In Brief

Underwater Hotel in Africa Lets Guests Sleep With the Fishes

The Manta Resort Underwater Room
The underwater room at The Manta Resort on Pemba Island, off the coast of Tanzania. (Image credit: Genberg Art UW Ltd | Photographer: Jesper Anhede)

If it's the life aquatic you seek, then perhaps a vacation to Africa is in order. An island resort off the coast of Tanzania recently unveiled a new underwater room that lets visitors sleep amongst the fishes.

The Manta Resort, on Pemba Island in Zanzibar, is now taking reservations for its underwater suite, which was designed by the Swedish firm Genberg Underwater Hotels. The floating structure is three stories high, with a roof deck for sunbathing by day and stargazing by night. The main floor is at sea level, and includes a bathroom and lounge area.

The bedroom downstairs sits 13 feet (4 meters) underwater and offers a unique, and immersive marine experience. Large panes of glass surround the room, giving guests nearly 360-degree views of the island's coral reefs and sea creatures. The hotel's rates for the underwater room range from $900 to $1,500 USD per night, depending on the time of year, number of people staying in the suite and duration of the visit. More information about the underwater room can be found on The Manta Resort's website.

Follow Denise Chow on Twitter @denisechow. Follow LiveScience @livescience, Facebook & Google+.

Denise Chow
Live Science Contributor

Denise Chow was the assistant managing editor at Live Science before moving to NBC News as a science reporter, where she focuses on general science and climate change. Before joining the Live Science team in 2013, she spent two years as a staff writer for Space.com, writing about rocket launches and covering NASA's final three space shuttle missions. A Canadian transplant, Denise has a bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto, and a master's degree in journalism from New York University.