SUVA, Fiji (8 Feb 2008) — The mystery island on which a US$105 million undersea resort is being built is believed to be on Katafanga Island in the Lau Group, to the southeast of Fiji. Currently, the Katafanga Island Resort & Spa is the only resort in the largely uninhabited and pristine Lau Group. A staff in the resort's Suva office confirmed that an undersea resort was being built on the island but said that work currently on the project was at a standstill and that bookings are also on hold. This was largely due to the uncertainty created by the coup of December 2006, the staff said. The staff was unclear when the project would restart. Called the Poseidon Mystery Island, the project is estimated to cost US$105 million. A questionnaire sent to Poseidon Resorts director of communications early this week, Riki Cameron remains unanswered. The details about Katafanga Island on the resort's website match that of the Poseidon Mystery Island on its website. According to the resort's website, Katafanga (a Tongan word that means smiling beach) is a 225-acre private island. It is a former 19th Century operating coconut plantation surrounded by a 5000-acre lagoon, located in the eastern Lau Group. A coral reef surrounds the entire island, offering protection from extreme tides. Katafanga Island is 1 mile long by 1/3 miles wide and 150 feet high with numerous caves and tide pools to explore. It is home to rare coconut crabs, giant clams, leather back turtles and other birds and marine mammals, the website says. The project is being developed by Poseidon Resorts whose president is Bruce Jones. | | Another Bruce Jones project: Poseidon Undersea Resort, Bahamas Poseidon's website described the undersea resort as the world's first seafloor resort and the only place that visitors could spend the night 40 feet underwater in incomparable luxury. Nestled in the crystal clear waters of a 5,000 acre Fiji lagoon, it would be accessible by an elevator. SOURCE - FijiLiveSCUBA FORUMBAHAMAS - Underwater: The newest high-end travel frontierSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
