OK, i get to have a ***** about this because ive always kept my mouth shut.. but my honest opinion - do not go to Octopus Resort, anywhere else would have to be better.
We went there last July. Despite reservations and booking receipts and emails, we get there wondering why they didnt pick us up. Get to the office to be told they dont have our reservation. They managed to find us some accomodation BUT...
we booked for 10 nights and only got 4 nights on the island (actually, it was 10, then 4, then 8 then back to 4 nights, the booking staff are really really bad).
each day, people are changing bungalows because the booking staff dont know their backsides from their... well you get the idea, so people had to contstantly repack their stuff and move to a new bungalow. At least we got to meet new people this way i suppose.
there is a dive shop of sorts on the island, but... we were assured nitrox (none), we were told DIM fittings (yoke) and we were told they had a dive boat (long boat actually) with 4 schedules dives a day (ended up being 2).
One of their DM's broke my hubby's regulator and his camera gear never got unpacked because he was afraid for it to get damaged.
at octupus, the food is included in your package - but its very basic (not bad food though) and you could tell the people that had been at the resort for a few days because they always got there an hour before lunch to get the "specials" before they ran out. My personal trainer was quite impressed by the weight i lost during my stay.
the staff are very savy on what you have and hit you up for stuff... now, i travel every year to the tropics, i know that we have alot of "things" and they live their lives very basic. In fact, we always travel with the idea that we will leave as much behind for the locals as possible (clothes, batteries, toiletries, bags etc) but it got to a point i was avoiding 2 staff members and counting my things after my room was cleaned - and ive never done that before in my travels!
now, the diving - at best was "ok"...nothing wow, nothing "lets go look at that again'.
you ask about the nightlife... absoultley none - but hey, we actually like that. the highlight was when the put a big white sheet up on the beach, and a projector and played the Australia v's Fiji Rugby during the World Cup and handed out popcorn - now that was a fantastic night! That was our best night there. There were some planned fun evenings but this involved crab races and party games.
we came home, put a insurance claim in - got some money back and booked for Vanuatu (our 4th trip there).
if i had to go to Fiji again, i would look at Kadavu.
best of luck and let us know what you decided on!
LSL
