For seasoned travellers who’ve ostensibly seen and done it all, the final frontier is – ironically enough – what covers 70% of the Earth’s surface. But if you’re not quite ready to dive headfirst into the James Cameron ocean explorer lifestyle, dip a toe in with the best underwater hotels (and hotel experiences) that money can buy.
With views unlike any other and an overwhelming sense of serenity that surely has something to do with our evolutionary reverence for water, if the advertised imagery and reputation are anything to go by, these bucket list stays dotted all across the globe promise an unforgettable holiday. One you’ll definitely be talking about for years to come.
Check them out below.
Jump To:
- The Muraka at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives
- InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, China
- Atlantis, The Palm – Underwater Suites, UAE
- Reefsuites, Australia
- Utter Inn, Sweden
- Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
- The Manta Resort – Underwater Room, Tanzania
The Muraka at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives
A spectacular two-level residence featuring a master bedroom submerged 16 feet below sea level, the first-of-its-kind Muraka is inarguably the crown jewel of underwater luxury.
With 360-degree panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and a dedicated tunnel viewing theatre; along with a private chef, 24-hour butler service, as well as a gorgeous infinity pool on the above-water level outdoor deck; this suite is for the traveller who sees “exclusive” as a baseline.
This villa can accommodate up to six guests across three king bedrooms, though only one of those involves sleeping like Poseidon himself.
Address: JP8H+2FF, Mandhoo
Contact: +960 668-0629
Pricing: From US$9,999 per night
InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, China
An architectural marvel embedded within an abandoned quarry – the marketing actually frames it as “88 metres close to the heart of Earth” – the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland proudly offers two submerged floors of guest rooms with an underwater flair; plus a restaurant with a five-metre-deep aquarium.
Your choices come down to a premium room, duplex suite, or underwater view suite, all of which provide a marine window. It’s essentially the InterContinental guarantee of quality that meets US$300 million worth of aquatic grandeur.
Address: 5888 Chenhua Road Songjiang District, Shanghai 201619
Contact: 1800 760 595
Pricing: From AU$1,500 per night (premium room)
Atlantis, The Palm – Underwater Suites, UAE
Dubai doesn’t do subtle, and Atlantis The Palm’s outrageously opulent Neptune and Poseidon suites are certainly no exception.
Floor-to-ceiling windows act as your portal to the Ambassador Lagoon, where you’ll be mesmerised by approximately 65,000 sea creatures (including sharks and manta rays), with 24-hour butler service and world-class hospitality to go with it.
Amusingly enough, beyond these iconic rooms, you also have the option to explore the resort’s Aquaventure Waterpark; and dine at the Michelin-star underwater restaurant Ossiano Dubai.
Address: Crescent Road – The Palm Jumeirah – Dubai
Contact: +971 4 426 0000
Pricing: From US$7,000 per night
Reefsuites, Australia
Here in our very own backyard, Cruise Whitsundays’ Reefsuites delivers front-row seats to one of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems through two over/underwater bungalows (similar to The Muraka).
Set on a pontoon 40 nautical miles off the coast of Airlie Beach, this is about more than taking in the majesty of the Great Barrier Reef from the comfort of a king-sized bed. The aquatic sanctuary actually encompasses a broader experience that entails a scenic cruise, snorkelling the reef, access to an underwater observatory, and drinks at sunset, followed by dinner.
How good.
Address: Accessible via 24 The Cove Road, Airlie Beach (Port of Airlie)
Contact: +617 486 7000
Pricing: From AU$1,100 per night (also charged per person)
Utter Inn, Sweden
A decidedly lowkey entrant compared to the rest of this list of the best underwater hotels – though no less charming – Sweden’s Utter Inn is designed for the no-frills adventurer. As a refreshing change of pace, it’s also remarkably affordable.
This exceedingly unique art project-turned-pontoon cabin, which floats in Lake Mälaren near the city of Västerås, contains an intimate single underwater room 10 feet below the surface: a double or twin beds paired with windows on every side. And when the weather allows, you can hang out on the entry’s deck.
Address: Lake Mälaren, 722 12 Västerås
Contact: +46 21 39 01 00
Pricing: From AU$550 per night
Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
Off the Singaporean coast on Sentosa Island, you’ll find these 11 Equarius Ocean Suites each divided into two levels; with the upper resembling an open living area and the lower featuring an underwater view of 40,000-plus marine life. However, note that similar to Atlantis, The Palm, you’re looking directly into an aquarium. Not the open ocean.
Private above-ground patios with hot tubs and dedicated butler service included.
Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
Contact: 6221 1694
Pricing: From US$1,100 per night (also charged per person)
The Manta Resort – Underwater Room, Tanzania
You will have no doubt encountered this Instagram-worthy, Pemba Island hideaway somewhere online over the last decade (it’s the one we used to bait you into clicking this article). And by all accounts, it lives up to all the visual hype.
The Manta Resort’s signature three-level, hardwood-clad floating structure with a submerged bedroom is anchored in an ocean floor anomaly known as “the blue hole”; offering the very best in above and below-water accommodation. The rooftop even doubles as a sundeck where you can lose track of time and work on that tan during the day, and bask under the gentle glow of the stars by nightfall.
The best part?
While you’ll have full access to the rest of The Manta Resort’s renowned amenities, ranging from an excellent restaurant and beach bar to a beloved spa, guests staying at the Underwater Room can enjoy complete privacy with only the Indian Ocean as their witness.
Address: PSV-Zanzibar Estate, Tanzania
Contact: +255 776 141 429
Pricing: From US$1,100 per night (low season)
If you’ve enjoyed our shortlist of the best underwater hotels and hotel experiences around the world, be sure to read some of the following:
