Our team

The team behind the island

A small local crew who takes care of everything — from the kitchen to the boat, from diving to making sure your bed is ready at night.

Thomas Despin, Founder

Founder & Manager

Thomas Despin

I founded Reconnect on Buka Buka Island after choosing this remote corner of Sulawesi as my home. What began as a personal search for a deeper way of living became a resort shaped by nature, simplicity, and long-term care for the island.

Before Reconnect, I worked on technology projects across Europe and Asia. The shift to running a remote resort — solar power, water desalination, diving, hospitality — was learned on the ground, by asking questions, making mistakes, and listening to the people of the island.

I'm on-site most of the year. If you write before coming, you're talking to me.

Message me on WhatsApp

A local team, trained on the island

Reconnect employs around a dozen people full-time, most from Buka Buka and the neighbouring villages. We train in-house for the kitchen, service, dive operations, and the solar + desalination systems that keep the island running.

Our dive team is led by an SSI-certified Dive Master and supported by assistants trained on the island. The kitchen combines international technique with local product — fresh-caught fish, garden vegetables, regional fruit.

We work with suppliers from across Central Sulawesi for produce, and hire local craftspeople for repairs and resort upgrades.

Full team portraits coming soon.