Underwater construction involves the planning, design, and execution of various structures or projects beneath the surface of water bodies, such as oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes. This branch covers a wide range of uses, such as submerged buildings for recreational or hospitality purposes, underwater tunnels, bridges, pipelines, offshore oil and gas platforms, and dams.In the oil and gas industry, offshore platforms are constructed to extract resources from beneath the seabed. Civil engineering projects may involve the construction of underwater tunnels or bridges to facilitate transportation. Hence in this modern era, the construction industry has moved towards underwater structures and in many developed countries, such type of construction has a unique preference. Today we are going to talk about the top 6 highly amazing underwater projects in the world.
Top 6 Underwater Marvels of the World
Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, Maldives
The Ithaa Undersea Restaurant is an amazing structure,the world’s first all-glass, undersea restaurant. It is located at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island in the Maldives, and it offers diners a unique and fabolous dining experience. The restaurant is 17 feet (5 meters) below the surface of the Indian Ocean, and it has panoramic views of the surrounding coral reef and marine life. The restaurant’s name, Ithaa has a beautiful meaning of “mother-of-pearl”.
Ithaa Restaurant was designed and constructed by M.J. Murphy Ltd, a New Zealand-based design firm. The restaurant is made of transparent acrylic. The restaurant is highly environmentally friendly, and guests can enjoy a six-course lunch or a seven-course dinner at the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant.
The Ithaa Undersea Restaurant has won several awards, including the World Travel Award for World’s Most Innovative Dining Experience in 2007 and 2008.
Jules Undersea Lodge, United States
The Jules Undersea Lodge is a marvelous underwater hotel of United Status located in Key Largo, Florida. It is the only underwater hotel in the United States.The Jules Undersea Lodge is a two-bedroom suite that is located 21 feet below the surface of the ocean. Lodge features large windows that offer beautiful views of the surrounding coral reef and marine life. It also has a fully stocked kitchen, a bathroom, and a living area.
Guests at the Jules Undersea Lodge can enjoy a variety of activities, including scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing. The hotel also offers a variety of excursions, such as sunset cruises and dolphin encounters.The Jules Undersea Lodge is a great center of attraction for travelers to Florida offering wonderful experiences.
Subsix, Niyama Island, Maldives
Subsix is an another unique underwater bar and it is located in proximity to Niyama Island of Maldives. The restaurant is named as “Subsix”, because it is constructed six meters below the land. The Subsix restaurant is 500 meters off the coast from the Per Aquum Niyama resort, and guest reaches to the resort by a speed boat. The construction of this innovative built bar was completed in 2015 and it was designed by a well-renowned firm named as Poole Associates Private Limited. The color theme of the restaurant matches with the theme of the ocean like marine-reef like furniture and coral reef/shell-inspired ceiling. Shortly, subsix of Niyama Island, Maldives is an awesome place for tourists to visit and experience the luxuries.
Under, Norway
Under is an underwater restaurant located in Lindesnes, Norway. It is the world’s largest underwater restaurant and its a completely unique design in Europe. The restaurant is constructed 5.5 meters below sea level and offers the guests a unique opportunity to experience marine life while enjoying a fine dining experience. It was designed by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta. The building is shaped like a giant rock and is made of concrete that has been treated to become resistant to seawater. Large windows are provided with stunning views of the seabed. The restaurant also has a research facility that is used to study marine life. Under has been highlighted in a number of publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, and Vanity Fair.
Floating Seahorse Villa
Floating Seahorse Villa is a luxurious residential unit located in “The Heart of Europe” Islands, Dubai. The resort consists of primary two levels, stairs in the upper-level lead to the bedroom, and bathroom spaces are submerged underwater in complete contrast to the upper level. The full ceiling-to-floor height windows provide a wide ocean view from the bedrooms. The luxury yacht is made up of three levels composed of different material palettes. Its design is inspired by the graceful form of the seahorse. Swedish architects Kleindienst Group designed this marvellous villa.It is a beautiful blend of engineering and imagination.
Atlantis Sanya Resort, China
Atlantis Sanya is a unique kind of resort and underwater built structure. It is built around the theme of “The lost city of Atlantis”, hence designing around the water was the theme of the resort. Located along the coast of Haitang Bay National Coast in Sanya, is a 55-story high sail-shaped hotel. The hotel is composed of 1300 hotel rooms with underwater suites (Five Deluxe suites). Aesthetically pleasing underwater suites include the Poseidon and Neptune suites. They boast about the variety of water species they care for in their open-air aquariums and water parks.
More than 320,000 square feet of retail, restaurants, and conference space can be found on the podium. The signature Atlantis Bridge Suite is located on the penthouse level of the tower. The arrival port cochere and lobby reception are built around an axis that provides views of the waterpark and the ocean. They also offer a strong cross-axial orientation to the adjacent Lost Chambers Aquarium.
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Conclusion
Underwater construction is an innovative type of construction and it highly fascinates the travellers. Underwater construction is the process of building and maintaining structures that are either partially or fully submerged in water. In the past decade, its trend is increased in construction industry worldwide and engineers are also interested in designing underwater miracles.
However, there are huge challenges and shortcomings of constructing beneath the water. Despite of all the challenges, underwater construction is a vital industry that plays a critical role in global economy. As technology advances and costs decrease, we can expect to see even more underwater construction projects in the future.