Underwater hotel planned for Great Barrier Reef

A new three-level pontoon on Lady Musgrave Island is to feature a Great Barrier Reef observatory and underwater hotel.

Queensland State Minister for Tourism Industry Development Kate Jones today revealed plans for the multi-use pontoon to be located off Lady Musgrave Island which will allow visitors to sleep up to three metres beneath the ocean surface.

Suggesting that the hotel will attract thousands of additional visitors to the reef, Minister Jones stated “this pontoon is a game-changer for Lady Musgrave and the Great Barrier Reef and will create a whole new way for visitors to experience the island and the region.”

Up to 24 guests will be able to stay overnight on the bottom level of the pontoon, which includes floor-to-ceiling windows providing a special glimpse of the reef’s unique marine life, which the Queensland  Government will support with a $1 million grant from its Growing Tourism Infrastructure Fund.

The roof of the 36-metre-long vessel will be lined with solar panels to provide power, while the main deck will be constructed from recycled plastic and wood, including second hand milk bottles.

Stressing the hotel’s environmental credentials, Minister Jones added “it will host an underwater observatory with UV lighting, so visitors can experience the reef at night and have upper decks for diving, snorkeling and environmental data collection.”

Brett Lakey, Managing Director of pontoon developer the Lady Musgrave Experience advised that it will be “a great adventure and a unique experience”, adding “this development will ensure the southern area of the Great Barrier Reef is an attractive gateway for visitors, providing some of the best tourism experiences on the Reef.”

Minister Jones said the Queensland Government would partner with Lady Musgrave Experience to deliver the pontoon expected to support up to six jobs during construction and 14 jobs once operational.

The price of the two day-one night experience is expected to be about $500 per person, including meals, with the pontoon available for exclusive hire when it opens in early 2020.

Images: The Reef Hotel Poseidon Resort in Fiji, which already offers 'underwater' rooms (top) and an artist's impression of the new Lady Musgrave pontoon (below, supplied).