Built to create appeal for an island resort without a beach, the first overwater bungalows appeared in 1967 on the French Polynesian island of Raiatea. Instead of TVs, the three thatch-roofed cottages had what the American owners called Tahitian Television: plexiglass panels set into the floor where guests could gaze at the marine life below. Today, there are nearly 1,000 overwater bungalows throughout the region: Here are a few of our favorites.

Built to create appeal for an island resort without a beach, the first overwater bungalows appeared in 1967 on the French Polynesian island of Raiatea. Instead of TVs, the three thatch-roofed cottages had what the American owners called Tahitian Television: plexiglass panels set into the floor where guests could gaze at the marine life below. Today, there are nearly 1,000 overwater bungalows throughout the region: Here are a few of our favorites.