World's 1st All-Glass Undersea Restaurant
Dine 16 feet below sea level @ the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant
[JP Press, The Maldives, 13 April 2007] The first-ever all-glass undersea restaurant in the world opens its doors
for business on April 15th at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa, Rangali Island. Built on 2 islands in the Indian
Ocean archipelago of the Maldives, the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa offers white sands, palm-fringed beaches,
coral reefs and a turquoise lagoon, 30 minutes' flight from the international airport by seaplane.
Sitting five meters (16 feet) below the waves of the Indian Ocean, the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant is surrounded by
a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic offering diners 270-degrees of panoramic underwater views.
“We have used aquarium technology to put diners face-to-face with the stunning underwater
environment of the Maldives”, says Carsten Schieck, General Manager of Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa.
“Our guests always comment on being blown away by the colour, clarity, and beauty of the underwater
world in the Maldives, so it seemed the perfect idea to build a restaurant where diners can experience fine
cuisine and take time to enjoy the views - without ever getting their feet wet.”
Created by MJ Murphy Ltd, a design consultancy based in New Zealand, it's distinctive feature is the use
of curved transparent acrylic walls and roof, similar to those used in aquarium attractions. “The fact that
the entire restaurant except for the floor is made of clear acrylic makes this unique in the world,”
continues Schieck. “We are currently planting a coral garden on the reef to add to the spectacular views
of the rays, sharks and many colorful fish that live around the area.”
