Image via Complex Original
The below-sea worlds of Finding Nemo and The Little Mermaid almost make us wish we had gills, but now you don't have to hold your breath to experience what it's like to hang out beneath the waves. Architects all over the world are embracing the idea of building underwater hangouts in the ocean. Such projects are difficult to pull off because of safety concerns, engineering challenges, and extremely expensive building costs, but that hasn't stopped the most daring designers. Check out our list of 20 Unbelievable Underwater Destinations.
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20. LIME Spa
Location: Maldive Islands
Architect: Richard Hywel Evans
Getting a massage or facial surrounded by the calm of the deep blue sea? Talk about total detox.
19. MORPHotel
Location: Mumbai, India
Architect: Gianluca Santosuosso
This hotel is just in the concept stage for now, but it is so cool that we hope it exists one day. It can change shape to fit where it is docked, living up to its Transformer look.
18. Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort
Location: Chengdu, China
Architect: Ma Yansong
This hotel looks like a horseshoe above the water, but it is actually an oval with two underwater floors.
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17. Three Spirits
Location: Moves around the ocean
Architect: Filip Kurzewski
This concept is really cool; three submarines come together to create a luxury hotel experience. In the event that you're stranded underwater like a real submarine, this hotel is self-sustainable for up to 30 days.
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16. Sea.Fire.Salt.Sky.
Location: Maldive Islands
Architect: Poole Associates
This dining complex combines chic feasts with amazing views.
15. Al Mahara
Location: Dubai, UAE
Architect: Tom Wright
This exquisite dining room is located at the Burj Al Arab Hotel. Even though the hotel is built in the ocean, to make sure that visitors see the best fish, the underwater experience actually comes from a giant aquarium.
14. Guinness Submarine Bar
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Architect: Jump Studios
Guinness decided to transform a submarine into an underwater bar for the most hardcore Guinness lovers.
13. TechnoMarine Underwater Night Club
Location: New York City, USA
Architect: Thinkmodo
Though this bar isn't open to the public, it is fully functional and was used for a Thinkmodo commercial. Here's hoping that someone will decide to open an underwater bar in NYC for real.
12. Red Sea Star Bar
Location: Eliat, Israel
Architect: Sefi Kiryaty
Want to observe a coral reef while hitting on ladies? Grab a drink at this underwater night club.
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11. Subsix
Location: Maldive Islands
Architect: Per Aquum
Although you have to dive down to hang out in this bar, this swanky establishment in the Niyama Hotel is anything but a dive bar.
10. Shangri-La Istanbul
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Architect: Piramit
Istanbul-based architect Piramit has agreed to build this underwater oasis for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. If it looks anything like the plans, we're sold.
9. Apeiron Island Hotel
Location: Beirut, Lebanon
Architect: Sybarite Architects
If the plan for this development gets approved, it will rest on a private island in Dubai that houses around 350 luxury rooms and is only accessible by helicopter or boat. For a whopping $28,000 per night, we can't imagine how much it's underwater restaurant will cost.
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8. Hydropolis
Location: Dubai, UAE
Architect: Roland Dieterle
This project was scheduled to be completed in 2010, and no construction has occurred yet, but the futuristic plans still look pretty dope. One reason for the delay may be that this would be the most expensive hotel ever built at a mind-blowing €300 million.
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7. The Water Discus
Location: Dubai, UAE
Architect: Deep Ocean Technology
Dubai has all the coolest underwater hotels, and this one is no exception. We think it looks like a mix between Star Wars and Atlantis.
6. ReefWorld
Location: Queensland, Australia
Architect: Richard Hywel Evans
FantaSea Cruises are taking their ocean adventures to the next level with this floating haven for their guests.
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5. Hilton's Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort,
Location: Maldive Islands
Architect: M.J. Murphy Ltd.
This hotel boasts one of the dopest underwater restaurants we've ever seen: the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant.
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4. Utter Inn
Location: Vasteras, Sweden
Architect: Mikael Genberg
This underwater inn doubles as a private island, and at $169 per night, it's a budget alternative to the below-sea experience offered in Dubai.
3. Atlantis The Palm
Location: Dubai, UAE
Architect: Kerzner International Resorts
There are Atlantis hotels around the world, but the one in Dubai has something special. The hotel balances five star comfort with the underwater experience. Even if you don't want to pay for the $8,835 per night underwater rooms, the hotel boasts an underwater restaurant and a water-slide that safely (or so they say) catapults you into a shark-infested lagoon.
2. Jules' Undersea Lodge
Location: Key Largo, Florida
Architects: Neil Monney and Ian Koblick
This underwater lodge was converted from an underwater research habitat and is now open to the public.
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1. Poseidon Undersea Resort
Location: Katafinga Island, Fiji
Architect: L. Bruce Jones
This awesome hotel was supposed to be completed in the late 2000s, but construction has yet to start. We coudn't afford the $30,000 per night rooms anyway.
