the Ethnic Bajau or Bajo and the Orang Pulau or the ‘Island People’. The Bajau tribe are known as the Sea Gypsies, the nomadic ‘people who live in the ocean seas’. They are spread across the archipelago from areas of eastern Malaysia, Brunei to the Philippines, while the Orang Pulau are a tribe that inhabits only several parts of the archipelago. Both the Bajau and the Orang Pulau all live from the sea.

Wakatobi is an acronym for the four main islands in this archipelago (Wangi-wangi, Kaledupa, Tomea, Binongko). 

Wakatobi’s name was popularized when the islands were barely visible on the country’s map with the advent of the diving scene.

The development of tourism in many ways has become a new hope. Since it has been developed into a district, the regional government has launched its maritime vision. The community is asked to abandon the fishing practices that are known to damage the environment. Even some of the ecotourism revenues are distributed back to the community, which total an approximate 90,000 inhabitants, as well as for education and support for the Wakatobi Marine National Park.

The government has set these islands from Kendari and Bau Bau as a marine national park with an area of ​​1.39 million hectares – the second largest marine national park in the archipelago. All these efforts surely deserve our support so that this paradise will be able to sustain life on our planet and remain for our future generations to admire.

Visitors can enjoy comfortable accommodations on the islands of Hoga and Tomea. An airstrip has even been established on the latter by investors, adding to the convenience of visiting among this archipelago’s ‘last paradises on earth’.
 
Text and photos by Fadil Aziz

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