Conrad Hotels & Resorts was the first international hotel brand to enter the Maldivian market when they launched their hotel in 1997, now they are breaking barriers again with their latest creation that is set to open this coming November.

The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is in the process of building a two-story, $15 million hotel villa that will include a section that will be 16.4 feet below the surface of the Indian Ocean. Although there is a similar concept with an undersea restaurant, this is believed to be the world’s first undersea residence.

The hotel will be named Muraka, or “coral” in the local language of Dhivehi and will strive to provide guests with a immersive experience in one the world’s most breathtaking marine environments.

The hotel will include a bar, butler’s quarters, ocean-facing bathtub, an infinity pool, and an underwater bedroom featuring a king-sized bed, living area, and bathroom with amazing views of the ocean. It will connect to the upper level by a spiral staircase.

The Muraka will be able to accommodate as many as nine guests and is being built by underwater design specialists M.J. Murphy Ltd. This is the second venture in underwater architecture by Conrad Hotels & Resorts and was built by the same New Zealand-based design consultants. The other underwater development is Ithaa, and undersea restaurant that launched 13 years ago.

The Muraka villa is designed with a similar curved acrylic dome as the Ithaa that allows 180 degree panoramic views of the marine life. Guests can already spend a night under the ocean at hotels including the Manta Resort on Pemba Island and The Palm in Dubai.

The Manta Resort features a three level underwater room and The Palm has rooms with windows that face an enormous aquarium. Resort World Sentosas in Singapore also offers two-story ocean suites overlooking an aquarium. The Muraka is thought to be the most technologically advanced of all underwater facilities and will be the first underwater residence.

What are your thoughts? Is this villa worthy of a stay or maybe a little too close for comfort?