Quietly off-grid
Built to leave nothing behind
Reconnect's infrastructure is designed so a remote island can run without leaning on the mainland.
Reconnect was designed as an island that has to take care of itself: the solar panel charging your room is the same one desalinating your shower water. It isn't "sustainable luxury" — it's simply how a remote island has to operate.
Power
The island runs on sun
The main solar array sits on the common-area roof and across several technical structures. Energy is stored in a battery bank sized to cover nights, overcast days, and peak loads (AC, kitchen).
A diesel generator is on standby for safety, but it almost never runs — under 7% of our annual draw. When you're here, the only sound is the wind.
Peak load was calibrated to absorb a full resort with AC and the kitchen running together. If the weather is bad for several days in a row, we prioritise common areas and the kitchen.
Water
Seawater becomes the island's water
A reverse-osmosis desalination unit supplies all of the resort's water — showers, laundry, kitchen, and drinking water. The brine output is diffused well away from the swim zone and the beach.
No municipal water reaches the island. No water tanker delivered by boat. No plastic bottles to ship in, recycle, or bury.
Rainwater is also captured for the garden and some maintenance tasks.
Waste
What we don't buy, we don't have to manage
No bottled water, no mini-shampoo bottles, no straws, no disposable bags. Instead: glass carafes, refillable dispensers, bar soap made in Sulawesi, cloth bags for guests on shore trips.
Organic waste from the kitchen and the garden is composted on the island for the vegetable plot and for replanting.
Non-recyclable waste — a small minority of the total — is stored and shipped to Ampana on supply rotations.
People
A local economy, not an enclave
Reconnect employs mostly people from Buka Buka and the surrounding villages. Training happens on-site — kitchen, dive operations, hospitality, and the maintenance of the solar + desalination systems that keep the island running.
Most of our fish and produce comes from Central Sulawesi. Rum, spices, and coffee: regional producers. Furniture and decor: local craftspeople.
We work with the neighbouring villages on shared projects — education, beach cleanups, and support for sustainable fishing practices.
Certifications & partners
Recognised by
Green Fins
Low-impact diving, verified annually.
SSI
Certified dive centre, training on-island.
Blue Oceans
Marine conservation commitment.
Dive Magazine
Editorial coverage of the resort and the region.
Come see how it runs
All of our systems are visible to curious guests. Ask for a tour.