Ithaa, which means pearl in Dhivehi, is the world’s premier undersea restaurant, secured five metres (15 feet ) below sea level, surrounded by a coral reef , at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island in Rangalifinolhu, Maldives

The award-winning Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa became Conrad Maldives Rangali Island on 18 December 2007 – This is in line with Conrad’s positioning as the luxury brand within the Hilton Family, with services & facilities.

The five-by-nine meter restaurant is encased in R-Cast acrylic which is a transparent acrylic roof offering 270° panoramic view to its customers.

Only 14 individuals can dine at one time and the menu is considered to be Maldavian-Western Fusion. Meals range in cost from US$120 to US$250.

The amazing experience begins right from the start as you reach the restaurant by going through a wooden walkway.

The restaurant, which cost around $5 million to build, was designed by M.J. Murphy Ltd. – a design consultancy based in New Zealand – and was opened on April 15, 2005. The structure was built in Singapore and shipped to the island on a massive barge equipped with a giant crane to lower it into position in the sea

Carsten Schieck, the General Manager said : “We have used aquarium technology to put diners face-to-face with the stunning underwater environment of the Maldives.

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.” Source

Indeed, as the fish swim freely on the outside, diners are the ones occupying the aquarium ^_^