Jules’ Undersea Lodge, 21 feet under the Sea

The Jules Undersea Lodge is an extremely extraordinary location in every sense of the word. The Jules Lodge is located in Key Largo, Florida and is 9 meters (21 feet) deep underwater. What is different in Jules’ Lodge from the other under water destinations of the world (including those under construction) is that there is no underground tunnel that leads to the hotel, but guests are actually required to scuba dive down to the front door of the lodge!

The hotel is the first under water hotel and is the only one of its kind in the United States. It opened in 1986 at the bottom of Emerald Lagoon. The Jules Lodge is the brainchild of Neil Monney and Ian Koblick. These developers have over half a century of experience in ocean research. These pioneers have monitored every operation connected to the Lodge, and have paid attention to every minute detail.

Entering the Lodge

To go into the Jules Lodge, one has to dive 9 meters (21 feet) beneath the sea level, through the tropical mangrove vegetation. Guest enter through an opening at the bottom of the Lodge, coming into the five by seven foot “moon pool”, at the lodge’s wet room where guests can take off the scuba gear, take a shower in the cubicle and start their stay in the underwater lodge.

The structure was not always a Lodge; La Chulpa research laboratory functioned over here in the 1970’s. Another point of distinction for the Lodge is that it is the first underwater research laboratory to open its doors to people wishing to stay.

The Lodge

A perfect mixture of adventure and comfort, the Lodge can accommodate upto 6 people at a time. The entire Jules Lodge building is underwater, supported by five feet long legs standing on the lagoons bottom. The entire Lodge is filled with highly compressed air, which keeps water from getting into the place.  The living space is completely air conditioned, and has two bed rooms and a common room. The common room comprises of the galley, entertainment and dining areas. Each bed room is fitted with a host of facilities like telephone, intercom, D V D players, and ihome services.

But these comforts pale in comparison to the rooms’ highlight. Each room has a huge 42 inch window that offers spectacular views of the under water.

Every step has been taken with regards to safety. The Lodge operations are subject to twenty four seven monitoring from a control room at the edge of the Emerald Lagoon. An umbilical cable connects the Lodge to the control room, and is the medium for air, water, energy and communications. The Lodge has independent systems for support, as also extensive back up systems.

Diving

Tropical angelfish, parrotfish, barracuda and snappers are visible from the windows. Guests at the Lodge are given scuba gear with unlimited supply of tanks.

The Lodge offers extended diving packages called “saturation” dives; guests part of the luxury packages can spend a total of 22 diving hours, if they surface at regular intervals.

There are also packages that come with the opportunity to earn the Aquanaut Certificate, which is a qualification for underwater habitat, aquanaut dives.

Even guests who have never scuba dived before are welcomed here. A training procedure is undergone by non divers before they can dive accompanied by the Lodge’s diving instructors. Complete dive certification is also offered by the Lodge in the very short time of 3 days as well as specialty courses.

The Marine Lab, underwater laboratory for research and education, is open for visitors.

A replica of a Spanish Galleon wreck in San Pedro is used to study marine archeology techniques.

Future Plans

Bigger and better destinations are on the card. The future hotel structures will be designed using concrete and acrylic, will be larger and will offer exceptional views from larger windows.