World's biggest underwater restaurant to open in Maldives

When the Hurawalhi Island Resort opens in November, one of its star attractions will be the "5.8" undersea restaurant named after its watery location: the unusual dining destination is set 5.8 metres (18 feet) below the lagoon.

The restaurant, which seats up to 16 guests, will allow diners to take in their marine surroundings through a transparent, domed ceiling as they tuck into a multi-course tasting menu.

If the concept sounds familiar, that's because the Maldives is already home to the world's first undersea restaurant, the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort, a big sister property to Hurawalhi.

Ithaa opened in 2005.

Likewise, the Hurawalhi restaurant is being designed by the same architects MJ Murphy, who specialise in aquarium design.

Built in New Zealand over 10 months, the 410-tonne megastructure travelled to the Maldives by cargo ship and was carefully lowered into the sea earlier this spring.

To enter the restaurant, guests enter a little hut on the jetty and climb down a spiral staircase.

Overseeing the resort's cuisine is executive chef Shannon Batten, a New Zealander who has cooked for Bill Clinton, the British royals, Rod Stewart, Bob Geldof, Neil Young, the Rolling Stones, and foreign heads of state.

The resort features 90 villas that come with modern conveniences like king-size beds, air conditioning, internet access, private porches and flat screen TVs.

Hurawalhi Island Resort and Spa is located in the Lhaviyani Atoll and opens in November.