If there is one continent on earth that has genuinely embraced the underwater hotel concept and taken it to its furthest possible limits, it is Asia. The Maldives has more underwater experiences for sleeping, dining, spas, and nightclubs than anywhere else in the world. Singapore has eleven underwater hotel suites beside one of the world’s largest aquariums. Shanghai has built an entire hotel into an abandoned quarry with floors submerged beneath a saltwater tank. Dubai, located in Western Asia, boasts two of the world’s most luxurious underwater suites. They sit beside a lagoon home to 65,000 marine animals.
Asia Pacific accounts for approximately 42% of global underwater hotel revenue. The reasons are easy to see. There is incredible marine life. The luxury tourism sector offers unique experiences. Plus, the geography in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia makes it simple and attractive to build underwater hotels.
This guide covers the best underwater hotels in Asia: where they are, what makes each one distinctive, and what you need to know before booking.
The Maldives: The World Capital of Underwater Hotels
The Maldives is, without question, the global epicenter of underwater hotel experiences. The Maldives is made up of 26 atolls and over 1,000 coral islands in the Indian Ocean. It has more underwater hotels, restaurants, and wellness experiences than anywhere else. And it keeps adding more.
The Muraka — Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
The benchmark for luxury underwater sleeping anywhere in the world.
The Muraka — “coral” in the Dhivehi language — is the most celebrated underwater hotel room in Asia, and arguably on earth. Opened in 2018, this private villa cost $15 million to build. It has two stories. The master bedroom and bathroom sit five meters below the Indian Ocean, covered by a 180-degree curved acrylic dome.
The underwater bedroom boasts floor-to-ceiling windows. These provide guests with a clear view of the house reef. They can watch clownfish, stingrays, sharks, and sea turtles. The lagoon lights up differently at various times of day and night. Above the waterline, the villa contains additional bedrooms, a gym, an infinity pool, butler’s quarters, and direct sea access.
The service is amazing. You get a private butler, a personal chef, and a marine biologist concierge. Plus, you arrive by seaplane right at the villa’s pontoon. Rack rates routinely exceed $15,000 USD per night. The villa is almost perpetually fully booked — advance reservations of six months to a year are not unusual.
The resort also features Ithaa, the world’s first all-glass undersea restaurant. It sits 16 feet below sea level and has twelve seats. Guests enjoy stunning views of the coral garden.
Location: North Malé Atoll, Maldives Best for: Ultimate luxury honeymoons and once-in-a-decade celebrations.
Pullman Maldives Maamutaa — Aqua Villa
The most accessible luxury underwater bedroom in the Maldives.
Pullman Maldives Maamutaa is a generous five-star all-inclusive resort in the Southern Maldives. The two Aqua Villas offer a great balance. They sit between the high cost of The Muraka and a typical overwater bungalow. Each Aqua Villa is 1,216 square feet and has two bedrooms. One bedroom is above the waterline with a view of the lagoon. The other is submerged beneath the turquoise surface. This sleek underwater room has floor-to-ceiling windows. These windows showcase the resort’s colorful coral reef and its marine life. Sea turtles, reef fish, and the mesmerizing motion of coral-filtered light become the room’s living wallpaper.
The resort’s all-inclusive nature makes Aqua Villa a more predictable choice in the Maldives. Meals, drinks, snorkeling, and non-motorized water activities are all included in the package. The resort is accessed via a 65-minute domestic flight from Malé to Kooddoo Airport followed by a 15-minute speedboat.
Location: Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Maldives Best for: Couples wanting luxury underwater sleeping with all-inclusive convenience at a more accessible price point.
Huvafen Fushi — The World’s First Underwater Spa
The world’s only underwater spa treatment rooms.
Huvafen Fushi, in North Malé Atoll, has a unique claim. It features PEARL, the first and only underwater spa treatment rooms. These rooms sit eight meters below the ocean’s surface.
The spa features two underwater couple’s treatment rooms. Here, therapists provide massages, body treatments, and holistic therapies. Guests can enjoy stunning reef views through floor-to-ceiling glass. Receiving a massage while reef sharks and tropical fish drift past at eye level is an experience that exists nowhere else in Asia. Huvafen Fushi wrapped up a key renovation in 2024. They enhanced the resort while still keeping PEARL’s unique location. The resort is under 30 kilometers from Malé. This makes it one of the most convenient underwater experiences in the Maldives.
Location: North Malé Atoll, Maldives Best for: Wellness-focused travellers; those who want a world-first underwater experience without the price of an underwater bedroom.
Anantara Kihavah Maldives — SEA Restaurant and Underwater Wine Cellar
The most comprehensively multi-dimensional underwater experience in the Maldives.
Anantara Kihavah in the Baa Atoll offers one of the best underwater experiences at any resort. The SEA restaurant offers fine dining with ocean views. Diners can watch turtles, sharks, and tropical fish swim by as they enjoy a gourmet Maldivian lobster menu. The underwater wine cellar is said to be the only one of its kind in the world. It’s open for private tastings and can be seen from the dining room. The resort also has glass-bottomed bathtubs in its overwater villas, giving guests a preview of the reef below while soaking.
The resort is in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Baa Atoll’s rich marine life offers stunning views from the restaurant and wine cellar. It’s one of the best underwater dining experiences in the world.
Location: Baa Atoll, Maldives Best for: Food and wine enthusiasts; those wanting a comprehensive underwater experience across multiple settings.
Niyama Private Islands — Subsix Underwater Bar, Restaurant and Nightclub
The world’s first underwater nightclub.
Subsix at Niyama Private Islands is the first underwater nightclub in the world. It sits six meters below the Indian Ocean and you can reach it by speedboat. The descent features a three-tier illuminated staircase. It’s adorned with Italian abstract chandeliers. You arrive in a space shaped by clam-like curves and capiz shell ceiling waves.
By day, Subsix operates as a restaurant for Champagne brunches and Nikkei-fusion lunches. At night, it becomes a nightclub with glow parties, underwater DJ sets, and private events. You can dance six meters below the Indian Ocean while reef life swims by the windows. This experience is unique in the world.
Location: Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives Best for: Those who want the most festive, social, and extraordinary underwater evening experience in Asia; private event planners.
Hurawalhi Island Resort — 5.8 Undersea Restaurant
The world’s largest all-glass underwater restaurant.
Hurawalhi Island Resort in Lhaviyani Atoll features 5.8. It’s named for its depth of 5.8 meters below sea level. This restaurant is the largest all-glass underwater dining spot in the world. It can host up to ten guests at once. Guests enjoy five-course lunches and seven-course dinners. The setting features a vibrant coral reef. Private Champagne breakfasts are available on request.
The cozy setting makes it one of the most exclusive dining spots in the Maldives, especially for couples. Most tables seat two, and the views of marine life are amazing.
Location: Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives Best for: Fine dining enthusiasts; couples on honeymoon seeking the world’s largest underwater dining room.
Singapore: Equarius Ocean Suites, Resorts World Sentosa
Southeast Asia’s only underwater hotel — and one of the most accessible in Asia.
Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island features eleven two-story underwater suites. These suites open right into the S.E.A. Aquarium, one of the largest in the world. It is home to over 40,000 fish spread across 50 different habitats.
Each Ocean Suite has two levels. The upper floor features a large living area, a patio, and a hot tub. The lower bedroom has a floor-to-ceiling window that faces the Open Ocean Habitat. Here, sharks, rays, and schools of fish swim by the glass. Butler service, a free minibar, and exclusive pool access are standard. Prices usually stay below $2,000 USD per night. This makes these suites much more affordable than those in the Maldives. You still get a truly world-class underwater bedroom experience.
Singapore’s infrastructure makes it easy to reach Sentosa from Changi Airport. The resort has Universal Studios and many dining options. Plus, the city offers world-class attractions. This setup makes it the best place in Asia for an underwater hotel experience, without the hassle of remote island logistics.
Location: Sentosa Island, Singapore Best for: Families; first-time underwater hotel guests; those combining an underwater stay with a Singapore city trip.
China: InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland
Asia’s most architecturally audacious underwater hotel.
The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is not located in the ocean. It’s in an abandoned quarry in southwest Shanghai. It goes down eighteen stories underground. At the two lowest levels, guest rooms and a restaurant sit below a custom saltwater aquarium. This aquarium is home to reef fish, sharks, and stingrays.
The Duplex Suite Underwater View rooms feature windows that open directly to the aquarium. This design makes you feel like you’re living in a stunning glass tank. Butler service, 55-inch smart TVs, and walk-in closets enhance a stay that usually costs under $1,500 USD per night. This makes it Asia’s most affordable luxury underwater hotel room. A grand ballroom, an outdoor climbing wall, and a waterfall tumbling down the quarry face create a stunning setting. Guests feel genuine awe when they arrive for the first time.
Location: Songjiang District, Shanghai, China Best for: Architecture enthusiasts; city travellers wanting an underwater experience in Mainland China; best value luxury on this list.
Dubai (UAE): Atlantis, The Palm Underwater Suites
Asia’s most opulent underwater hotel experience.
Atlantis, The Palm has two amazing underwater suites: Poseidon and Neptune. They span three stories and have private elevators. Guests enjoy 24-hour butler service and private hot tubs. The lower-level bedrooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, offering views into the Ambassador Lagoon. This stunning aquarium is home to over 65,000 marine animals, including sharks, rays, and tropical fish. At approximately $15,000 USD per night, they match The Muraka for price and drama.
The broader resort offers waterparks, the Ossiano underwater restaurant, and Aquaventure. This family-friendly ecosystem has more entertainment options than Maldives properties. So, Dubai is the better choice for families seeking an underwater suite experience with a complete resort holiday.
Location: Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE Best for: Luxury families; those combining underwater accommodation with the full Dubai resort experience.
Quick Reference: Underwater Hotels in Asia at a Glance
| Property | Country | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Muraka, Conrad Maldives | Maldives | ~$15,000+ USD/night | Ultimate luxury; honeymoons |
| Aqua Villa, Pullman Maamutaa | Maldives | All-inclusive pricing | Accessible luxury; couples |
| PEARL Spa, Huvafen Fushi | Maldives | From ~$285 per treatment | Wellness; spa lovers |
| SEA Restaurant, Anantara Kihavah | Maldives | Restaurant experience | Multi-experience stays |
| Subsix, Niyama Private Islands | Maldives | From ~$200pp dining | Nightlife; events; social |
| 5.8 Restaurant, Hurawalhi | Maldives | Restaurant experience | Fine dining; couples |
| Equarius Ocean Suites, RWS | Singapore | Under $2,000 USD/night | Families; first-timers |
| InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland | China | Under $1,500 USD/night | Architecture; best value |
| Atlantis Underwater Suites | Dubai, UAE | ~$15,000 USD/night | Luxury families; Dubai visits |
Planning Your Asian Underwater Hotel Trip
Getting to the Maldives: All Maldives resorts are accessed via Malé Velana International Airport, then by seaplane or speedboat, depending on the atoll. The dry season (December to April) offers the clearest visibility and most stable weather. May to November brings manta ray season and generally lower rates.
Getting to Singapore: Sentosa Island is accessible from Singapore’s MRT network, reachable from Changi Airport within 30 minutes. You can usually book the Equarius Ocean Suites weeks in advance, not months. This is a big plus compared to options in the Maldives.
Getting to Shanghai: The InterContinental Wonderland is in Songjiang District, approximately 40 kilometers from central Shanghai. A private transfer or hotel shuttle is the most practical approach.
Getting to Dubai: Atlantis, The Palm is on the Palm Jumeirah, 30–40 minutes from Dubai International Airport (DXB). Book the underwater suites six to twelve months in advance for peak season (November to April).
Underwater hotels in Asia provide some of the best and most exciting options for stays beneath the waves. The Maldives has the most underwater hotel experiences in the world. It features the luxury of The Muraka and the first underwater nightclub, Subsix. No other country offers as much. Singapore makes the experience accessible without a seaplane journey. Shanghai makes it architecturally extraordinary at a fraction of the typical price. Dubai makes it opulent beyond all reasonable expectations.
Whatever your budget, travel style, or appetite for aquatic novelty, Asia has an underwater hotel experience to match it.
