One of you wants to dive every morning. The other is happy with a mask, a kayak and a long lunch.
The resort that works for both is an island eco-resort where diving is one activity among several. The non-diver's day should be covered by the room rate, with dives priced on top.
We run Reconnect, an eco-resort with an on-site SSI dive center on Buka Buka Island in the Togean Islands, Central Sulawesi. Many of our guests never dive at all.
Guests rate us 4.9 on TripAdvisor, 4.8 on Google and 9.2 on Booking.com.
TL;DR
- Choose a resort where snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding come with the room, so only the diver's activity costs extra.
- At Reconnect, rooms start from EUR 60 per night for two with full board. Dives and courses are paid separately.
- Boat dives run in the morning, so the diver is back for lunch and afternoons are shared.
- A curious non-diver can test scuba in one supervised SSI Try Scuba session, with no course required.
What should a mixed couple look for in an Indonesian island resort?
What the non-diving partner's day contains and costs matters most.
Diver reviews of Indonesia typically rank resorts and liveaboards across Komodo, Raja Ampat, Lembeh and Wakatobi by reef quality. A liveaboard suits two divers. For a non-diver, it means a week on a boat whose schedule exists for the next dive.
A mixed couple needs a different checklist:
- A reef without extra charges. The non-diver needs a good reef and gear without renting by the hour or paying for a boat every time.
- Small scale. Fewer rooms means quieter beaches for the partner who stays on land.
- A no-pressure trial dive. An introductory session, not a course pitch.
How does a split day work on Buka Buka Island?
Dive times are confirmed each evening based on weather, tides and the planned sites. The usual plan is two boat dives, leaving around 08:00 and 10:30, to sites a short ride from the island.
| Time | Diver | Non-diving partner |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | First boat dive, max 4 divers per guide | House reef snorkeling, free mask, fins and snorkel |
| 10:30 | Second dive, visibility averaging about 30 m | Kayak, glass-bottom kayak, paddleboard or yoga mat, all free |
| Lunch onward | Together: three meals and afternoon tea included | Together |
All beachfront rooms face the sunset, so the day ends the same way for both of you: on the terrace, watching the water change colour.
We are effectively the only resort on Buka Buka, with 20 rooms, no village and no cars. The Private Island Resort experience means a quiet, uncrowded island.
Where to sleep if heat matters
The partner spending more hours in the room notices the heat first.
Reconnect is one of very few Togean Islands resorts offering air conditioning. It is available in the Beachfront Villa with AC (from EUR 110) and Villa Athena (from EUR 175, two bedrooms).
Other rooms, such as the Sunrise and Sunset Villas (from EUR 80), are fan-cooled.
What does a stay cost when only one of you dives?
Option 1: Pay per dive
| Fun dives | Price per dive |
|---|---|
| 1 dive | IDR 800,000 |
| 2-4 dives | IDR 700,000 |
| 5-9 dives | IDR 650,000 |
| 10+ dives | IDR 600,000 |
| Night dive | IDR 1,000,000 |
Bringing your own equipment takes 5% off.
Option 2: The Dive-cation package
The package covers:
- 5 days and 4 nights
- 8 boat dives, equipment and a guide
- Full board
- The return Ampana boat
- A Beachfront Glamping Hut
It starts from EUR 500 per person at 2026 rates.
Worked example
- 5 nights in a Sunrise Villa: 5 × EUR 80 = EUR 400 for two, full board
- 8 fun dives at the 5-9 rate: 8 × IDR 650,000 = IDR 5,200,000, about EUR 260 at the IDR 20,000 per euro rate we use for indications
- Total: about EUR 660, plus the car from Luwuk and any extras
Prices vary by season and demand. The final figure is confirmed in IDR at booking.
What paid extras can the non-diver add?
| Extra | Price |
|---|---|
| Guided snorkel trip to Tanjung Pasir or Tanjung Gurita (per boat, up to 4) | 1 spot IDR 600,000 / 2 spots IDR 1,000,000 / 3 spots IDR 1,400,000 |
| Togean Day Trip into Togean Islands National Park (per boat, guide, lunch box, snorkel gear) | IDR 7,500,000 |
| Massage | 60 min IDR 350,000 / 90 min IDR 500,000 |
| Romantic dinner for two | IDR 1,000,000 |
The Day Trip is the one outing we suggest doing together. The diver gives up a morning of dives, and you both get the park.
Should the non-diving partner try scuba?
Option 1: Stay a snorkeler
Nothing is lost. Tanjung Pasir is a sandy slope from 0 to 10 meters, a snorkeling site in its own right.
Option 2: Try Scuba
A half-day session costs IDR 1,000,000, minimum age 10. SSI's introductory program has a shallower depth limit than certification and keeps the participant under direct instructor supervision throughout.
An extra Try Scuba dive is IDR 800,000.
Option 3: SSI Open Water Diver course
The course costs IDR 6,900,000 over 3-4 days, with 4 open water dives at reef sites around Buka Buka, reached by a short boat ride. Courses are paid separately from the stay and taught in English, French or Indonesian, in small groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we get to Buka Buka Island?
- Via Luwuk (main route): fly to Luwuk (LUW), usually via Makassar. We arrange a private car to Ampana, about 5 hours, IDR 1,000,000 per car each way. Our free shuttle boat leaves Ampana at 17:00 and crosses in about 30 minutes.
- Via Gorontalo: take the overnight ferry from Gorontalo to Wakai in the north.
Can we dive in the rainy season?
Yes. The island is open year-round. The rainy season brings short showers and rougher crossings but stays diveable, while the dry season brings calm seas.
Is Reconnect inside Togean Islands National Park?
No. Buka Buka sits just outside the park and works as a gateway to it. Park fees, if any, are not included in the stay.
Will the non-diver have reliable internet?
Free Starlink Wi-Fi covers the resort. It is strongest in the restaurant and also available in rooms, though signal can be weaker in some villas. Outlets are European-style, with USB ports in most rooms.
About Reconnect
Thomas Despin founded Reconnect. We run 93% on solar, desalinate all our own water, use no single-use plastics, hire staff locally and buy from neighbouring villages; our dive center is Blue Oceans certified. Plan your stay at reconnect.id.
