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Poseidon, an underwater luxury hotel scheduled to be completed by the end of this decade. While that project is a work-in-progress, Jules' Underwater Lodge is an actual operating nook located 5 fathoms (30 feet) under the tropical mangrove habitat of the Emerald Lagoon in Key Largo, Florida. Owner and co-founders Ian Koblick and Dr. Neil Monney named their subaquatic getaway after Jules Verne, author of the literature classic "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea".
The Lodge was formerly an actual underwater research laboratory called
La Chalupa, which was set up to explore the continental shelf off the
coast of Puerto Rico. Now, it houses two air-conditioned private rooms,
complete with creature comforts such as VCR/DVD and surround sound
system. There’s also a shared multiple-purpose room, with a
well-stocked kitchen, dining and entertainment area. Compressed air
fills all the rooms and prevents water from rising and flooding them. A
24-hour land-based "Command Center" delivers fresh air, water, power
and communications via an umbilical cable, and also monitors all
operations at the Lodge, including butler services.
But to get there,
guests would first have to dive 21 feet beneath the lagoon. On their
'wet' arrival, guests emerge from a five-by-seven foot "moon pool" at
the floor of the underwater cottage, which rests on stilts five feet
off the lagoon floor. After de-gearing and a hot shower, your
underwater adventure begins. The first thing that catches your eye
would be the 42” viewport window in each bedroom, which offers a
spectacular view of the diverse wildlife. Imagine waking up to a view
of schools of beautiful parrotfish or barracudas swimming past your
window. Now who’s the one living inside an "aquarium"?
www.jul.com