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scubacraig.jpg Craig is temporarily a post-doctoral fellow at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute who is looking for a permanent position. He spends most of his time balancing his overwhelming geekdom with normalcy so he can function in the real world. Luckily his wife likes his geekiness.



peter_chinchorro.jpg Peter Etnoyer is a Graduate Research Associate at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He studies deep corals and ocean fronts, and he loves to be on the water.



kevvygumby%20copy.jpg Kevin Zelnio is a Graduate Student Researcher at Penn State studying the ecology of hydrothermal vent and methane seep communities. He raises awareness of the plight of the spineless through folk music.

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« Elephant Seal, Interrupted | Main | Elephant Seals »

Dinner with a Megavertebrate

Category: Industry & Government
Posted on: April 17, 2007 10:02 AM, by Peter Etnoyer

Does all this talk about migrations and megavertebrates make you hungry? Do you feel like you must eat food, but you don't want to break away from all the excitement? Teleport yourself to the world's first all glass undersea restaurant at the Hilton Maldives.

Press release below.

maldives_uw_restaurant1.jpg

The Maldives | 15 April marks the day that the first ever all-glass undersea restaurant in the world opens its doors for business at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. Ithaa* will sit five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic offering diners 270-degrees of panoramic underwater views.

"We have used aquarium technology to put diners face-to-face with the stunning underwater environment of the Maldives", says Carsten Schieck, General Manager of Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. "Our guests always comment on being blown away by the colour, clarity, and beauty of the underwater world in the Maldives, so it seemed the perfect idea to build a restaurant where diners can experience fine cuisine and take time to enjoy the views - without ever getting their feet wet."

Created by MJ Murphy Ltd, a design consultancy based in New Zealand, Ithaa's distinctive feature is the use of curved transparent acrylic walls and roof, similar to those used in aquarium attractions. "The fact that the entire restaurant except for the floor is made of clear acrylic makes this unique in the world," continues Schieck, "We are currently planting a coral garden on the reef to add to the spectacular views of the rays, sharks and many colourful fish that live around the area.

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Comments

#1

I guess "Jaws 3" never got released in The Maldives.

Posted by: miranda | April 17, 2007 7:12 PM

#2

My backup plan if my PhD doesn't work out was to open a bed and breakfast in a comfy tropical country (or sweden). I think underwater bed & breakfast is an untapped market! Just think about it... instead of sleeping under the stars, you will be sleeping under the bioluminescence... how friggin romantic is that?!

Posted by: Kevin Zelnio | April 17, 2007 7:25 PM

#3

Damn. This post makes me hungry, too.

Posted by: Jeb, FCD | April 17, 2007 11:13 PM

#4

Kevin, the market isn't entirely untapped...there's an underwater hotel in Key Largo. Jules' Undersea Lodge, whose tagline is "Have you slept underwater lately?" Check it out at
http://www.jul.com/


P.S. My backup plan if grad school didn't work out was to become a fly girl on 'In Living Color'...just think, if my GRE score had been a little lower, I might have ended up with Jennifer Lopez's career...

Posted by: Christina Kellogg | April 18, 2007 7:32 AM

#5

A fly girl? I remember thinking when I was younger how attractive they were? I saw an episode the another night on BET and my first thought was what is up with those 80's outfits. I guess we are both dated?

Posted by: CR McClain | April 18, 2007 8:54 AM

#6

I will have the steak....

I do wonder what the hours are. Assuming the sun sets at 8-9 there and being underwater makes it darker, does it close 7, 8? Of course, they could have huge lights.....

Posted by: chris | April 18, 2007 9:18 AM

#7

Just think of the cool things lights would attract! Like schools of squid...

Posted by: Kevin Zelnio | April 18, 2007 9:47 AM

#8

There was a lot of discussions about this going on in Digg, but I can't seem to find the thread now :(

Posted by: pelf | April 19, 2007 3:06 AM

#9

i hope they don't serve fish that would be a bit weird!

Posted by: miquette | April 21, 2007 1:53 AM

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