DEEP-SEA RESORT IS UNIQUE 

IT'S BEEN 117 YEARS SINCE FRENCH AUTHOR JULES VERNE WROTE HIS MEMORABLE "VINGT MILLE LIEUES SOUS LES MERS" OR "TWENTY THOUSANDS LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA". TODAY TWO NEW DREAMERS HAVE PROVIDED A MOST UNIQUE UNDERWATER HOTEL CALLED, NATURALLY, JULES' UNDERSEA LODGE.

DR. NEIL MONNEY, AND IAN KOBLICK ARE THE CO-DEVELOPERS WHO, WITH CONCEPT DESIGNER AND SHAREHOLDER GARY GERBERG, RECENTLY OPENED THE WORLD'S FIRST LUXURY UNDERSEA HABITAT FOR THE PUBLIC IN KEY LARGO, FLORIDA -- A SPOT THAT LAST GAINED FAME IN A HUMPHREY BOGART MOVIE.

TRADITIONAL HOTEL GUESTS MIGHT BE A BIT UPSET WHEN THEY NOTICE THE LODGE'S BIKINI-CLAD BELLHOP PLACING THEIR LUGGAGE IN A PLASTIC BAG, ATTACHING WEIGHTS AND THEN THROWING IT INTO THE SEA. HOWEVER, GUESTS TO THIS FUTURISTIC UNDERWATER HOTEL ARE EAGER TO FOLLOW THEIR BAGS DOWN SIX METRES WHERE THEY ENTER THE "MOON POOL" LOBBY THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE BELLY OF A 15 BY SIX METRE STEEL CAPSULE.

THE UNIT, NOW ANCHORED IN TEN METRES OF WATER, WAS PREVIOUSLY THE LARGEST AND MOST SOPHISTICATED UNDERSEA LABORATORY OF ITS KIND. IT WAS USED AS A MARINE RESEARCH STATION OFF PUERTO RICO IN THE CARIBBEAN.

ONCE ENSCONCED IN THEIR ROOM GUESTS CAN GAZE OUT THROUGH A ONE- METRE-WIDE PICTURE WINDOW AT TWO SILT-COVERED WRECKS COMPLETE WITH SHIMMERING SCHOOLS OF FISH AND LOBSTERS THAT INHABIT THE MANGROVE- LINED LAGOON. EACH "SUITE" HAS TELEPHONE, COMPACT DISK HI-FI SYSTEM, VCR, COLOR TV AND A SMALL REFRIGERATOR. KITCHEN FACILITIES IN A NEARBY COMMON ROOM INCLUDE A LARGER REFRIGERATOR, A MICROWAVE AND A SINK. TOILET AND SHOWER ARE DOWN THE CORRIDOR. ROOM SERVICE DELIVERS FOOD AND LINEN IN WATERPROOF CONTAINERS.

DR. MONNEY SAID THEY HOPE TO ATTRACT MANY OF THE FOUR MILLION CERTIFIED DIVERS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA. THESE AFICIONADOS OF THE DEEP CAN EXPLORED THE WATERS EITHER WITH SCUBA GEAR OR ATTACHED TO A HOSE THAT PROVIDES UNLIMITED AIR FOR LOCAL EXPLORATIONS. A FOUR-HOUR COURSE IS AVAILABLE TO ALLOW NON-DIVERS TO STAY IN THE LODGE.

WITH MORE THAN 80 GUESTS REGISTERING DURING THE FIRST TWO MONTHS (ROOM RATE US$ 295 PER PERSON PER DAY DOUBLE OCCUPANCY, WHICH INCLUDES UNLIMITED DIVING, GOURMET MEALS AND ALL AMENITIES), THE HOTEL APPEARS TO HAVE FOUND A NICHE IN THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR HOTEL MARKET. THE DEVELOPERS NOW PLAN A WORLD-WIDE CHAIN. A SECOND LODGE CURRENTLY UNDER DESIGN MAY GO TO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.

LESS THAN AN HOUR'S DRIVE SOUTH FROM MIAMI, KEY LARGO IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FINEST DIVING LOCATIONS ON THE CONTINENT. FOR RESERVATIONS, DIAL DIRECT 305/451-2353.

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