Space-age underwater hotel planned for Maldives

(CNN) -- With its luminous body seemingly hovering above the water, and five spidery legs plunging deep into the sea, this futuristic building could be the mothership in a sci-fi film.

In fact, it's the design for one of the world's largest underwater hotels -- and it could be coming to a beach near you.
Introducing the Water Discus Hotel, a luxury multi-million dollar resort featuring 21 moveable rooms found in the heart of spectacular coral reefs.

Maldives to Dubai
The space-age hotel is now set to be built on the remote -- and postcard perfect -- tropical island of Kuredhivaru in the Maldive Islands, with the National Ministry of Tourism giving the go-ahead to the ambitious plan last week.

The United Arab Emirates may soon be the next home of the high-tech hotel, with a Dubai construction company also in negotiations to build the surreal structure.

It might look like a spaceship, but this remarkable design is in fact a luxury underwater hotel.

"There are many people who will never have the courage to dive to these beautiful reefs," designer, Pawel Podwojewski, told CNN.

The Water Discus Hotel, to be built in the Maldives

"But here you will have the chance to explore an underwater world from the comfort of your bedroom."

Space-age seascape

Described as "Star Trek meets the undersea world of Jacques Cousteau," the remarkable building -- valued at up to $50 million -- is the brainchild of Polish company Deep Ocean Technology, backed by Swiss investors.

Wake up to different ocean views in the underwater hotel

The luminous hotel features two large disc-shaped lounges seven-meters above the water, housing a luxury restaurant and spa.

The lounges are connected to a glass tunnel plunging 30-meters below the water, leading to 21 opulent bedrooms.

"A lot of people have said it looks like something from a James Bond film," said Podwojewski. "I'm a big fan of the movies, so perhaps that was an inspiration."

"I wanted to keep it as sleek and simple as possible -- so the sphere shape is very efficient."

Deep end

The cutting-edge hotel may plunge deep beneath the ocean, but its luxury facilities are sky-high, including a helicopter landing pad and rooftop swimming pool.

The sleek design, which can cost up to $50 million, is now set to be built on the remote tropical island of Kuredhivaru in the Maldives.

Guests can sit back and enjoy views of vibrant reefs and tropical fish, all from the comfort of their bed.

Those wanting to explore the spectacular underwater world, can also dive straight in from the hotel's airlock compartment, including its own decompression chamber.

The more adventurous can even take a ride in a three-passenger deep-sea submarine.

Moving on up

Not only does the hotel look like a spaceship -- it actually moves like one, with the largest underwater saucer-shaped room able to slide to the surface in emergencies.

Guests can enjoy views of vibrant coral reefs and sea creatures, all from the comfort of their bedroom.

"If you need to replace a window for example, it's very difficult underwater," explained Podwojewski. "So we wanted to build a building that can surface any time for maintenance or safety."

"It's a bit like a balloon underwater -- when we let go of the water from the room's huge tanks, the balloon will surface automatically. It doesn't need to rely on electricity."

Environmental concerns

Developers hope to limit the impact on coral reefs by laying the foundation in as few points as possible.

More adventurous guests can dive straight into the water from a special airlock compartment, including its own decompression chamber.

There are also plans to rebuild coral reefs, by growing the vibrant eco-systems in a special plantation before relocating them around the hotel.

"To preserve the natural environment we have developed couple of kinds of foundations depending on the local conditions," said Podwojewski. "The key is to touch the sea ground in just few points."

The unique hotel may soon be built in the United Arab Emirates, with Dubai construction company Drydocks now in negotiations with designers.

"Most probably the hotel will land on a flat sand area to reflect the sun rays inside the rooms and the reef will be additionally planted around the hotel rooms to enrich the view."

The space-age design might seem like something from the future. But it seems this unique underwater hotel will be much closer than you think.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/10/travel/space-age-underwater-hotel-maldives/index.html?iref=allsearch

Conrad Maldvies' World's First All-Glass Under-Sea Restaurant Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

Ithaa, the world’s first all-glass undersea restaurant at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island celebrated its fifth anniversary. And to celebrate, the resort is offering guests the chance to spend the night under-water by turning the restaurant into an exclusive suite for two, complete with private champagne dinner and breakfast in bed.

Sitting five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear glass, the restaurant has hosted over 43,800 diners*, 151 under-sea ‘Renewal of Love’ ceremonies and been witness to the consumption of over 14,235 bottles of the ‘house wine’ champagne since opening.

Using aquarium technology, “Ithaa” meaning “pearl” in the Maldivian language of Divehi, was built to allow guests to enjoy the color, clarity and beauty of the Indian Ocean without getting their feet wet.


Ithaa consists of three five-meter wide x 125mm thick glass arches sitting one meter below the sea level during low tide and almost two meters at high tide, the widest constructed underwater structure in the world at the time of building. The inside of the restaurant is nine meters long and five meters wide and sits above the seabed.

Such a unique restaurant deserves a distinctive cuisine, which is why Ithaa is the first and only restaurant in the world to offer fusion Maldivian cuisine, taking local spices, seasonings and traditional cooking methods, but adding a western twist to create an innovative style of cooking.

Diners at Ithaa Undersea Restaurant experience a set-menu composed of 23 different dishes over four courses; from Reef Fish with grape, almond and saffron reduction to Maldivian Banana and Chilli Mascarpone cream with refreshing crushed basil. A three-course lunchtime menu is also offered.

World-renowned wine-makers and Chefs have also flocked to Ithaa to host numerous food and wine events with highlights including visits from Hubert de Billy from Pol Roger who will help celebrate the anniversary this month; Frederic Engerer of Chateau Latour and Chef Mathieu Pacau of acclaimed Paris restaurant L’Ambroisie.

Information:
Seats: 12 people (children may join for lunch while dinner is reserved for over 16’s only).
Open: Daily lunch & dinner at 12:30 and 6:30. There is one seating for each meal.
Concept: Contemporary fusion-Maldivian cuisine, under the sea.
Price: Dinner: US $320 per person. Lunch: US $195 per person

Did you know?
• There has never been water inside Ithaa. It was built on dry land and dropped into the ocean in one piece.
• The total cost of building totalled about US $5 million.
• Ithaa Undersea Restaurant weighs 175 tons, with an additional 85 tons of sand ballast placed beneath the floor to weight it down.
• At lunchtime, it is so bright inside Ithaa that diners and waiting staff need to wear sunglasses. The resort keeps extra sunglasses handy in case a diner forgets to bring theirs and offers a sunglass cleaning service during lunch.


About the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Set in a picturesque corner of the Maldives, the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island combines three distinct resort experiences on two islands, linked by a bridge and surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and lagoon. Accommodation includes 50 of the most luxurious Water Villas in the country, 79 exotic Beach Villas and 21 fabulous Spa Water Villas – the ultimate in pure indulgence.

About Conrad Hotels & Resorts
CONRAD HOTELS & RESORTS is Hilton Worldwide’s global contemporary luxury brand, offering a seamless intersection of life, business and pleasure for today’s sophisticated traveller. Each Conrad hotel is a dynamic reflection of its city and culture, as well as a showcase for striking design and distinct surroundings. With hotels & resorts across six continents, the world’s gateway cities and most sought-after resort destinations, Conrad invites each guest to enjoy the personalized service and business savvy that truly delivers The Luxury of Being Yourself?. For further

Source: http://www.hotelinteractive.com

Stay In An Underwater Hotel Room

Yesterday, Ithaa, the world"s first all-glass under-sea restaurant at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island will celebrate its fifth anniversary. And to celebrate, the resort is offering guests the chance to spend the night under-water by turning the restaurant into an exclusive suite for two, complete with private champagne dinner and breakfast in bed.

Sitting five metres below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear glass, the restaurant has hosted over 43,800 diners, 151 under-sea "Renewal of Love" ceremonies and been witness to the consumption of over 14,235 bottles of the "house wine" champagne since opening.

Using aquarium technology, "Ithaa" meaning "pearl" in the Maldivian language of Divehi, was built to allow guests to enjoy the colour, clarity and beauty of the Indian Ocean without getting their feet wet.

Ithaa consists of three five-metre wide x 125mm thick glass arches sitting one metre below the sea level during low tide and almost two metres at high tide, the widest constructed underwater structure in the world at the time of building. The inside of the restaurant is nine metres long and five metres wide and sits above the seabed.

Such a unique restaurant deserves a distinctive cuisine, which is why Ithaa is the first and only restaurant in the world to offer fusion Maldivian cuisine, taking local spices, seasonings and traditional cooking methods, but adding a western twist to create an innovative style of cooking.

Diners at Ithaa Undersea Restaurant experience a set-menu composed of 23 different dishes over four courses; from Reef Fish with grape, almond and saffron reduction to Maldivian Banana and Chilli Mascarpone cream with refreshing crushed basil. A three-course lunchtime menu is also offered.

World-renowned wine-makers and Chefs have also flocked to Ithaa to host numerous food and wine events with highlights including visits from Hubert de Billy from Pol Roger who will help celebrate the anniversary this month; Frederic Engerer of Chateau Latour and Chef Mathieu Pacau of acclaimed Paris restaurant L"Ambroisie.

Source: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk

Underwater world in Maldives

Photos taken in Ari Atoll under water by China View photographer Liu Yongqiu.


Two double saddled butterflyfish are seen underwater at North Ari Atoll of Maldives on April 11, 2008. (Xinhua/Liu Yongqiu)



A blue lined surgeonfish is seen underwater at North Ari Atoll of Maldives on April 11, 2008. (Xinhua/Liu Yongqiu)

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Source: http://rss.xinhuanet.com

Dive school identifies Maradhoo’s “strange fish” as Ocean Sunfish

Maldivers, a PADI-certified 5-star dive school in Male, today identified a “strange fish”, which another local daily said had washed up on Maradhoo island in Addu atoll on Sunday, as the Ocean Sunfish, scientific name Mola Mola.

The rare sighting of the fish caught the imagination of Maradhoo residents, and when it died, it was buried in the island under the care of the police and Maldives National Defence Force, the local daily reported.

An official from Maldivers, said that the Sunfish is occasionally spotted in Maldives but that since sightings are rare, elderly people in Maldives called it “Mas-buri”, which in Dhivehi literally translates to “half a fish” due to the fish’s odd appearance.

The website of Britain’s Natural History Museum last year said that the century-old mystery of what comprises the peculiar tail of one of the largest of all bony fishes had been resolved.

“The sunfish's tail evolved, not from an adaptation of the tail or caudal fin, but when the dorsal and anal fins merged,” the website said.

This is what the website had to say on the sunfish:

“Ocean sunfishes belong to the family Molidae and are amongst the largest of all bony fishes, with up to 1.5 tonnes in weight and 3 metres in length. Instead of a tail fin they have a rudder-like structure called the clavus .

Their large size and peculiar appearance has fascinated scientists since they were first illustrated as early as the mid-1500s.

Dr Ralf Britz, fish researcher (ichthyologist) at the Natural History Museum, and his colleague Dr G David Johnson from the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, wanted to find out why the tail was so unlike those of any other fishes.

There are two previous explanations for how the sunfish tail evolved - one was that the tail or caudal fin had been modified through evolution, the other highly unusual possibility was that the tail evolved from the merging of the dorsal and anal fins.

Britz and Johnson studied the tails of the ocean sunfish in detail by looking at the developing skeleton of the young, or larvae, under a microscope.

They compared its development with that of a less modified relative of the sunfish, the puffer fish.

They found no sign of the caudal fin at any stage of the development of the ocean sunfish and discovered that the dorsal and anal fins grow together to form the clavus. In evolutionary terms the dorsal and anal fins have completely replaced the tail fin.

Dr Britz said 'The colossal ocean sunfish, a pelagic fish (living in the open sea) with a wide distribution, has lost its tail fin, the main locomotory structure in all other fishes. This was a very surprising and unexpected result!'

The details of this research were published in the October (2006) issue of the Journal of Morphology.”

Source: Haveeru Online

Huvafen Fushi takes world’s first underwater treatment rooms to new depths

The ground-breaking underwater spa treatment rooms at Huvafen Fushi, most spectacular island-chic resort in the Maldives, have undergone an innovative transformation that takes cutting-edge cool to another level.

Masterminded by the award-winning British designer and architect Richard Hywel Evans, the two underwater treatment areas have been completely reinvented, with the addition of a separate relaxation pod where post-treatment guests can relax on an oversized day bed and enjoy the sublime surroundings.

“We wanted to create an interior that was in keeping with the spa’s position at the bottom of the sea! The underwater spa has always been a sensational concept and the new interior was designed to reflect and amplify this extraordinary environment; one of our main challenges was dividing the space into three separate areas using room dividers that could disappear, unifying the space so that it could be used for a variety of functions including ‘underwater’ wedding ceremonies. The underwater spa is now truly the world’s most unique spa experience,” says Hywel Evans.

To enter the underwater spa, guests now pass along a passageway decorated in soft pinks, aqua blues, calming yellows and relaxing greens. These colours reflect off wooden walls that retract to reveal the treatment and relaxation spaces beyond. Interior walls have been uplifted to a silver white, providing an ideal canvas for the chromotherapy lighting; a Barrisol ceiling has been installed, creating an ethereal canopy of light, with variable colour and intensity to enhance or tone down the mood; while pebble marble tiles underfoot appear to bring the sea floor inside.

Jane Quinn, Managing Director Per Aquum Spa Collection, says: “Constant evolution has been, and will remain the key to our success at Per Aquum. Guests who truly want to experience one-on-one quality time with our superb therapists, in a super sexy underwater cave that connects them instantly with the Indian Ocean and its inhabitants, should experience this iconic journey. It is a visual feast and a truly authentic experience that leaves you truly nurtured by nature.”

To celebrate the evolution of the underwater treatment rooms, Per Aquum Spa Collection has created a sensational new signature spa experience. The Unite Me – Crystal Ritual offers guests the opportunity to embrace the essence of the Maldives with a truly indigenous combination of body brushing; a sand and lime mineral poultice, using Maldivian sand and lime from local lime trees; and a local Maldivian virgin coconut oil massage using coconut wood massage tools designed exclusively by the spa team at Huvafen Fushi, and hand-made by the local community. Following the massage, guests retire to the relaxation pod and enjoy mineral water, fresh fruits and herbal teas while savouring kaleidoscopic views of clownfish, stingrays and the other exotic marine life that populates the lagoon.

Source: Business Maktoob

Maldives Offers Scuba Jewel, Fierce Currents, Giant Manta Rays

By Nadja Brandt

My fingers rake the ocean floor as I struggle against the fierce Maldives currents. Suddenly, a gush of water blows me off the bottom, away from my fellow divers and into the vast blue of the Indian Ocean.

After my frenzied breathing slows, silence engulfs me. As I check my depth and air gauge, I spot a flotilla of six giant manta rays just below me, their wingspan in the 20-foot range. They're heading to where I just was, Dhonkalo Thila, a dive site better known as the Manta Ray Car Wash.

The Republic of Maldives, a string of islands about 410 miles southwest of Sri Lanka, played host to honeymooners Tom Cruise, an avid scuba diver, and Katie Holmes last November. It is one of the crown jewels of dive locations.

I'm aboard the 110-foot luxury motor yacht Ocean Dancer from Peter Hughes Diving for a 10-day trip. The friendly and helpful staff of about 12 includes two cooks, a bartender and housekeepers, and comprises locals, Sri Lankans, Filipinos and Nepalese. Between dives, we get massages from the boat's therapist or lounge on the front deck and enjoy the postcard view of palm-studded islets with ivory-white sand beaches. [Read More on Bloomberg]

Maldives took another big step in boosting tourism.

As south Asia battled with various problems, Maldives took another big step in boosting tourism.

As India battled concerns over backward class quotas, Bangladesh struggled for ways to clean up its politics ahead of national elections, Pakistan coped with the aftermath of the sacking of its former chief justice, Nepal inched toward a political face-off with Maoists, and Sri Lanka feared more attacks from its Tamil dissidents, a big thing happened in the Maldives, our tiny neighbour across the seas. On April 15, an underwater restaurant was thrown open at the famous Hilton Maldives Resort and Spa, reputedly the only one of its kind in the world.

In the world of south Asian geopolitics, this event has little significance and naturally has been ignored by the region’s media. But for the Maldives, where tourism is the largest component of the economy, it’s big.

Named Ithaa, the restaurant sits five metres below the waves of the Indian Ocean in a clear, all-acrylic casing that offers diners a panoramic, 270-degree view of the surrounding seas. It’s like being inside an aquarium, surrounded by vibrant coral reefs and watching shoals of fish, in all their spectacular colours, swarm past as you dine. From time to time, baby sharks and dolphins come knocking, too. It’s much better than what glass-bottomed boats can offer and Hilton is right to hope that Ithaa will become a tourist-puller in its own right, giving people an additional reason to visit what many describe as one of very few parcels of paradise still left on earth.

How long it can stay that way is, however, an open question. The Maldives discovered tourism only 35 years ago, when the country’s first two resorts were opened. But the growth of the industry since then has been strong and steady, and even the interruption caused by the tsunami of December 2004 has been quickly overcome. Arrivals, down from 616,716 in 2004 to 396,320 in 2005, recovered to over 620,000 last year, and the government seems prepared for an even bigger invasion in the coming years.

It has decided to develop 35 new islands as upscale resorts in addition to the 88 that already exist. Twenty of these are being leased out to private developers while 15 are to be built in the public sector by the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). At the same time, four new airports are to be built to make tourist commuting easier and MTDC is unleashing aggressive sales campaigns in potential new markets like China, Russia, the US and India to diversify its predominantly European client base.

For a country of only 300,000 or so people, this is not at all a small matter. Tourism contributes almost 35 per cent to the Maldives’ GDP and earnings from it were up 51 per cent to $434 million in 2006. The volume is still 8 per cent lower than the 2004 pre-tsunami level, but the momentum is quite evident. Because the Rufiyaa is pegged to the US dollar (since 2001) at Rf 12.8 to $1, tourists feel happy with the value they get for their money. They come more often (the average occupancy rate is over 60 per cent) and stay longer (8.3 days on average).

However, the government is careful not to let tourism affect the country’s predominantly Muslim population too adversely. That’s one reason why the emphasis is on island-based resorts and not so much on city-based hotels. Tourists don’t usually spend much time in Male, the capital city, and head almost as soon as they arrive for an island resort-cum-spa to enjoy their vacation in complete privacy and luxury.

The resorts sit on shallow lagoons that ring each island, creating pools of sea perfect for swimming, wading or snorkelling. Some beachside bungalows have vast, secluded, outdoor bathrooms where birds twitter, water cascades over walls and trees whisper as one takes a shower. Many have private plunge pools, private landscaped forests and exclusive passages to private beaches. At the newly opened Naladhu resort, each house is 225 square metres in size, with lofty white-gabled roofs, broad glass-panelled doors, huge living, dining and sleeping quarters and a vast teak sundeck.

With 1,192 islands sprinkled like a garland among 26 sun-baked atolls, the Maldives is a celebration of the sunny side of life. That’s how it sells itself to tourists. It’s an expensive celebration, though. At the Hilton resort, Sunset water villas cost $3,750 per couple-sharing room. Beach villas cost over $500.

But there seems to be no dearth of takers, although the Maldives as a holiday destination has yet to impress Indians. Records show only 10,260 Indians visited the Maldives in 2005. Most of them visited for business and stayed mainly in Male. Put this against the fact that some 7 million Indians now travel abroad every year and you get a picture of what SAARC, in the two decades it has been around, has done to promote south Asian tourism.

Source: Business Standard

First Underwater Restaurant

The first-ever undersea restaurant in the world has been introduced at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. Ithaa (which is pronounced “eet-ha” and means “pearl” in the language of the Maldives, Dhivehi) sits five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic, offering diners 270 degrees of panoramic underwater views.

This innovative restaurant is the first of its kind in the world, and is part of a US $5 million re-build of Rangalifinolhu Island, one of the twin islands that make up Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. This re-build includes the construction of 79 of the most luxurious beach villas in the country as well as the Spa Village, a self-contained, over-water “resort-within-a-resort” consisting of a spa, restaurant and 21 villas.

Underwater photos from Maldives Islands

Want to try out a new camera underwater? Why not go shooting whale sharks? That's what Karin Brussaard did.

The noted underwater photographer was on a diving safari in the Maldives Islands with the express purpose of observing the massive water beasts, and she took the Olympus E-330 DSLR along for the ride. She certainly appreciated the Live View function on the 2.5-inch screen and the Zuiko Digital 7-14mm lens, which brought out color and definition in even the murkiest of waters. Brussaard made full use of the 114-degree lens functionality.

Essential to her success was the polycarbonate PT-E02 underwater case, which can, thanks to its double O-ring construction, keep water out as deep as 60 meters.

Brussaard enjoyed all these things, was thrilled with the camera and lens and case, and came back with some up close and personal photos of the giant whale sharks.