Holiday Destinations

Underwater hotel room has guests sleeping with the sharks

Underwater hotel room has guests sleeping with the sharks
The resort has been known to transform the underwater dining room into a private bedroom suite for two on special occasions (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
The resort has been known to transform the underwater dining room into a private bedroom suite for two on special occasions (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
The Conrad Rangali Water Villa (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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The Conrad Rangali Water Villa (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
Dining in the resort's extensive cellar (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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Dining in the resort's extensive cellar (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
Guests are offered the experience of dining 16 feet (4.9m) below sea level with 180-degree views of the reef and marine life (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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Guests are offered the experience of dining 16 feet (4.9m) below sea level with 180-degree views of the reef and marine life (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
Guests are offered the experience of dining 16 feet (4.9m) below sea level (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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Guests are offered the experience of dining 16 feet (4.9m) below sea level (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
The resort has been known to transform the underwater dining room into a private bedroom suite for two on special occasions. (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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The resort has been known to transform the underwater dining room into a private bedroom suite for two on special occasions. (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
The resort has been known to transform the underwater dining room into a private bedroom suite for two on special occasions (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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The resort has been known to transform the underwater dining room into a private bedroom suite for two on special occasions (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
Island activities include: scuba diving, snorkeling safaris, windsurfing, game fishing, catamaran sailing and sunset cruising on the resort's yacht (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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Island activities include: scuba diving, snorkeling safaris, windsurfing, game fishing, catamaran sailing and sunset cruising on the resort's yacht (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort is nestled away on two private islands (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort is nestled away on two private islands (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort is nestled away on two private islands (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort is nestled away on two private islands (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
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We were intrigued by the Amphibious 1000's proposed floating suites and private underwater lounges, however The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort hosts the real deal! Situated in the tropical gardens on Rangalifinolhu Island, access to the resort is only by seaplane and while it may sound like any other exclusive get away, the Conrad Rangali will have you dining with stingrays and on special occasions, sleeping with the sharks.

Opening its doors a little over five years ago, the resort features the world's first all-glass, under-the-sea restaurant. Guests are offered the experience of dining 16 feet (4.9 m) below sea level with 180-degree views of the reef and marine life. The resort has also been known to transform the underwater dining room into a private bedroom suite for two on special occasions.

Nestled away on two private islands and surrounded by white-sandy beaches, the hotel boasts 50 water villas, 79 beach villas and 21 spa villas with private treatment rooms. Spa treatments are also available in glass-floored rooms situated above the lagoon's coral reef and outdoor activities include scuba diving, snorkeling safaris, windsurfing, game fishing, catamaran sailing and sunset cruising on the resort's yacht.

The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort (Photo: Conrad Rangali)
The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort (Photo: Conrad Rangali)

The Conrad Rangali has all the luxury resort trappings with ocean view baths, Philippe Starck fittings, private sun decks, espresso machines and Bulgari bathroom goodies. It's also definitely at the higher end of the market with guest rooms starting at US$815 per night, per couple. The underwater restaurant only seats 12 and guests are advised to book well in advance.

View gallery - 11 images
8 comments
8 comments
Nelson
This place won\'t be much fun once all the fish in the sea are gone due to overfishing and the acidification of the seas.
solutions4circuits
@nelson: the acidification of the seas will take care of the plexiglas, so don\'t worry about it. If it doesn\'t, you\'ll still get to see discarded plastic water bottles, oil globules, and McDonalds styrofoam food containers floating by.
alcalde
Nelson, as a sea-lover, I guess I\'m going to have to plan my once-in-a-lifetime trip to dine with (not be dined on by) sharks and sleep with the fishes sooner than expected then. Hmmm... 40th birthday? That gives me some time to save, as I plan to be 39 for the next three years....

Here in New Jersey you can sleep with the fishes, but it\'s something of a permanent activity and involves cement shoes (also a reason why we have no underwater hotels here).
Agung Emedesign
i imagine ...
i\'m quite sure that i can\'t sleep over here... so many sharks around me.... how i can sleep????...
Craig Harker
Grumble mumble grumble bungle bumble grumble brumble. Bloody enviromentalists all they can do nowdays
Yinka Oyesanya
The underwater hotel is an interesting new concept to hotel accomodation. Has anyone ever slept in this room? Is anyone brave enough to?
Brizziana Faith Lopez
The under water hotel room is very unique.It's so much fun to see the fishes around you.I love to experience this, it's kind of relaxing
JAT
Fine until a megaladon comes along and takes a bite.