The Manta Resort's new room on Pemba Island in Zanzibar is a tropical island hotel room like any other – except that it floats anchored above a shallow coastal coral reef.
The bedroom, which was opened just this month, is located in a room below deck that has large viewing glasses offering guests a view of the colorful aquatic world outside. Above deck, a three-story structure gives guests all the amenities of a regular hotel room, albeit with an incredible view.
By day, tropical fish and other sea organisms float and swim by the window. At night, lights illuminate the water outside the windows, attracting squids and other otherwise shy sea creatures. The whole thing is anchored about 250m from the coast. Can you imagine being rocked to sleep by gentle waves, waking up in the morning and diving in to swim with tropical fish? If so, you also better imagine shelling out $1,500 USD a night for two or $900 USD for a single occupant.
The creator of the floating room, Mikael Genberg, first created an underwater hotel room in Sweden called Utter Inn (Otter Inn). The single room floats in the middle of Lake Mälaren and, like at the Pemba Island room, gives occupants an enchanting underwater view of the lake's fishes from its under-water bedroom.
Image credits: Jesper Anhede
Image credits: Jesper Anhede
Image credits: Jesper Anhede
Image credits: Jesper Anhede
Image credits: Jesper Anhede
Image credits: Jesper Anhede
Image credits: Jesper Anhede
Image credits: Jesper Anhede
Image credits: Jesper Anhede