10:00
The seaplane
30 minutes from Malé with Trans Maldivian Airways, from the resort’s own lounge at the airport (getting here).
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, the Maldives underwater hotel
If you want a Maldives underwater hotel, the room to know is the Muraka at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island: a 2-level residence whose master bedroom lies 5 metres under the sea, beneath a 180-degree glass dome. It costs around $50,000 a night according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Who the Muraka suits
Why choose it
Families with teenagers, groups of friends or couples who want one night or several to sleep with the reef outside the window, and can pay a residence’s price.
The MurakaWhen to look elsewhere
You want a room under the sea for 2 at an ordinary villa price, or to dine rather than sleep: the Muraka is a whole residence, and Ithaa or another undersea restaurant gives you the view for a meal.
Other ways under the seaWhy the whole of the Conrad, beyond the Muraka
Around the underwater residence lies a resort of firsts on 2 islands.
Ithaa opened on 15 April 2005 as the world’s first undersea restaurant, 5 metres below the surface; it seats 14 per service, for breakfast, lunch and dinner (our story, Ithaa).
The resort opened in 1997 as the Hilton Maldives, the first internationally branded resort in the country, and a 500-metre bridge joins its 2 islands; it also built the Maldives’ first underground wine cellar (our story).
South Ari Atoll is one of the few places where whale sharks live all year; the dive centre’s trips start with a talk by its marine biologists, and mantas are an hour away by boat (dive centre).
A day and a night at the Muraka
From the seaplane to the private jetty, then the reef by day and the dome at night.
11:00
The private jetty
The Muraka has its own arrival jetty and a butler on call at any hour (the Muraka).
15:00
The reef from the deck
Snorkelling and diving start from the residence’s deck, with marine biologists who know every coral formation (the Muraka).
19:30
Dinner on the upper terrace
Bespoke dining on the terrace as the stars come out, or in the underwater viewing room (the Muraka).
22:30
Sleeping under the sea
The lift or the spiral stair leads down to the master bedroom, under a 180-degree dome, with the bathroom and dressing room also looking into the sea (the Muraka).
The Muraka and the Maldives’ other rooms under the sea
The Conrad sits in South Ari Atoll; SEA, Anantara Kihavah’s undersea restaurant in this guide, lies far to the north in Baa Atoll.
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Recommended for you
- Conrad Maldives Rangali IslandThe Muraka and Ithaa, South Ari Atoll
- Anantara Kihavah Maldives VillasSEA, 6 metres down, Baa Atoll
- Velana International Airport30 minutes by seaplane to the Conrad
What a stay at the Muraka includes, from the resort’s page
The official page read on 5 October 2026, and what it leaves out.
On the official page
- A dedicated 24-hour butler
- A private infinity pool on the deck
- A private arrival jetty
- Private consultations with the marine biologists
- Snorkelling and diving from the deck
- Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout
The Muraka in 7 facts
What it is, how deep, how big and who built it, from the resort and the record.
| Depth | The master bedroom lies over 16 feet, about 5 metres, below sea level (the Muraka) |
|---|---|
| The dome | A 180-degree curved acrylic dome over the bed; a viewing tunnel and the bathroom also look into the sea (the Muraka) |
| Bedrooms | 3 en-suite bedrooms, 2 above water and 1 underwater, for up to 8 guests (the Muraka) |
| Size | 550 m² over 2 levels, with living and dining spaces, a kitchen, a bar and a gym (the Muraka) |
| Opened | In 2018, designed by Yuji Yamazaki of New York with the Maldivian architect Ahmed Saleem (Wikipedia) |
| Built | The underwater level was built in Singapore and shipped to the Maldives; 10 concrete piles hold it in place (Wikipedia) |
| The name | Muraka means coral in Dhivehi; parrotfish, rays and blacktip reef sharks pass the windows (the Muraka) |
The Muraka, above and below the sea
2 levels: a villa over the water, and a bedroom beneath it.
Above the water there are 2 en-suite bedrooms, the living and dining spaces and a deck with an infinity pool; below, reached by a spiral stair or a private lift, the master bedroom lies under the dome (the Muraka). It is the resort’s largest villa, 550 m².
Every villa, with photos4 restaurants under the sea, and the one bedroom
What each venue offers below the surface, and how deep it sits.
Searches for a Maldives underwater hotel mostly return the Muraka, lists and videos. Several resorts let you eat under the sea; sleeping there is what sets the Muraka apart.
The table puts the Conrad’s own Ithaa beside 3 undersea restaurants at other resorts, with the Muraka as the subject.
| Venue | Resort | Under the sea | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Muraka | Conrad Maldives Rangali Island | A residence with a bedroom under the sea | About 5 metres |
| Ithaa Undersea Restaurant | Conrad Maldives Rangali Island | A restaurant, 14 seats per service | 5 metres |
| SEA Underwater Restaurant | Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas | A restaurant beside an underwater wine cellar | 6 metres |
| 5.8 Undersea Restaurant | Hurawalhi Island Resort | A restaurant, guests aged 15 and over | 5.8 metres |
| M6m restaurant | OZEN LIFE MAADHOO | A restaurant included in the all-inclusive plan | 6 metres |
The Conrad’s and Anantara’s own pages, and Winged Boots for the depths of SEA, 5.8 and M6m, read on 5 October 2026.
- What guests write
Of the resort’s Google reviews read on 4 October 2026, a guest in August 2025 calls Ithaa splendid for the view beneath the sea and for the cooking.
Questions about the Maldives underwater hotel
Depth, price, guests, the restaurant next door and how to get there: what travellers ask before booking the Muraka.
Is there an underwater hotel in the Maldives?
Yes: the Muraka at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island has its master bedroom about 5 metres under the sea, beneath a glass dome (the Muraka). It opened in 2018 (Wikipedia); the other undersea venues in the Maldives are restaurants (Winged Boots).
How much does a night at the Muraka cost?
The resort does not publish the price; The Hollywood Reporter puts it at around $50,000 a night (The Hollywood Reporter). On Google Hotels, read on 12 October 2026, the resort’s ordinary villas started at $1,073 a night for 2 on 16 November.
How many people can stay in the Muraka?
Up to 8: it has 3 en-suite bedrooms, 2 above the water and 1 underwater (the Muraka).
How deep is the underwater bedroom?
Over 16 feet, about 5 metres, below sea level, under a 180-degree curved acrylic dome (the Muraka).
Can you visit the sea from below without staying in the Muraka?
Yes, at Ithaa on the same resort: breakfast, a visiting hour from 11am to noon, lunch from 12.30pm and dinner from 6.30pm, 14 seats per service (Ithaa).
How do you get to the Muraka?
By seaplane from Malé, 30 minutes, $700 per adult return, 6am to 3.30pm (getting here); the residence has its own arrival jetty (the Muraka).
The Muraka, on the resort’s own page
The Muraka on the official site
Written and checked by Lumina, independently of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. Lumina sells no rooms or tickets: every link leads to its source.
Sources
- Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (official site)
- The Muraka, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (official site)
- Ithaa Undersea Restaurant (official site)
- Our story, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (official site)
- Getting here, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (official site)
- Dive centre, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (official site)
- Dining, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (official site)
- The Muraka (Wikipedia)
- The Hollywood Reporter on Maldives resorts and their celebrity guests
- Google Hotels, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (read on 12 October 2026)
- Conrad Maldives Rangali Island’s Google reviews
- 6 underwater restaurants in the Maldives (Winged Boots)
- SEA, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas (official site)
