ROOMS WITH THE BEST SEA VIEW

How d'ya like to stay in a hotel with an unbelievable waterfront view?

Welcome to Key Largo's Jules' Undersea Lodge.  Designed in the early 1970s as an experimental research center (& anchored neath 100' of Puerto Rican water),  it was redone a decade later & moved to Florida as the world's first  underwater hotel. 

Named after sci-fi icon Jules Verne (of '20 Thousand Leagues Under The Sea' fame), J.U.L. has all the amenities of most land bound hotels - air-conditioning, hot showers, comfy-enough beds, stereo music, VCR/DVD, a fully stocked galley plus it offers unlimited scuba - in a protected, safe area - for certified divers.

Here's the layout:

And their keyless front entry :

Ok, non divers must go through a 3-hour crash course in scuba diving on check in. 

Hey, the hotel entrance is 21 feet underwater. It just might ruin your weekend getaway if you drown trying to get in the front door.

But once inside,  resurfacing becomes your option. The place is loaded with all the scuba tanks you can breathe. 

And you can eat all meals 'in'. Dinner and breakfast are provided by the world’s only “mer-chef” and delivered promptly at 6:00PM (dinner) and 8:00AM (breakfast).

'Jules' is right in the middle of Key Largo Undersea Park, a major dive training spot.  In this sheltered deep-lagoon you can get scuba certified or take a fascinating dive/snorkel look-see.

Besides the J.U.L. there's a marine archaeology exhibit & the MarineLab underwater research/education habitat:

A. Anchor B.Balast Stones C. Cannons D. Atocha Ingots E. Training Platform F. Down Lines

OK, as you can imagine, the place ain't cheap.

Overnight packages are about $500 - $600 per person, but if there's 4 of you (& you opt for the cheaper - less extensive - 'european' plan) you'll drop $325 each.

Their Super Duper Lovers' Package is a heart stopping $1,395 per couple.

If you only want to check out the joint for 3 hours - no over night stay - you can float in & out for $125 each.

But - for the thriftiest of the thrifty - you can see it  (without entering the underwater abode) for $15.

That gets you a day of snorkeling the entire KLUP - and they'll throw in all the gear.

Now all you have to do is hold your breath - and clear your ears - for a 21' dive:

... and that underwater 'peeper' could be you.