The beauty of nature is always intoxicating. Lucky are those who live side by side with him. There is an island that is still very beautiful in Wakatobi Regency, the name is Tomia Island. This island was formed due to a shift in the earth’s crust so that coral rocks emerged to the surface and were then overgrown with natural vegetation. Over time, it turned into an island.
Tomia Island is one of the best diving spots in Wakatobi because it has a wonderful collection of coral reefs. This is because Tomia Island is located in the world’s coral reef triangle area. Not only is the underwater beauty amazing, but the natural expanse of Tomia Island also has its charm.
The mainland area of Tomia Island consists of hills and a wide expanse of the savanna. Here you can find a historical site such as Patuha Fort.
Tomia Island Location
The location of Tomia Island is included in one of the Tukang Besi Islands in the Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province. This island is also located to the south of Kaledupa Island and the north of Binongko Island.
Route To Tomia Island
For those of you who want to visit Tomia Island, there are many transportation options that you can use. If you depart from Jakarta, you can take an airplane to Matahora Airport, Wakatobi in Wanci. Previously, it would transit in Kendari. You can continue by taking a sea trip from Kendari using a ferry boat always there every week to Tomia Island. The tiring journey is paid off with the expanse of natural beauty that you will see when you are on Tomia Island.
Tomia Island Opening Hours
Tomia Island as a whole is open 24 hours so that you can visit anytime, even stay overnight. However, for diving activities, there is a separate operational time, from 07.00 to 18.00.
Tomia Island Ticket
There is no special fee such as an entrance ticket to enter Tomia Island. Even if there are funds that must be prepared, it is funded to participate in snorkeling or diving activities. The cost of diving on Tomia Island is in the range of IDR 500,000 to IDR 1,000,000.
Tomia Island Facilities
Tomia Island has become an international tourist attraction, so the facilities owned by this island are pretty complete:
- Nice public road
- Stall or restaurant
- Adequate public transport fleet
- Lodging
- Maranggo Airport
Tomia Island Attractions
- Underwater Beauty
The activity you have to do while on Tomia Island is to see the underwater beauty by snorkeling or diving because the seawater is very clear and blue. It will be more fun if you do diving in the afternoon to be closed with a beautiful sunset at the end of the dive. There are about 28 diving spots that are always visited by tourists who come to Tomia Island. Among them is Ali Reef, Rome, Cornucopia, House Reef, Maya Bay, etc.
At Spot Cornucopia, you will find coral reefs that look like vertical walls at a depth of between 20 to 55 meters and the presence of beautiful fish that seem to welcome your arrival. Then there is Rome again on the west side of the island. Visitors can dive into the beauty of the underwater world at a depth of 15-25 meters. This spot is decorated with colorful coral reefs that are so charming.
Unlike Cornucopia, which is recommended for expert divers, Spot Roma is considered safe enough for those of you who are still in the learning stage of diving. Even cooler, the waters around Tomia Island are relatively clear, so the visibility of the waters can reach 15 meters which will make it easier for you to take photos underwater.
- Amazing Natural Panorama
Tomia Island consists of two sub-districts, namely East Tomia District and the city center in Usuku and Tomia Induk District, centered in the Waha area. And there are eighteen villages inhabited by people from the Bugis, Javanese, Bajo, and Buton tribes.
All residents take care of the beauty of the environment very well, so that the village still looks very beautiful. To surround the entire area of Tomia Island only takes about 3 hours because the area is not so wide. You can see a row of green trees adorning the Tomia Island road and it is very soothing to the eyes.
- Beautiful Beaches on Tomia Island
There are several beaches on Tomia Island that you must visit, including:
- Hu Un Tete Beach
Hu Un Tete Beach is the longest beach in the eastern part of Tomia Island and has a stretch of white sand decorated with coconut trees along the coast. This beach has a curved shape, so the sand area is a bit wide, and you can do various activities on the white sand.
Take the time to visit a cave that directly faces the sea called Liang Kuri-Kuri. This is based on the fact that every cave wall is overgrown with yellow grass.
- Onemobaa Beach
Next is Onemobaa Beach, which is located in Lemanggau Village, Tomia District. To get to Onemobaa Beach, you have to use a traditional boat which will take about 30 minutes from the District Capital.
This beach also presents a stretch of white sand decorated with trees such as coconut, cypress, and mangroves. Visitors who visit this coastal area will get views of the colorful coral clusters.
- Visit Patua Fort
Fort Patua is an ancient fort, a relic from the Sultanate of Buton. The location is on a hill with an altitude of 100 meters above sea level. There are several ancient cannons still attached and pointing towards the sea. Patua Fort is composed of mountain rock to resemble a wall with a thickness of about 1 to 1.5 meters and a height of up to 3 meters.
The fort, which has an area of about half a football field, has five doors. Inside there is a place to hold a meeting, an old rectangular tomb, and bodily or cannon. Because you are at an altitude, you will be able to see the natural beauty of Tomia Island as a whole without anything getting in the way. Currently, the local community uses Patua Fort as a place to perform traditional rituals.
Before you plan a trip to Wakatobi, be sure to read more about Wakatobi and Indonesia by visiting Wonderful Indonesia.
