The world’s first all-glass undersea restaurant has opened at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa on the Island of Rangali.

The restaurant, called Ithaa – meaning ‘pearl’ in the Maldives’ language of Dhivehi – is situated on the seabed, six metres beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean.

All the walls of the restaurant are transparent, offering 180 degree views of the surrounding marine life and coral reef.

Ithaa can seat 14 diners at a time and is reached by a wooden walkway from the nearby Sunset Grill restaurant.

Guests begin their meal with drinks on a specially constructed deck on the surface before descending to the restaurant via a special staircase.

Ithaa offers western infused contemporary Maldivian cuisine and is exclusively for guests staying at the resort. Ithaa is Hilton’s fifth restaurant on the Rangali Island.