Barefoot Kuata Island Resort

Really a big family, every one on the island is really lovely, and starting miss all of you on the island.

Kuata Island is a 1hr 30 min ferry ride from Port Denarau, and represents the first island of the Yasawa's with unique scuba experience, namely diving with bull sharks. The dive, itself, is very manageable and although it was the low season, there were 8-10 bull sharks in attendance for the 'feeding performance'. You really do get a sense of the size of these animals, and their relaxed cruising style. Its only if they do 'sprint' to grab a fish head, do you appreciate the speed of a predating shark versus that a relaxed one. Other than this dive, there is good snorkelling trips to see black tip sharks. Snorkelling direct off the resort can be challenging at low tide. You need to use the channel and share it with dive and transport boats. Coral is mildly bleached in places, and i suspect that has been going on for some time now. The long hike to the summit can be very slippery, and frankly, the view at the top isnt that great. Sunset down by the restaurant is a far nicer photogenic moment. We stayed for 3 nights and our bule had issues with water supply, as well as the realisation that there really isnt hot water for showers anywhere in the resort. The bules have fans for aircon which works just well enough, but at the height of summer would be a little tough. They were having fresh water issues for the island and we needed a toilet fixed almost as soon as checking in. It took a while, but got sorted. You need to pay for a daily food package, which while filling, isnt really of high quality. We can only recall one dish atone lunch that we could say we enjoyed. The remaining meals where just OK. And here is the rub for an island resort such as this. You are paying upwards of FJ$400-600 per night for private accommodation for two. The daily food bill is FJ$159 per person. Transfers to and from the Port are FJ$370 per person. The shark dive is FJ$339 and the snorkelling tour is $99. We brought some liquor to make a daily cocktail but even so, incidentals can add up as well. So ultimately, if an island experience is going to cost you A$750 to $800 per night, then you should expect warm showers, working toilets, and better meals. Overall, you cannot fault the staff and their ever-lovely attitude and good nature. And Michael, Oz and the team at the Dive Shop are first class. But if Fiji has to be assessed as a tropical island location for snorkelers and divers, then it falls short versus other options in the South Pacific and SE Asia.

nice stay at Barefoot Kuata Stayed in a beachfront bure at Barefoot Kuata, and it was fantastic - very comfortable (super comfy bed), amazing outdoor bathroom, very clean, great airflow, and right on the beautiful beach. The staff were friendly and I was able to do the shark snorkel, which was good. Unfortunately I wasn't able to do the shark dive as it was booked up and there was only one day where it would have been possible for me, if it's something you're interested in I recommend booking it as soon as you're able- I heard it was incredible. Over my stay was great - the island is stunning, staff is friendly, and food was good (one night was a buffet, one night was a la carte). Snorkelling off the beach was great too, you have to go out a little ways but then it's very good. Reef sharks can be found there too. I'm really happy I went with the beach front bure, it was ideal!

I did this shark dive with my wife we have never scuba dive before, but Majkl and his team has made our introduction diving easy and made both of us really secure and calm. Im thankful to them becose they helped me to experince such amzing thing. Overall strongly sugest to go for shark dive regardles are you certify or beginer.

Just about to leave here, but have booked to return in june. I did the shark dive twice, just doing that is a once in a lifetime experience. Michael and the Dive team here were great. I willbe doing the shark dive when i return and my children can do the shark snorkeling. Food was excellent and lots of it.

I came to Kuata twice on my stay in Fiji - both times to dive with the bull sharks: once at 12m and once at 18m - the two different options that are offered by the resort (8am = 18m, 11am = 12m). Whilst in Fiji I did bull dives with three different operators and Barefoot are without doubt the safest and most well staffed on each dive. You never feel any unease at all. I’ve dived a few times with big animals, but even the complete newbies in the water felt happy too. The visibility was brilliant on both dives, and we had fabulous bottom time with many, many sharks. Thanks so much to the team at Barefoot. For clarity: visited once from the Fiji Princess boat, and once on a day trip from Denaru. So you don’t have to stay at the resort, though it does look lovely.