Fiji - Kadavu group - Ono - anyone been to Astrolabe Reef Resort?

[Greg Hiller]

Hi, new to the forum, but been diving a long time. Mostly in the Pacific, Solomons and PNG, a bit in Australia and various spots in the Caribbean.

I'm planning a trip to Fiji in Feb of next year. I know, rainy season, but at least the water will be warmer, right?

Anyhow, I was looking at the Lonely Planet guide on Fiji, came accross the Astrolabe Reef Resort on the east side Ono, VERY close to the Astrolabe reef. The Mai Dive folks do the diving out of there. Anyone had any experience with these guys or this resort?

I'll be coming with the whole family, including two, newly certified divers and a snorkeler only.

I've already tried searching for info (read pages and pages on Fiji, think my head's going to explode), but I think the 'newness' of the resort means not many reviews (none that I could find, but the search engine might not work on 'Ono' and 'Astrolabe' also brings up a lot of stuff just associated with the barrier reef itself.

Other resorts on Ono are Kenia (sounds like a super budget place) and Koro Makawa (super expensive!).

 

[hypersonic]

Trip Advisor has 17 reviews...mostly excellent.

Mai Dive - Astrolabe Reef Resort (Kadavu Island, Fiji) - Guest House Reviews - TripAdvisor

 

[Greg Hiller]

Wow, no kidding, the reviews there were certainly glowing. I hope they can all be believed.

 

[slightlymadmike]

Bula Greg!
My mate Jason and his wife run the place - a lovely home-stay type atmosphere. The diving is great - I should know as I run the diving for Waisalima Beach Resort over on Kadavu, and we dive a lot of the same places.
The reports from the resort (I've never stayed or eaten there) seem very good.
Drop them an email if you want to know anything specific.

 

[parrotheaddiver]

sounds like a great place...here is another review from another board

Fiji Trip Report ~ Mai Dive on Ono Island - Scuba Forum - Scuba Diving Forums and Discussion Board

 

[Greg Hiller]

Thanks to all for the replies. I think we will be going!

 

[underwater5]

well, we have a trip booked there in Oct this year and will be reviewing it here. But my experience so far with Danielle has been very good! She is very nice and goes out of her way to help.
i researched very heavily and could not find a bad review...so I think it must be good.
I did stay at another resort on ONO way back in 1992 it was a little more north than Mai and is now closed, BUT the diving was extremely good and at that time at least very unknown. Looking forward to seeing how it is now.

 

[Fiji Dive Guy]

I was at Mai Dive just before it opened, and I've been diving in the area a fair amount. I've also sent others there since, and it has been nothing but good reports! I predict that you'll love it...

 

[Travelnsj]

I just booked Ono Island with Mai Dive....sounds like my type of diving. I also booked Wananavu to get up to the Bligh waters...should be a great trip!