The Barefoot Collection, operator of Barefoot Kuata Island Resort, Barefoot Manta Island Resort, and Barefoot Shark Encounters, is excited to announce the upcoming launch of a dedicated day cruise centre on Kuata Island. Operating under the new brand Kuata Island Day Cruises, the centre is in the final stages of construction and is set to open in early April 2025.
Explore Kuata Island Day Cruises with Barefoot Collection
The Barefoot Collection, operator of Barefoot Kuata Island Resort, Barefoot Manta Island Resort, and Barefoot Shark Encounters, is excited to announce the upcoming launch of a dedicated day cruise centre on Kuata Island. Operating under the new brand Kuata Island Day Cruises, the centre is in the final stages of construction and is set to open in early April 2025. Strategically located at the southern end of Kuata Island’s main beach, the new facility will offer a premium experience for day cruise guests. Key features include five swimming pools suitable for dive training, a restaurant, bar, showers, dive shop, and a Fijian Cultural Centre—a core component of the new day cruise program.
Visitors to Fiji will be able to choose from three unique day cruise experiences:
- Fiji Island Cultural Experience – An immersive cultural journey showcasing the traditions, skills, and heritage of the Yasawa Islands community.
- Marine Conservation Experience – A hands-on opportunity to learn about and participate in Barefoot’s ongoing marine conservation initiatives.
- Snorkelling with Sharks – An exhilarating adventure to encounter sharks in their natural habitat, continuing Barefoot’s legacy of sustainable marine tourism.
Barefoot Collection CEO & Director Gareth Van Eyssen shares the motivation behind the expansion:
“We’ve been welcoming day cruise guests to Barefoot Kuata Island Resort for over nine years, with a strong focus on diving and snorkelling with sharks. With record occupancies at Barefoot Kuata Island Resort and growth in day cruise passenger numbers, we needed more space to ensure both houseguests and day cruise passengers have the best possible experience. The solution? A dedicated day cruise brand—Kuata Island Day Cruises (www.kuataislanddaycruises.com)—and a purpose-built facility to support it.”
A key highlight of the new offering is the Marine Conservation Experience, which gives guests the chance to actively participate in conservation efforts and witness firsthand the positive impact of ongoing marine protection initiatives.
Kuata Island Day Cruises has partnered with South Sea Cruises/Awesome Adventures Fiji to provide ferry transfers and co-market the new day cruise experiences. Further supporting the region’s growing demand for day cruises, South Sea Cruises/Awesome Adventures Fiji will launch its new Yasawa Flyer III in mid-2025, increasing ferry capacity to the Yasawa Islands by 33%, catering to the growth in both day cruise visitors and houseguests across the region.
FURTHER READING: For those interested in exploring this topic further, additional resources and in-depth materials are provided below when available; otherwise, no further reading is included at this time.:
REFERENCES: This guide is based on over a decade of research and firsthand experience living in Fiji. It incorporates extensive knowledge gained through long-term residence and ongoing engagement with the region. Images and text have been sourced from official references, which are acknowledged below, to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness.
FOOTNOTES: Additional details, clarifications, or sources referenced in this article are included as Footnotes below the text when applicable; otherwise, no Footnotes are provided.