The Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo Florida gives new meaning to the phrase “sleeping with the fishes”. Aptly named an Undersea lodge, this underwater hotel is lies 21 feet below the surface of the sea and offers an Ocean view unlike any other hotel in the United States.
Named after the science fiction pioneer Jules Verne, author of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” The Jules’ Undersea Lodge is located in a tropical mangrove and once used to be the ‘La Chalupa’ marine biology research lab. Sounds like vaguely like something from the hit TV show ‘Lost’ doesn’t it? …Well, it’s surely a surreal experience.
Guests staying at the lodge must scuba dive into a deep green mangrove lagoon, housing tropical angelfish, parrotfish, barracuda, and snappers on their way to their rooms. The ex-underwater research facility that has been converted into a hotel features two bedrooms, a common room and a kitchenette. Not your fancy 5 star luxury decor by any standards, but air-conditioning, hot showers, a well stocked kitchen and a common room which doubles as a galley, dining and entertainment area with a DVD player make it a comfortable stay. But the biggest treat of staying here has to be the wet-room where one can slip seamlessly into and out of the ocean as the owners offer unlimited access to air tanks and scuba equipment to go diving from the hotel and explore the surrounding marine life which is quite stunning.
The Lodge structure itself has turned into an artificial reef with its outer walls clothed in a living blanket of colorful anemones, shells and sponges. A replica of a Spanish galleon wreck makes for an interesting dive site not far from the lodge and provides a wonderful opportunity to study the techniques of marine archaeology. And when you’re not Scuba diving, you can gaze into the light filtered green waters through one of the the big 42 inch round windows to see the incredible biodiversity surrounding as angelfish and juvenile reef fish swim by doing their own thing.
As if the unlimited diving is not cool enough, you can order room service or have the Jules’ scuba diving staff deliver a pizza from a local shop. For a little extra you can indulge in the services of a “mer-chef” who scuba dives down to the hotel to prepare and serve you gourmet dinner. Couples can even request the delivery of a surprise bouquet or cake to celebrate an anniversary or birthday of their loved one.
Rates start at $375 for an overnight stay
Contact details:
Jules’ Undersea Lodge
Key Largo, Florida
Phone: (305) 451-2353
Website: http://www.jul.com/
*Photo Credits: photos by Lee Turner on flickr
