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PEMBA ISLAND, TanzaniaMay 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Manta Resort today announced the launch of a new underwater room, offering guests and media the first opportunity to experience the next generation of underwater hospitality in the waters of Pemba Island, the lesser-known sister island of Zanzibar.
The new structure is the third generation of the concept, built upon one of the world’s earliest underwater hotel concepts, which was first introduced in 2001 in Sweden as Utter Inn, and then in 2013 in Tanzania as the Manta Underwater Room.
After more than a decade of operation, the original Manta Underwater Room has now been fully submerged and carefully placed as part of a nearby coral reef, where it will continue to exist as part of the marine ecosystem within the resort’s protected supplementary area.
Developed by Genberg Underwater Hotels, the new underwater room builds on 12 years of operational experience, with improvements in design, materials, and systems to ensure long-term performance, safety, and guest comfort in the marine environment.
Beyond the experience itself, the project reflects a broader approach to tourism. Through a partnership with the Blue Alliance Tourism Department, all proceeds from the underwater room will be directly allocated to supporting coral reef restoration, environmental monitoring, and community programs related to sustainable fisheries and local livelihoods.
Located in the Pemba Channel in the western Indian Ocean, one of East Africa’s most ecologically significant marine areas, the underwater room allows guests to closely observe coral reef life, providing a direct connection to the marine environment that also fosters conservation awareness.
“The underwater room demonstrates that a very small footprint can still have a meaningful impact. This project is not just about creating a unique accommodation experience. It shows how well-managed tourism and innovation can help protect marine ecosystems and support coastal communities,” said Matt Saus, CEO and Co-Founder of The Manta Resort.
About The Manta Resort
The Manta Resort, located on Pemba Island in Zanzibar, is a pioneer in responsible island hospitality. Since 2013, its iconic underwater room has combined tourism innovation with marine conservation. The next generation has arrived, and the experience continues beneath the Indian Ocean – regenerative tourism at its purest. themantaresort.com
Aerial footage shows the Underwater Room at The Manta Resort at night. The floating wooden structure sits in open ocean, its underwater lights illuminating marine life visible from the bedroom located three metres below the surface.
PEMBA ISLAND, Tanzania — Tropical fish swim past the bedroom window of the Underwater Room at The Manta Resort, where guests sleep three metres below the surface of the Indian Ocean.