Exploring the Wakatobi Archipelago

"Pristine reefs bursting with life, and a team that is literally the best we have ever experienced."

Visitors to Wakatobi who have experienced a cruise on the Pelagian are quick to sing the praises of the dive yacht, which for the past eight years has been run by cruise directors Ramon Crivilles and Judith Terol Oto.

Manned by a crew of 12 and with a five-cabin layout, the Pelagian has a maximum of ten guests per cruise, making the personal service and hospitality second-to-none. "Every crew member, from the stewards to the tender drivers and the Dive Experience Managers (DEMs) are in direct contact with guests," says Judith. "They provide the perfect balance between professionalism and a friendly attitude, creating a homelike experience for our guests."

"What we enjoy most are the opportunities for one-on-one guest interactions," adds Ramon. "This allows us to focus attention on accommodating requests and anticipating needs without asking, and of course, we also really love having a management position that allows us to dive every day."

Privacy and exclusivity are the order of the day on the Pelagian. "We visit sites where we are the only liveaboard cruising the area," explains Judith. "This means there are no other divers around, and the reefs are less subject to human impact. We combine a variety of different diving topographies so the guests don't feel like they are diving in the same spot," adds Ramon.

A typical Pelagian cruise takes in coral slopes, sandy lagoons, walls, pinnacles, piers and muck diving sites. "We can find many different and unique creatures," says Ramon. To enhance the experience, the crew stages a muck diving presentation the night before the dive; once in the water, divers are encouraged to work together, and to seek out and share the best marine life finds with the DEMs.

While the whole Pelagian experience is described by guests as 'exceptional', some sites are particular favourites, such as the protected bays of Buton Island. "You find hundreds of mandarinfish around Magic Pier, and many other cool creatures like cuttlefish, octopuses, scorpionfish, baby yellow boxfish, different species of moray eels, painted frogfish, and ringed pipefish," tells Judith. Another nearby favourite is Cheeky Beach - a prime hunting ground for nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, decorator crabs, snake eels and mantis shrimp.

Another popular shallow dive - and a particular favourite with wide-angle photographers - is the lagoon at Karang Kapota, where monolithic coral bommies rise from a white sand seabed. Equally photogenic is Karang Kaledupa's Rainbow Reef, which is a chain of seamounts connected by ridges. These formations make for dramatic wide-angle images, while the dense coral cover on the ridges holds a wealth of macro creatures like pygmy seahorses and frogfish.

Colourful sea fans and sponges are also key features of the crests of the Hoga pinnacles, which rise from depths of 35m. The tops of these structures swarm with fuseliers, redtooth triggerfish, pyramid butterfly fish and damselfishes.

The Pelagian caters for divers of all ages and stages, with new divers given extra attention and assistance to help them make the most of their time in the water. "The more experienced they are the more they understand and value the quality of the reefs. But we compensate for lack of experience with extra personal attention from our DEMs, who help with skills like buoyancy, make them feel safe on the dives and provide good briefings and presentations on marine life behaviour, habitats and coral variety," says Ramon.

Weekly cruise itineraries are customised to the seasons, and trips are planned according to weather, tides, currents, and guests' customised experience. Snorkelers are also welcome - the three DEMs on board divide so they can take care of divers and snorkelers at the same time.

With multi-level profiles that can exceed an hour, and three scheduled dives a day plus night dives, there's plenty of underwater time for even the keenest diver. However, Ramon, Judith and the team make sure there's time and space to enjoy the private yacht experience too - including the gorgeous on-board dining.

 Pelagian cruises often sell out in advance, so check availability to experience this enviable experience. With over 100 different dive sites to choose from, wherever you go will be a moment to treasure forever.

For more information on Pelagian cruises and Wakatobi Dive Resort, visit wakatobi.com