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ENT PAGE LUXURY INDEX | JANUARY 2011 JANUARY 2011 | AFFLUENT PAGE LUX

The Conrad Maldives underwater suite makes a grand splash.

By Enid Harlow

R A d M A l d i v e S

Rangali is connected by a 1,6bridge to its neighboring islandRangalifnolhu. Together, theseislands orm the Conrad MaldResort and Spa.

When you frst see the entrywato Ithaa, you may be disappointed. A small, thatched hut locat the edge o the Indian Ocean in the Republic o Maldivestructure hardly looks like a portal to an underwater worldthat is precisely what it is.

However, lets go back to the begi nning. The CroCompany owns Rangali Island, one o the uninhabited islo the Republic o Maldives, located in the Indian Oand composed o a double chain o 26 atolls. Ranconnected by a 1,640- oot bridge to its neighboring isRangali inolhu. Together, these islands or m the CoMaldives Resort and Spa.


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In February 2004, Crown Company selected Mike Muo M.J. Murphy Ltd., a design consultancy based in Zealand, to design and supervise the construction revolutionary underwater restaurant. Murphy proposed a debased on his companys 16- oot-wide acrylic tunnel, a dconcept which had been used to great acclaim in the NatioScience Centre Aquarium in Kuala Lumpur. Initially, Muplanned to construct the restaurant on the beach o Rana ter which the construction would be care ully winched into the water on rails. Technical concerns were rahowever, and the restaurant was ultimately built in SingapIt was named Ithaa, meaning pearl in Dhivehi, or Maldivthe national language o the Maldives.

Throughout the summer and all o 2004, its steel strwas built and painted, concrete ballast was added and aarches were installed, along with air conditioning.

On Nov. 1, 2004, with construction completed, Ithaa transported by an ocean-going barge to the Maldives. A16-day voyage, the restaurant, constructed o R-Castand weighing 175 tons, arr ived. Over the course o one daMaldivian men loaded an additional 85 tons o sand ballasthe belly o the structure.

On Nov. 19, 2004, the entire creation was sunk into the and secured to our steel piles that had been vibro-hamminto the seabed 16 eet below. The next day, divers poconcrete into the piles to lock Ithaa into place. Crown Compthen built a connecting jetty that would serve as the entrato the amazing underwater restaurant. Remarkably, these swithstood the impact o the terrible tsunami that strucregion in December 2004.

In February 2004, Crown Coselected Mike Murphy o M.J.

Ltd., a design consultancy bNew Zealand, to design and su

the construction o a revoluunderwater restau



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Against all odds, Ithaa, the frst-ever all-glass underwater taurant, had come into existence, and on April 15, 2005, it

oudly opened its doors or business. Now enjoying its f thar, Ithaa inhabits a world like no other. Reachable only by airal staircase that descends to a 16- oot depth rom a thatchedo pavilion at the end o a jetty, its transparent acrylic roo andrved sides provide a 270-degree panoramic view o the

onders o the Indian Ocean. Tables or two are lined up onehind another on either side o the transparent walls. With aating limit o 14 (i you are counting human beings), it isimate. However, outside in the crystal blue water, the count is

mitless. Surrounded by glorious, live coral ree s home to a wideriety o creatures, Ithaa is a hotbed o marine activity.ustaceans and sponges live in these ree s, as well as whalearks that can grow to a length o 30 eet or more. Groupers,ls, turtles and snappers are passing visitors as you dine; morayls, stingrays, scorpionfsh, pu er fsh and lobsters might joinem or a turn around your table. Never will you experienceything like the color, crystal clarity and extraordinary beautythe underwater world within arms reach o your table.

Your our-course meal might start with a champagnecktail, ollowed by Sai tea, a Maldivian tea in used withdigenous plants and herbs. Ithaa o ers usion Maldivianisine, or local cooking with a Western slant. Cold startersclude seared raw yellowfn tuna with a Maldivian fsh glaze,oked seared lamb loin with tahini, and Maldivian beach grassth lime, onion and salt. Among the hot starters, youll fnd an- ried, oot-long samosa flled with vegetables, yellow curryd dried cumin, lollipop ground fsh balls with local s pices, andmplings o deep- ried mar inated ground lamb and rice. Mainurses eature grilled Maldivian lobster with reduced vanillad mint cream and gratinated with hollandaise sauce; steamede fsh; roast rack o lamb with cracked pistachios and Arabiand powder; and a poached breast o chicken flled with stewedtes and pickled lime. A bevy o desserts ollow, including as-rted chocolate-dipped rosewater candies. Prices range rom20 or lunch to $150 or dinner, depending on your hoteleal plan. Children are welcome or lunch, but its adults-onlyr dinner.

Against all odds, Ithaa, the frst-everll-glass underwater restaurant,ad come into existence.



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A ter dinner, should you wish to create a night youll remember or the rest o your li e, or a price o $11,710 and with 14 days

notice, the restaurant can be converted into a private underwater suite or two. Between your champagne dinner and break ast inbed, the evening is entirely yours; you and your beloved mightas well be the only two people in the u niverse, noticed onl yby the creatures o the deep sil ently swimming by. With your windows looking out onto the nighttime depths o the IndianOcean lit by starlight and moonlight, what more romantic settingcould be imagined?

The frst-o -its-kind underwater suite measures 16.4 eet by29.5 eet, ample space in which to enjoy an evening examiningthe wonders surrounding you. Thanks to the aid o scientists, localcoral ree s are rapidly recovering rom the bleaching caused by theextreme high temperatures o El Nio in 1998, which killed more

than two-thirds o the Maldives coral. While you are nestled in your double bed under the transparent ceiling o Ithaas underwater suite, take time to welcome back the astonishing creatures that livein these coral ree s.

This celebration o Ithaas f th anniversary is an opportunity thatshould be taken sooner rather than later. Due to its unique location,Ithaa has an expected li e span o only 20 years, particularly sinceincreasing regional sea levels could threaten the very existence o theMaldives, the lowest country in the world, within the next ew decades.

Make your reservations or the underwater suite soon and enjoythis truly spectacular view rom below.

Conrad Hotels & Resorts, 960.668.0629, www.conradhotels1.hilton.com

The irst-o -its-kind underwatersuite measures 16.4 eet by 29.5 eet,

ample space in which to enjoy anevening examining the wonders

surrounding you.

S e c t i o n t i t l e

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