You step in to a glass elevator, the doors close, and instantly you’re transported 30 feet below the surface of the ocean, where all the amenities of a modern, luxury hotel await, not to mention breathtaking views of underwater life at every turn. No, this isn’t part of the latest James Bond movie set – it’s a new, very real hotel concept that seems to be on the verge of settling the hospitality industry’s newest frontier: the ocean.
Planet Ocean Underwater Hotel recently announced that it’s actively looking for investors in the hotel and resort industry to help develop the world’s first-ever fully self-contained, luxury underwater hotel. As part of their requirement for moving forward with constructing their first prototype, they’ve also submitted a business plan for approval to the U.S. State Department and the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.
After announcing the project launch in 2015, these latest moves signal Planet Ocean’s growing momentum toward developing a collection of 15 underwater properties located in what they call “ideal sites” in oceans and regions across the globe, with the first property to be located in Cuban waters.
The company chose the locations not only for their beauty but also for their coral reef restoration potential, a core mission for Planet Ocean as they construct sustainable underwater properties. Other locations chosen for the underwater hotels are the waters around: Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Dubai, Israel, Egypt, Indonesia, Phillipines, Malaysia, Guam, Saipan, Hawaii, French Polynesia, Fiji, Bali, Panama, Bahamas, Cuba, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, and St. Maarten.
Tony Webb, Founder and Managing Director for Planet Ocean, said in a release that the company is excited “to launch an entirely new industry of inner space undersea tourism for America and other underwater host nations.”
According to Planet Ocean, the fully-submerged underwater hotels will feature approximately 12 guest rooms with views of the ocean floor, a lounge and dining area, personalized concierge service and room service, internet connectivity, and “triple-redundant safety” measures.
And, because they are being carried down to the hotel through elevators, guests do not need any special gear or scuba certifications. However, for guests that are scuba certified, there is a “miniature submarine surfacing moon pool” through which they can dive down to the property. Planet Ocean calls this a “once in a lifetime inner space tourism adventure.”
The estimated nightly rate for two guests is currently $2,500.