Underwater Villa Opens in Maldives - Evelyn Kanter ecoXplorer

Sleep with the fishes at the new ultra-luxury underwater hotel The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.

The underwater villa is named The Muraka, which translates to “coral” in the Maldives’ native language, Dhivehi, for the way that it rests along the ocean floor, about 20 feet below the surface, peacefully observing the sea life that surrounds it.

The sunken retreat is equipped with a private bar, butler’s quarters, gym, and infinity pool.

The undersea suite features a king size bedroom, living area, bathroom and spiral staircase that leads to the upper level living room.

The undersea bedroom floor level sits five meters (16.4 feet) below sea level, providing uninterrupted views of the surrounding marine environment, including the coral for which it is named.

With its state-of-the-art technology, Muraka’s distinct design is akin to Ithaa, the five-star restaurant also submerged below the sea, also at The Contrad Maldives Rangali Island.

Ithaa boasts a curved acrylic dome, which offers 180-degree panoramic views of the wonders of the Indian Ocean’s intricate marine life.

The massive bed, shower, and bathtub have panoramic views of the ocean. The top floor, which rests above the water, comprises a sprawling relaxation deck for tanning and unwinding.

The elaborate suite isn’t cheap.

It costs an whale-sized $50,000 per night, with a four-night minimum, which means it’s a $200,000 vacation package.

But it can accommodate up to nine guests, which lowers the price per person significantly.

But the price includes a personal chef, private boat, automatic upgrade to Hilton Diamond status, and airport transfers.

Even so, it’s still a bucket list destination.

The Conrad claims this is the world’s first underwater residence, but it’s not

As I wrote nearly ten years ago for FoxNews Travel, Atlantis The Palm in Dubai opened with accommodations including triplexes.

Construction of The Muraka was both innovative and environmentally-conscious.

Each piece of the modular structure was built in Singapore and shipped to the Maldives, before being plunged underwater and nailed into place using thick, concrete pylons.

The sturdy pylons ensure that the villa does not shift or simply float away during high tides or rough waves.

For travelers who aren’t brave enough to spend four nights below the depths of the Indian Ocean, The Conrad also boasts a number of luxury villas that sit above the water, and they cost a good deal less than $50,000 a night.

Photos courtesy The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.

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