Mantarayisland resort vs blue lagoon resort. Which one to pick

My wife and I will be staying in Fiji for 5 nights and can't decide between mantarayisland or blue lagoon. We will be there mid march 2014. We want a bure with our own bathroom close to the beach, with snorkelling and a dive shop and day time activities. And a good meal plan. Any thoughts ?

Both have what you want, but I found Blue Lagoon so much better than Mantaray.
The reef at Mantaray is not so easy to access at low tide, it has an in-your-face party feel (noisy at night, but you would probably not hear that in a beach bure) and the food is not as good as in Blue Lagoon. Easy access to a manta ray snorkeling tour is a big (and in my opinion the only) plus though. The reef at Blue Lagoon is nicer and bigger, the beach is more beautiful and the activities are better and more varied. Guests from all walks of life, easy to mingle (or not, if that's what you want) and an excellent staff.

Can't comment on the bures as I stayed in dorms at both places (and the dorm in BL is definitely a LOT better than the one in Mantaray). I was on both islands a couple of years ago, went back last year to BL (and Octopus), but would not go back to Mantaray.

Thank you so much Lilau. I think we have finally made a decision.

Completely agree with Lilau. Blue Lagoon is the easy choice.

" Mantaray Island" was a great marketing tool for the resort there to use. There are only a couple dozen mantarays
around the island during a limited time each year.

Im going to be staying on Mantaray in a few weeks, and going just for the snorkeling.
I am the number #1 snorkel fanatic in the world, so I can tell you how it is in my opinion.
I moved to Hawaii so I could snorkel everyday... So if you write me, I'll let you know
how it is, and if its easy to get a boat ride to Blue Lagoon, and pay a few $$ for the ride.

Aloha

Completely agree with Lilau re Blue Lagoon. I've just got back from my latest trip there. The coral close to the beach has lost some colour, but a bit further out is good, and because of the shletering effect of other islands, the water is almost always swimming pool calm, with no currents. Lots of fish. All villas are good, if there is no Beachfront available, the Garden villas are only a few metres further away from the sand. Great food - I've come home to go on a diet! If mantarays were an attraction for you - I believe they aren't around in March anyway.

To snorkelking - the only way to get to BLBR from Mantaray is on the Yasawa Flyer, which runs a round trip once a day. BLBR is at the end of the run at the turn-around point, so it's not possible to go up there during the day, stop off, and then go back to Mantaray. Too far for a small boat if you were thinking of trying to hire one for the trip.