Ithaa Undersea; the Maldives
Seafood lovers don't have to know how to swim to dine at Ithaa Undersea — they simply have to walk in. Submerged in the Indian Ocean, Ithaa's patrons stroll to a thatched hut at the end of a pier, where they descend a flight of stairs attached to the watertight structure. Situated 16 feet below sea level and alongside a coral reef, the establishment boasts a spectacular view for Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort visitors. A five-by-nine meter clear acrylic tunnel lets up to 14 patrons marvel at colorful marine life while they taste Maldivian-Western fusion cuisine.
For those who might worry about Ithaa's structural integrity, the underwater restaurant has already proven itself to be a hardy building. Four months prior to the restaurant's opening in April 2005, a tsunami struck the region. Ithaa, luckily, was left unscathed.
Sarah Tung