The Best Underwater Hotels
JULES UNDERSEA LODGE
Jules’ Undersea Lodge was named after the author of the famed maritime tale 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This is the world’s first underwater hotel. Originally built in the early 1970s as an innovative research lab off the coast of Puerto Rico, the Lodge has been in business in Key Largo, Florida since relocating there and opening its hatch to the public in 1986.
This concept by Jules’ Undersea Lodge is truly innovative and had claimed status as the world’s only underwater lodging available to the public until recent years when ecotourism has become all the rage. Many celebrities have enjoyed a stay including Steve Tyler of Aero smith, John Fishman of Phish and former Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau.
Visitors to Jules who are not certified divers will go through a 3-hour crash course in scuba diving before shacking up in their room for the night. After all, the entrance to the hotel is 21 feet underwater on the sea floor. In addition to the scuba crash course, the staff of Jules’ Undersea Lodge offers extensive scuba certification courses and diving excursions. After diving down and resurfacing through the wet room entrance, residents can doff their scuba dress and enjoy all the conveniences of modern life 21 feet below the surface.
This concept by Jules’ Undersea Lodge is truly innovative and had claimed status as the world’s only underwater lodging available to the public until recent years when ecotourism has become all the rage. Many celebrities have enjoyed a stay including Steve Tyler of Aero smith, John Fishman of Phish and former Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau.
Visitors to Jules who are not certified divers will go through a 3-hour crash course in scuba diving before shacking up in their room for the night. After all, the entrance to the hotel is 21 feet underwater on the sea floor. In addition to the scuba crash course, the staff of Jules’ Undersea Lodge offers extensive scuba certification courses and diving excursions. After diving down and resurfacing through the wet room entrance, residents can doff their scuba dress and enjoy all the conveniences of modern life 21 feet below the surface.
Patrons marvel at clear views sea life in their natural settings through 42-inch windows. Completely stored with modern conveniences like air-conditioning, hot showers, a stereo and a DVD player this hotel is perfect for the romantic getaway or the adventurer who truly desires a unique experience. Once underwater, visitors do not have to resurface until they desire. Dinner and breakfast are provided by the world’s only “mer-chef” and delivered promptly at 6:00PM and 8:00AM.
UTTER INN
Underwater hotels are still largely a product of a flamboyant imagination. Several are in the planning stage or are currently under construction. A man named Mikael Genberg definitely had a vivid imagination when he constructed his Utter (Otter) Inn in Vasteras, Sweden in 2000.
An artist and sculptor, Mr. Genberg chose to focus on making art for the public when he built the Utter Inn.
This one-room inn offers guests the chance to sleep 3m below the surface of Lake Mälaren about 1km from shore. The Inn resembles a large marker with the appearance of a Swedish red house with white gables.
The room offers panoramic views of the lake and an old switcheroo with the fishes. Instead of looking at fish in an aquarium, guest of the Utter are in the aquarium with the fish looking in. The Utter is truly a remarkable experience that few have known. However, it is a wildly popular destination during the summer months.
Underwater hotels are still largely a product of a flamboyant imagination. Several are in the planning stage or are currently under construction. A man named Mikael Genberg definitely had a vivid imagination when he constructed his Utter (Otter) Inn in Vasteras, Sweden in 2000.
An artist and sculptor, Mr. Genberg chose to focus on making art for the public when he built the Utter Inn.
This one-room inn offers guests the chance to sleep 3m below the surface of Lake Mälaren about 1km from shore. The Inn resembles a large marker with the appearance of a Swedish red house with white gables.
The room offers panoramic views of the lake and an old switcheroo with the fishes. Instead of looking at fish in an aquarium, guest of the Utter are in the aquarium with the fish looking in. The Utter is truly a remarkable experience that few have known. However, it is a wildly popular destination during the summer months.
HYDROPOLIS
One of the underwater hotels is the Crescent Hydropolis of Dubai. Dubai has become infamous in recent years for its spectacularly modern architecture.
It seems the wildest architectural dreams become reality here. At a cost of some $550 million, the luxury resort is built on the Persian Gulf floor, 66 feet below the surface. The project covers 27 acres and is composed of an above ground “land station” connected by a 1700-foot transparent train tunnel to the undersea hotel that resembles the shape of a jellyfish.
The suites that are 220 in number will be bubble-shaped, with clear glass comprising both the sleeping area walls and the bathtubs.
One of the underwater hotels is the Crescent Hydropolis of Dubai. Dubai has become infamous in recent years for its spectacularly modern architecture.
It seems the wildest architectural dreams become reality here. At a cost of some $550 million, the luxury resort is built on the Persian Gulf floor, 66 feet below the surface. The project covers 27 acres and is composed of an above ground “land station” connected by a 1700-foot transparent train tunnel to the undersea hotel that resembles the shape of a jellyfish.
The suites that are 220 in number will be bubble-shaped, with clear glass comprising both the sleeping area walls and the bathtubs.
POSEIDON UNDERWATER RESORT
Another underwater hotel opened in 2009 that is the Poseidon of Fiji. This resort is being built 40 feet underwater. Another 5-star resort, the Poseidon is the brainchild of American submarine engineer, Bruce Jones. The novels of Jules Verne and movies like “The Amphibian Man” heavily influenced Mr. Jones
Each guest will have a personal Triton submarine at his or her disposal for exploring within the lagoon. For expeditions to the area’s depths, tours on a 16-passenger luxury submarine will be provided.
Activities are also available on Poseidon Mystery Island that has been artificially constructed for the resort’s purposes. A standard 550 sq. foot suite can be had for about $1500 a night.
Visitors will be able to see everything from their rooms through transparent acrylic walls and even feed fish swimming by.
Another underwater hotel opened in 2009 that is the Poseidon of Fiji. This resort is being built 40 feet underwater. Another 5-star resort, the Poseidon is the brainchild of American submarine engineer, Bruce Jones. The novels of Jules Verne and movies like “The Amphibian Man” heavily influenced Mr. Jones
Each guest will have a personal Triton submarine at his or her disposal for exploring within the lagoon. For expeditions to the area’s depths, tours on a 16-passenger luxury submarine will be provided.
Activities are also available on Poseidon Mystery Island that has been artificially constructed for the resort’s purposes. A standard 550 sq. foot suite can be had for about $1500 a night.
Visitors will be able to see everything from their rooms through transparent acrylic walls and even feed fish swimming by.
HOTEL IN ISTAMBUL
More competition has arrived as Istanbul announces their intentions of opening their own underwater hotel in 2010. This hotel will be seven floors under sea level but according to the experts it may not be deep enough to really appreciate the underwater view.
The best news for those of us who don’t live near any of these places is that the company behind the Hydropolis and the Qingdao project has been making plans to build these underwater hotels all over the world. Plans are in place already for London, Monaco, Munich, New York, and the Isle of Man. However, the making of underwater hotels in the non-coastal cities like London and Munich seems a difficult and amazing thing.
More competition has arrived as Istanbul announces their intentions of opening their own underwater hotel in 2010. This hotel will be seven floors under sea level but according to the experts it may not be deep enough to really appreciate the underwater view.
The best news for those of us who don’t live near any of these places is that the company behind the Hydropolis and the Qingdao project has been making plans to build these underwater hotels all over the world. Plans are in place already for London, Monaco, Munich, New York, and the Isle of Man. However, the making of underwater hotels in the non-coastal cities like London and Munich seems a difficult and amazing thing.