An Underwater Hotel Is Opening In The Great Barrier Reef

We've all dreamt of living under the sea at some point in our lives - Sebastian from The Little Mermaid made the whole idea seem pretty tempting.

Thankfully, the experience of spending at least one night sleeping with the fishes is now becoming a reality. The Great Barrier Reef is soon to have its first underwater hotel built just off Lady Musgrave Island in the south of the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Marine Park.

The 36-metre floating pontoon will have three levels, one of which will descend three-metres underwater providing submersed aquarium accommodation for up to 24 people.

Each room will have 360 degree views of the one of the most treasured coral reef systems on the planet, while upstairs the pontoon will act as a base for snorkeling, diving and glass bottom boat tours.

"It will also host an underwater observatory with UV lighting, so visitors can experience the reef at night," said the Queensland State Minister for Tourism, Kate Jones.

The State Government is contributing $1 million to the development of the hotel which is planned to be solar powered and made partly of recyclable materials, with construction looking to be complete by April 2020.

The Great Barrier Reef depends largely on tourism revenue to fund preservation and protection and the new hotel is expected to attract more than $1.8 million in visitor expenditure each year.

An all-inclusive two-day, one-night stay will set you back around $550, which in all honesty seems like a steal. After all, how often do you get to say you went on a tropical holiday and also helped save one of the world's most iconic natural wonders?