Nukubati Great Sea Reef

I went to Nukubati as part of a whole island booking for a milestone birthday celebration. There were three generations involved and we all had a ball. The staff looked after the youngsters when needed and the rest of us dived, fished, snorkled and generally enjoyed island life. The food was great and they were very happy to cook special meals at odd times for the little ones. A champagne celebration on a private sandbank at sunset was a highlight.

Nukubati is a must for snorkelers and scuba divers. There is really no other way to explore the Great Sea Reef. Our group of Eco-minded explorers were treated to 40-50 minute (25 kilometers or 12-15 miles from land) treks aboard a brand new all aluminum dive boat. The dive master, Leone, is about as experienced as they come. This is his reef and he is still exploring naming new sites with his guests. It's nice to dive a first in this century. The excitement of his crew as they scanned and scouted the reef with well informed eyes was contagious. Fortunately, I was forced to snorkel because of ear issues. Normally a ruined trip, this was a blessing. The reefs are characterized by steep walls to the deep coming up just feet from the surface, and passages to the inner reef where coral abounds. Reef sharks everywhere curiously came close and left. Turtles followed the divers. Big fish --- tuna and Spanish Marlin -- would swoop in, take a look, and leave. I will leave out the secret places for them to share, but we were able to be on of the first on Duane's World. There is damage to the reefs caused by record breaking cyclones over the past decade, but amazingly you see "seedlings" and new growth, which I have not seen in other places where human activity has destroyed reefs. I say no bleaching on this side of Vanua Levu on this part of the Great Sea Reef (there is some partial bleaching on the other side past the Rainbow reef in near the Cabbage Patch though it may have stopped.) Nukubati is a Fijian/Austalian family run establishment and you feel like part of the family (or a very close friend). Lara, the daughter of Genny and Peter, is taking over the reins and she and Leone really wants to make it a home away from home and a Mecca for divers. The staff is so courteous and professional and knows everyone by name. Most of all, it is a truly Fijian home. Every evening in the Great Hall the divers and crew would sit and invite us to participate in the traditional Kava evening get togather. I would join them before dinner and share my stories as they shared theirs. As I went to bed they were still there, quietly talking or gently singing or playing the guitar. We will miss this home away from home, Lara, Leone, Genny and Peter and all the crew and staff (whose names I never kept straight but whose faces I will always remember). Vinaka vaka levu.

We stayed at on Nukubati Eco Island Resort with a primary goal to scuba dive and snorkel. It is an ideal launching place for this activity. The on-site dive operation is fantastic - rental gear (bcd, regulator) is well maintained. Leone, the dive master, is very experienced and attentive to divers of all levels of experience. He knows the Great Sea Reef area very well. Diver to dive guide ratio is 4:1 or could be 1:1 if you are the only one diving! The dive boat is very stable and new. It can easily take 10-12 divers. The ride to a dive site from the resort takes about 40 minutes, so you’ll want to consider doing a two-tank dive each day. There are plenty of sites to explore and more to discover. Diving the Great Sea Reef is as good as diving the Rainbow Reef. Plenty of sharks, barracudas, wrasses, morey eels, bat fish, tuna, Spanish mackerel, some turtles, octopus etc. there is plenty of fish big and small to see. there are some great sites for snorkeling- terrace was one of them with a spectacular coral. Duane’s World was another great site. My husband snorkeled the Great Reef for 6 days two sites each day and loved it! Never the same site. Water is clear and warm at 78F in September. Joseph, our snorkelling guide, was great. The Nukubati resort was very peaceful and relaxing. Jenny and Peter, the Nukubati island owners, are very envolved in the local community and care about sustainability. There is no plastic around. Food is organic and locally grown. The resort all-inclusive restaurant easily accommodates for various diets - gluten-free or vegetarian for example. Staff is amazing- very caring and responsive to the guest’ needs. To summarize, if you are looking for water activities (kayaking, diving and snorkeling), this is the resort to stay at. Simple, clean, eco-conscientious, and friendly. You’ll be happy to spend a week there. We did!

My group of 12 stayed at Nukubati in September 2023. We had this beautiful island all to ourselves. The owners/managers of the resort-Lara,Jenn and Peter were both very welcoming and very interesting. The staff was very friendly. The food was very good. Each morning I kayaked around the island and the views of nearby Vanua Levu were spectacular. Every day we swam and talked story in the warm and shallow bay just off the beach. Snorkeling and diving are also options. Our unit was very large with an enormous wraparound deck. In addition each unit also had its own private deck on the beach 10 feet away. There were nice sunset views every night. There is no air conditioning but in September it is absolutely not needed. Energy is solar and everything about the resort is environmentally sensitive. The owners do a lot for the local community. One can spend a lot more money for a fancier bure in other high end resorts but you won’t have a better time or a more welcoming, relaxing and true Fijiian experience. I hope to return.

Our family had the privilege of spending 5 nights on beautiful Nukubati Island. Only a short flight from Nadi, followed by a private transfer to the landing where we boarded boats to take us across to our private island home. The location is outstanding & to be able to share quality family time together on this island paradise was fantastic. The staff were just beautiful - a Fijian trait!! Their happy, friendly nature was coupled with a genuine concern to ensure our holiday was special - and it was !! The bures were spacious & comfortable with amazing views of the water. Verandahs ensured we could sit & watch the day unfold with our days culminating in drinks watching the sun set over the horizon. We enjoyed stand up paddle boarding around the island, snorkelling over the Great Sea Reef, relaxing & enjoying the Fijian local food. Nukubati will forever hold a special place in our shared family memories. A big “VINAKA VAKA LEVU” to our beautiful Fijian family.