Situated on the edge of the Great Astrolabe Reef, Oneta Resort is remote and untouched. Family-operated and environmentally forward, it provides an authentic Fijian experience with a personalised touch for every guest’s stay.
Oneta Resort is a remote paradise, accessed only by boat on the east side of Ono Island, northeast of Kadavu. The five bures are stylish yet uncomplicated, with all one could require on a South Pacific Island. Each has its own unique design, all with en suite bathrooms, lush open air shower, and soga palm roofs. Although the rooms do not have air-conditioning, the bures are well ventilated to allow the naturally cooling sea air to drift through. The Beachfront and Oceanview Bures each accommodate a king bed and have a private furnished terrace area. The Family Bure is wonderful for a family or close friends; consists of two semi-private bedrooms, separated by a sliding door, with one king-sized bed and one queen-sized alongside a large private living area and garden deck.
There are two luxury villas on the beach’s “Koromakawa” (old village), perched on a small bluff in a secluded area. Each features their own private plunge pool, stunning elevated views across Great Astrolabe Reef, and private beach area. The villas have two and three bedrooms respectively, with their own living areas and WiFi connection. Private dining can be arranged upon request.
The Oneta Resort is not exclusively for diving, a number of experiences are recommended during your stay. Hike into the interior of the island, kayak and SUP among the mangroves and secret beaches, spot the brown and red-footed boobies of Yabu Island, and snorkelling (and diving) with Pacific manta rays at Vurolevu cleaning station. There's also an onsite spa to rejuvenate you from the daily explorations.
Dining at the Oneta Resort is done family style. The kitchen serves traditional Fijian meals with ingredients sourced from the resort vegetable garden, in addition to international dishes. Dietary requirements can be accommodated with sufficient notice. Sustainability and environmental footprint is a key focus of Oneta family. The resort is run almost entirely by wind and solar power, and carbon off-setting of the of boats is in place. The use of biodegradable, reef friendly products help reduce harmful chemicals in the water system and grey water is used to water the gardens when required.
In collaboration with the Oneta Foundation and in close partnership with village leaders and schools, the Oneta Resort strives to develop and fund sustainable infrastructure and educational projects that create long-term benefits for the Ono community. Recent projects include donations of building materials, food assistance, the construction of a school library, providing desks and chairs for another school, fundraising for a solar power system at a local Elementary School, and offering general support for medical needs, transportation, and community events. Profits from the Oneta Resort provide a good foundation for projects. All guests are invited to actively participate in these efforts during their stay or by contributing to the Oneta Foundation.
The Oneta dive centre team are pioneers in their area, mapping over 40 dive sites and discovering more each year. The experienced team have an intimate knowledge of the reefs and run two purpose-built dive boats, accommodating eight and four divers respectively. They operate on a maximum ratio of 4:1 but prefer to have even smaller dive groups where possible, the remoteness of the area means it's more than likely you’ll be the only divers on site. Two dives are conducted in the morning, with the surface interval often spent on an uninhabited island with a refreshment. There's usually the option for a third dive in the afternoon if not relaxing or taking part in an alternative activity. There's a full range of equipment to rent, however Nitrox is not available.
Visibility on the Great Astrolabe Reef is exceptional, often reaching above 60 metres and averaging 40 metres throughout the year. Water temperature in the area ranges between 24-30°C, the coolest months are July to August, with warmer waters December through to March.
Right on the Great Astrolabe Reef, which arches over 100 kilometres around Ono and Kadavu Island, divers have access to stunning hard coral outer reef slopes with wondrous colours, beautiful soft coral drop-offs with caves, incredible pinnacles, amazing swim throughs, and manta ray cleaning stations. The Naqoro passage is just to the south of Ono Island and is the breeding ground for large pelagic fish including marlin, sharks, giant trevally, tuna, snapper and more. The drift dive site Incredible, on the south side of Solo Reef, is a wall dive covered with a technicolour array of carnation (Dendronephthya) soft corals accompanied by white-tip reef sharks, silvertip sharks, pelagic fish and schools of fusiliers.
A great itinerary for divers who enjoy a mix of colourful reefs and pelagic encounters. Discover one of the world’s greatest displays of soft coral at Taveuni’s Rainbow Reef, then encounter critters and manta rays at Kadavu. Find Out More about Corals of Great Astrolabe & Rainbow Reefs
Go BIG in Fiji with manta ray encounters and soft coral diving on the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef, Great Astrolabe, followed by some exhilarating shark dives at Beqa Lagoon. A true dive adventure! Find Out More about BIG in Fiji: Dive Great Astrolabe Reef & Beqa Lagoon
The Great Astrolabe Reef in southern Fiji is one of the world’s largest barrier reefs, extending along the entire southern side of Kadavu. A world-class diving location, it exhibits a tremendous variety with soft corals, submerged pinnacles and manta cleaning stations. Find Out More about {acc:title}
