Observe sea life in a whole new way at underwater hotels
Rather than futuristic hypotheses about “the best underwater hotels in the world,” this is actually a real topic here in the 21st century. The world’s top tourist destinations have been increasing their underwater offerings in recent years, giving tourists and locals alike a chance to learn about sea life and the ocean floor in a very different way from the typical scuba diving and snorkeling excursions of the past.
There are several international locations and a spot in the U.S. that offer this kind of unusual marine experience, though Dubai might be the first place that comes to mind when it comes to underwater hotels. You may have swam in the Indian Ocean before, but have you ever slept on the ocean floor and watched exotic reef fish as if you were almost invisible?
There are some submerged accommodations that will set you back quite a bit, but there are also some submerged accommodations that will be less expensive — well, as affordable as underwater accommodations can be at resorts. Explore the world’s best underwater hotels to see Dubai, the Florida Keys, Fiji, and more in an entirely new (refracted) light.
Atlantis, The Palm — Dubai
Atlantis, The Palm’s underwater hotel rooms provide an opulent environment, just as Dubai has become known for its lavish architecture and lifestyle. The resort’s 3 million-gallon aquarium provides visitors with an opulent setting. In addition to the Poseidon and Neptune underwater suites, guests will be able to choose from three-story spaces with only floor-to-ceiling windows separating them from Ambassador Lagoon, an aquarium filled with stingrays. As an added bonus, you will receive complimentary 24-hour private butler service, airport transfers, and cabanas at the resort’s pool, beach, and water park as well as in-suite check-in.
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, The Muraka — The Maldives
A two-story villa with rooms both above and below the surface of the Indian Ocean, the Muraka villa is a part of Hilton’s Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort. Underwater, there are luxurious bedrooms, bathrooms, and living rooms that offer stunning views of the ocean. This resort also offers a 16-foot-deep undersea restaurant called Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner 16 feet beneath the ocean surface in the native Dhivehi language. Muraka, which means coral in Dhivehi, is just one of the resort’s undersea attractions.
Hotel Utter Inn — Sweden
A tiny red cottage floating in Lake Mälaren is less than a mile from the mainland in Vasteras, Sweden. There are one-room accommodations that are anchored and can be reached by an inflatable boat, where guests can go swimming or sit on the deck to watch the sunset. If you stay at this floating hotel for the night, you’ll need to bring your own dinner picnic. Breakfast can be ordered in advance and delivered to guests in a cooler. This property accepts guests from April to October. Ascend a ladder to the bedroom, which is approximately 10 feet underwater. There are twin beds for two people, and windows on all sides provide views of marine life.
Cruise Whitsundays Reefsuites — Australia
Cruise Whitsundays operates the Reefsuites, located 40 nautical miles between Cairns and Brisbane, Australia. By taking a short cruise through the Whitsundays (74 small islands make up this archipelago), you can reach the Reefsuites, a pontoon attraction called Reefworld. Choose from a king bed or twin bed in one of the two suites submerged about 13 feet below the water. The all-inclusive room rate includes all meals (lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, breakfast, and morning tea) and a guided snorkeling excursion on the Great Barrier Reef.
The Manta Resort — Tanzania
At The Manta Resort, the Underwater Room subverts the fishbowl by turning on guests to be watched by fish in a dreamlike underwater world. This three-level room is situated on Pemba Island, one of the Zanzibar Archipelago’s islands, in Tanzania, a short boat ride from shore. There are two outdoor decks on the property, one at sea level and the other on the roof, providing 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean as well as an opportunity to view it through. There will be a security guard stationed nearby during your stay, who will serve meals at pre-arranged times.
Resorts World Sentosa Ocean Suites — Singapore
A luxury hotel in Singapore, this hotel features 11 underwater suites that are nestled next to the SEA Aquarium and Adventure Cove Water Park. These suites feature two stories — one above water, one below water — so guests can experience both land and sea. Guests can enjoy views of over 40,000 marine creatures on the lower, underwater level, which has a living area connected to an outdoor patio and hot tub. To complement your relaxing stay, the suites feature a butler service.
Jules’ Undersea Lodge — Florida
A unique hotel in Key Largo, Florida, Jules’ Undersea Lodge is named after author Jules Verne, who wrote “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” among other science fiction and adventure novels. In addition to offering views of a protected mangrove lagoon and reef fish nursery, the lodge used to operate as a marine research facility. It’s important to keep in mind that staying at Jules’ Undersea Lodge isn’t for passive travelers: it’s the only underwater resort where the rooms can only be accessed by scuba diving. To ensure safety and quality experiences, the staff is on duty 24 hours a day. There are two private rooms, a shared space, a wet room, and a living room with 42-inch round windows in every room of the small underwater hotel. In addition to the room rate, we deliver underwater pizza dinners.
Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland — China
A feat of modern engineering, Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland is an abandoned quarry just 20 miles from Shanghai. It has 16 underground floors, including two that are underwater. A custom-built saltwater aquarium tank makes up the area known as The Lagoon, where six underwater suites and underwater public spaces, including an underground pool, all have windows overlooking large, saltwater aquarium tanks. An intricate water show is performed nightly at 7:30 p.m. at the five-star resort.
