So It's Underwater, But The Manta Resort's Submerged Room Is Not What I'd Hoped For.

Everyone is buzzing about Africa's first underwater hotel room. Opened as the Manta Resort's newest attraction on November 1, 2013, the sub-aquatic accommodation floats in a circular blue hole in the coral reef near Pemba Island, off the East Coast of Tanzania.




I was very excited when I heard that an actual underwater hotel room could be booked, but I was expecting one of these:


Instead, the Manta Resort's Underwater Room is really more of a submerged observation cubicle.




The top floor, which sits above sea-level, is basically an open-air deck like a floating raft with a bed upon it. Here guests can relax, take in the idyllic Indian Ocean surroundings and soak up some sun or gaze at the stars.



Beneath the top deck is a level with a lounge, a shower, a bar and a cozy sofa/ built in bench and table.



The bottom floor is a small square, claustrophobic-inducing box submerged to the depth of four meters. A bedroom with inset windows, hardly "walled entirely in glass" as it has been described.





It most certainly does offer surreal views of passing sea-life and at night, the nocturnal sea life illuminated by spotlights is breathtaking. And yes, it's true, most of the occupants will be spending time above on the deck or looking out the windows below.





But given the glut of underwater hotel designs and proposals, this is where we can stay?

Where are the rooms that look like those proposed in The Poseidon Resort, and The Discus Hotel? Even the actual Underwater Spa treatment rooms at the LIME, Hufaven Fushi are prettier.


above: The proposed underwater bedrooms at the Water Discus Hotel


above: the underwater treatment rooms at the LIME spa in the Maldives

The gorgeous photos of the Manta Resort's underwater room from the exterior by Jesper Anhede are lovely. And, to be fair, the Manta Resort in Pemba, Tanzania has lots to offer in terms of activities: scuba diving, sailing, gorgeous white sand beaches, massage, spa treatments and exotic underwater life to observe. But come on, couldn't they have decorated that room a little better?

An overhead view of the Manta Resort on Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa:


The vacation innovation was designed by Swedish installation artist and sculptor Mikael Genberg. He's the brains behind the Utter Inn, an underwater room built in a lake near Stockholm, and is currently contemplating putting a Swedish-style cottage on the moon.

Funding was achieved via a newly formed company registered in Zanzibar, Genberg Art UW Limited, which represents a collaboration between several Swedish and Tanzanian investors, including Genberg Underwater Hotels, Christer and Jacky Abrahamsson, Hans Elis Johansson and Michael Wild.

The underwater room can be 'added' to your bookings for a night or two at the Manta Resort for $1500 ($750 per person) as opposed to being booked as your sole room. They do offer special prices for divers.

prices and packages
The Manta Resort
images courtesy of Photographer Jesper Anhede


What about those cool looking underwater bedrooms shown in this post? Check those out at the links below:

• The Poseidon Resort and the H2Ome
• The Water Discus Hotel
• The Underwater Spa, LIME at Huvafen Fushi

Water Discus Is Another Proposed Underwater Hotel. Will Someone Please Build One Of These? 27 Awesome Images.

Water Discus is yet another proposed underwater hotel which, like the previous ones I've posted, would amaze me if it ever comes to fruition*.

*(note that previous underwater and floating architectural companies I have blogged about, Aquadomi and Oceanic Creations have since disappeared or declared bankruptcy)



DOT (Deep Ocean Technology) explains the rationale behind the concept: “Top-rated resorts offering luxurious conditions and amenities have become the new standard for active leisure. A wide selection of luxury hotels can be found in virtually every part of the world. But we bring you a deluxe hotel combined with a real marine adventure and breath-taking views found only in the heart of the ocean.”




The view from your room:


The Water Discus has been designed by Deep Ocean Technology in Gdynia, Poland, which has patented the modular design comprised of two discs - an underwater and above-water one.




This combination will allow guests to admire the depths of the ocean while making the most of the warm climate. The two parts of the structure are connected by five solid legs and a vertical shaft containing a lift and stairway. The size of each disc has been adjusted to local conditions.

The Surroundings:


The complex is surrounded by a beautifully vibrant coral reef. This unique location will allow you to enjoy the tropical weather and the colourful underwater world, which is just within your reach and will engage all your senses.

Accommodations:
The disc, located up to 10 metres beneath the surface of the sea, is composed of 21 hotel rooms adjacent to the underwater dive centre and a bar. Each room is integrated with the underwater world as closely as possible, offering a surprisingly direct, yet safe contact with the local flora and fauna.








Special lighting system of the area around the room and the miniature underwater vehicles which can be operated from inside will allow you to take a closer look at even the most microscopic underwater creatures using macro photography. We also ensure that our guests can protect their privacy whenever necessary. All rooms are sound-proof and have curtains of different levels of transparency.

Entertainment:


The disc and its adjacent satellites located 5 - 7 metres above the water surface comprise a restaurant, a spa and a special recreation area.



A multifunctional lobby built inside an enormous swimming pool shows the centre of the disc. The area around the underwater part of the complex and diving activities may be watched as they happen on the screens hanging on the lobby walls.





This part of the complex is connected to the satellites with awe-inspiring glass-walled tunnels cutting through a training pool for divers. Its rooftop includes seawater swimming pools (integrated with the training pool). Finally, there is also an exotic garden offering a moment's rest before going back to extreme experiences.





Cuisine
Our elegant and spacious restaurant is a perfect place to regenerate body and soul after a day filled with exciting diving excursions or energetic water sports. The restaurant is located in one of the satellites of the upper discs. Like all rooms in the complex, it offers a magnificent panoramic view.



Module structure
Due to its unique design, Water Discus can be expanded into a bigger resort complex. One of its most notable advantages is that it can be customised to suit the surroundings and the clients.



A single Water Discus is an independent structure with a usable area of approximately 1000 m2 fully equipped to ensure a high level of safety and comfort. It can serve as an individual module - a component of a bigger complex.





Space
A number of such individual modules may be used to build a hotel complex of minimum 2000 m2, which can be further extended with additional modules (1000 - 1500 m2 each).

Location
The aforementioned complex may be constructed anywhere in the world. Each design will be tailor-made to suit its future users and local conditions, such as the shape of the coastal line and depth of water around the coral reef.

Mobility
If any changes in environmental or economic conditions occur, the Water Discus modules can be transferred to a different place. This offers a unique opportunity to live underwater on a permanent basis with unlimited options to change locations. The mobility makes changes in interior design of a hotel much easier, as any disc can be detached and replaced with a new one.

images courtesy of DOT and Trojmiasto

Promotional animated video:

Drowning In Brands. Underwater Rosae Still Life Logo Series by Alexander James.

A series of identifiable and popular brand logos comprised of red roses and photographed underwater using the subtle light distortions of the water's own energy. From Louis Vuitton to Nike, the rose logos were captured 'in camera' without the use of post production, either traditional or digital.

Apple:


By taking the red roses, a symbol of unrelenting love, and juxtaposing against a deep dark void, London based photographer Alexander James is making a social commentary on how we ourselves are drowning in a society dominated by a reverence towards branding and celebrity.

Chanel:

McDonalds:

Louis Vuitton:

Mercedes Benz:

Gucci:

Nike:

Volkswagon:

Yves Saint-Laurent:

Fendi:

Givenchy:

images courtesy of the artist and Distil Ennui Studio

About Alexander's work practice in his own words:
"My photographs are always presented ‘as-shot’ without post production either traditional or digital. It is this dedication to ‘in camera’ purity that establishes a predominant focal point for my practice.

The quality of the work and the purity of the process is paramount, distilling elements out with the use of deep blacks; hoping to convey rich layers of meaning in what at first appear deceptively simple images.

Distil Ennui; def... to extract the essence and beauty of life to appease world weariness."

Alexander James is represented by Pertwee Anderson & Gold