Mantaray Island Resort

Mantaray Island Resort - A beachfront resort with guided snorkeling, freediving courses, and wood-fired pizza by the beach bar

Mantaray Island Resort, rated 8.5/10 on Booking.com, provides accommodations ranging from budget-friendly dormitories to luxury beachfront villas on Nanuya Balavu Island. The resort offers a marine reserve with guided snorkeling trips, where guests can observe hundreds of fish and coral species directly off the beach. SSI-certified diving courses, including freediving, are available at a lower cost than PADI equivalents, and guests can swim with manta rays seasonally. Each morning, a continental buffet breakfast is available at Mantaray Island Resort, while lunch and dinner menus feature Fijian, European, Indian, and Asian cuisine, with specialty dishes like kokoda and wood-fired pizzas served at the beach bar. Room options include air-conditioned villas with private balconies overlooking the ocean, outdoor showers, and access to snorkeling reefs steps away. The resort is accessible via a 2.5-hour high-speed catamaran ride from Nadi.

Pros

Wood-fired pizzas are served daily at the beach bar.

Unique guided snorkeling trips provide insights into marine life in the nearby reserve.

SSI dive courses are internationally recognized and more affordable than PADI.

Private beachfront villas include direct ocean access and outdoor showers.

Free activities include basket weaving, kayaking, and island trekking.

Cons

The nearest medical facilities are in Nadi, a two-hour boat ride away.

Some rooms have shared bathroom facilities.