The ladder off the deck into the lagoon is the whole point. You step down, the water is bath-warm, and fish move around your ankles like you are not there.
I had written this trip off for years as something other people did. What changed was timing and channel: a shoulder week in a quieter month, booked through member inventory rather than the resort's public rate.
It still was not cheap. It was, however, achievable — closer to a nice week in Hawaii than to the number most people assume.
Practical notes: bring reef-safe sunscreen, book the half-board plan because island groceries are limited, and take the sunrise slot for any excursion. The light is better and the crowds have not woken up.
If there is one trip worth planning deliberately rather than dreaming about vaguely, it is this one. Pick the month, watch the pricing, and go.