Jules Verne, author of the classic bookTwenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seaonce wrote, “The sea is but the embodiment of a supernatural and wondrous existence.” For generations, people have longed to explore the deep sea. Our connection to the mysterious ocean has often been expressed through literature, art, film, or simply in our imagination. But now, thanks to the remarkable progress of underwater construction and the bold ideas of pioneers, people can spend the night (or at least a few hours) inside hotels, restaurants, and even motels built entirely under the sea.
Although not yet a popular form of tourism, these resorts can meet a variety of needs, from simple ones like scuba diving to luxurious ones like private villas.
Under
Located along the southern tip of the Norwegian coast – where the dark waters of the North Sea meet the calm, clear waters of the Baltic Sea – Under is one of the world’s most unique restaurants. The 33-foot-tall structure is half submerged, resembling a luxury subway car sitting upright in the middle of the sea. With 35-foot-wide acrylic windows, diners can enjoy dinner amidst the diverse flora and fauna of the marine world, while also experiencing the region’s notoriously unpredictable weather.
The floating design leads down to the dining area of the Under restaurant.
Craig Dykers, a founding partner at Under Architects, said all the materials used were natural, such as concrete and wood. “It was a straightforward and honest project,” he said.
Like the design, Under’s seasonal menu is also unadorned, with the only special thing being the lighting that illuminates the food. Through the lights, the blue-green tones of the ocean fill the room without affecting the attractiveness of the dishes.
More than just a seafood restaurant, Under also serves as a marine station for the Norwegian Bioeconomy Research Institute. Thanks to a marine habitat cleanup and regeneration project, the building's shell has become an artificial reef, covered with a dense forest of kelp and green algae, which is home to a variety of other marine life.
Jules' Undersea Lodge
Opened in 1971 as La Chalupa, Jules' Undersea LodgeJule's Undersea Lodge) was originally an underwater laboratory located off the coast of Puerto Rico. In 1985, this structure was moved by oceanographer Ian Koblick to the saltwater area near the sea on Key Largo Island (in the state of Florida, USA). Later, Ian was the one who turned it into a hotel. Jules' Undersea Lodge is located about 1.5 m below the surface of the water, and is probably the only hotel in the world that you have to dive to enter.
“It’s second only to going to space,” Koblick says of his stay at Jules’ Undersea Lodge, which he founded to share the surreal moments he’s witnessed while doing scientific research, and to raise awareness about marine conservation.
Jules' Undersea Lodge in the lagoon area on Key Largo island.
Jules' Undersea Lodge has a living area of nearly 160 m2, including a living room, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a diver's room. Guests can explore the lagoon to see snapper, grouper, angelfish, barracuda, seahorses, manatees and even the remains of a 19th-century shipwreck.
In addition to hotel services, Jules' Undersea Lodge also provides diving training and certification to promote awareness of sustainable and responsible use of marine resources.
Undersea bedroom at Jules' Undersea Lodge.
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Located approximately 60 miles from Malé, the capital of the Maldives, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is located in Alif Dhaal Atoll (part of the Ari Atoll). There are two ways to get there: by seaplane or motorboat. On the way, you can also stop by the Ithaa Undersea restaurant and Muraka, a villa whose master bedroom is submerged in the Indian Ocean.
Sitting nearly 5 meters below the surface, Ithaa (which means “pearl” in the Maldivian language Divehi) is a cylindrical structure nestled among coral gardens and marine habitats. Diners can see colorful tropical fish, and occasionally sharks, stingrays, and rare turtles.
Bathroom of Muraka Villa at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.
Ithaa restaurant has half of its structure made of acrylic glass submerged under the Indian Ocean.
Floating Seahorse
4 km off the coast of Dubai, in the Persian Gulf, there is an artificial archipelago built from more than 200 large and small islands shaped like a world map, called The World. Among them, Floating Seahorse is a villa project in the Heart of Europe area, including 78 floating houses built partly underwater with a total area of nearly 327 m2.
Design of a Floating Seahorse villa.
The above-water part of each villa is two floors of space including bedrooms, kitchen, living room, terrace area, outdoor balcony, ... with views towards the Dubai city skyline. The submerged part has a concrete-framed bedroom, combined with acrylic windows more than 10 cm thick stretching from floor to ceiling, separating it from the clear blue water and tropical fish attracted by the coral layer outside the villa.
