Atlantica - 01.12.2006, Page 22

20 AT L A N T I CA
on the fly
By Edward Weinman
ROOM WITH A VIEW
has been developing Poseidon. Most guests will be
“upscale, soft adventure tourism type folks, and I’m
sure we’ll have some sub-sea aficionados who will
save up the money to book a week,” he said over the
telephone from his west coast offices.
THIS IS NO YELLOW SUBMARINE
If it’s done underwater, it started with Jacques
Cousteau. The acclaimed undersea explorer
who invented scuba diving constructed the first
underwater habitat in 1962. Conshelf 1 (Continental
Shelf Station) was built so scientists could study the
underwater world, and it was submerged in about
30 feet (10 m) of water. Cousteau imagined a colony
of these rudimentary habitats in order to further
explore the mysteries of the sea.
Springing from Cousteau’s portholes is today’s
only real underwater hotel, Jules’ Undersea Lodge,
which has been operating in Key Largo, Florida, for
20 years. Here, diving gurus fork over up to USD 500
a night to stay at a depth of 30 feet in what’s referred
to on their web site (jul.com) as a “chamber.” Luxury
it’s not. Judging from their online photos, Jules’
“chamber” is as appealing as a dungeon in a musty
castle.
So the race is on to construct a top resort for
wealthy tourists willing to pay top dollar for a
resort experience, rather than subject themselves
to submarine stations where nerdy scientists clank
around in bulky dive gear. Poseidon is just one of the
undersea resorts that are currently in the works. The
most promising are Dubai’s Hydropolis, estimated
to cost USD 1.5 billion, and Poseidon. Scheduled to
open on 14 May 2008, it looks as if Poseidon will hit
the ocean floor first, and its undersea gardens are
straight out of our wildest, futuristic fantasies.
Poseidon’s Undersea Resorts will be moored 40
feet underwater, linked to land through two surface
piers with elevators. There will be 24 staterooms, P
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It’s a life long lived by movie stars and millionaires:
vacations to tropical islands, sleeping so close to the
crystal, turquoise water and sugary sand that coconuts
fall inches away from the beach bungalow.
But today’s jet-setters want more bang for their
buck. Ocean views and infinity pools are no longer
luxurious enough for the rich and famous. No, the
international glitterati desire to be so close to the
beach that they’re staying underwater.
Welcome to Poseidon Undersea Resorts, which this
January will start accepting reservations for rooms
– yet to be built – with views of sharks and sea turtles
swimming amongst the brain coral.
Yes, guests actually sleep underwater. Well, those
possessing bank accounts not drained by spending
USD 15,000 per person a week can enjoy pampered
luxury at Poseidon Undersea Resorts, located on – and
under – a private island in Fiji.
“It’s relatively expensive,” says Bruce Jones, the
President of U.S. Submarines Inc., who conceived and
The race is on to build the world’s first underwater luxury resort hotel. How much are you willing to pay to sleep with the fishes?
BY EDWARD WEINMAN.
009 airmail Atlantica 606.indd 20 20.10.2006 9:11:41