About Our Founder: Tony Webb
Tony Webb is a dedicated ex-U.S. Navy veteran whose multi-generational family legacy of service, combined with rigorous training and specialized expertise, embodies the Navy’s core values of honor, courage, commitment, and precision. This heritage now fuels his leadership as Managing Director of Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels, LLC—a 100% employee-owned, ex-USN veteran-focused national company pioneering movable underwater hotels to restore coral reefs and make Hawaii’s paradise accessible and affordable.
Family Naval Legacy
Tony’s family roots run deep in U.S. Navy history, spanning architecture, intelligence, and historic WWII milestones:
• Grandfather: Served as a Commander (CDR) in New York City U.S. Navy Naval Intelligence (Office of Naval Intelligence, ONI, within the 3rd Naval District) during World War II. He led critical counter-espionage and waterfront security operations, protecting U.S. shipping and fleets from Axis sabotage—contributing to the strategic backbone that supported Pacific victories.
• Father: A Georgia Tech graduate in architecture, he was studying architecture in Greece when World War II loomed. He enlisted and first served on the USS New York (BB-34), a veteran battleship that participated in Neutrality Patrols, convoy escorts to Iceland and Great Britain, and major WWII actions including the North Africa invasion (Operation Torch, 1942), where she provided gunfire support at Safi, Morocco.
Seeking more direct combat, he transferred to the USS Alabama (BB-60), the South Dakota-class battleship that earned 9 Battle Stars for extensive Pacific engagements—from the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaigns (1943–1944), Marianas (including the Philippine Sea “Turkey Shoot”), Leyte Gulf, Philippines liberation, Okinawa, and shore bombardments of Japanese home islands. Alabama’s distinguished record culminated in her leading the American Fleet into Tokyo Bay on September 5, 1945—three days after the formal surrender signing on USS Missouri (BB-63)—symbolizing hard-fought triumph.
His father’s deliberate transfer to Alabama to “fight in battles” reflects a deep commitment to frontline service, ensuring precise navigation and safe operations in high-threat environments.
His father’s greatest achievement came during the Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky, July 10, 1943)—the largest amphibious assault of the war up to that point and a critical precursor to the liberation of Italy. Aboard USS New York (before his transfer to Alabama), he contributed to pre-invasion naval bombardment and gunfire support for ground troops landing on Sicily’s southern shores.
This operation’s success owed much to loyalty and collaboration with Charles “Lucky” Luciano, the imprisoned Mafia boss whose underworld network (via Operation Underworld) provided vital intelligence to U.S. Naval Intelligence—maps of Sicilian harbors, coastline photos, and trusted local contacts in Sicily. These connections helped ensure smooth amphibious landings, minimize resistance, and support the war effort against Mussolini’s regime. Luciano’s cooperation, facilitated through Naval Intelligence intermediaries, proved instrumental in the planning and execution of Husky. His father’s direct involvement highlights extraordinary dedication and indirect ties to the unconventional alliances that aided Allied victory.
Tony Webb’s Naval Service
Tony enlisted in the U.S. Navy in September 1975 as a Quartermaster (QM), building on foundational training that prepared him for high-stakes operations.
• Education and Discipline: He attended two years at Admiral Farragut Academy (AFA) in St. Petersburg, Florida—America’s first naval preparatory school (founded 1933; Florida campus 1945). Designated an “Honor Naval Academy” by Congress in the 1950s, AFA’s military structure, low student-teacher ratios, and emphasis on leadership, character, and naval sciences instilled discipline often described as equal to—or stricter than—the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Alumni include space pioneers Rear Admiral Alan Shepard (first American in space) and Brigadier General Charles Duke (Apollo 16 Moonwalker).
• Specialized Expertise:
Mastered alongside replenishment (underway replenishment at sea, UNREP/RAS), a demanding evolution requiring precise station-keeping while ships steam parallel for fuel and supply transfers. In extreme conditions, he executed hard left rudder / hard right rudder maneuvers to correct course instantly and prevent collisions—high-risk skills demanding calm, rapid decision-making, and flawless teamwork.
Specialized in celestial navigation, using sextant observations of celestial bodies with the Nautical Almanac and sight reduction tables to determine position without electronic aids. Drawing directly from AFA training, he had the honor of teaching naval cadets these time-tested skills—ensuring reliable navigation in GPS-denied scenarios and passing essential knowledge to the next generation.
Tony left the Navy after honorable service to his country, embracing opportunities to travel the world and pursue his passion for tennis while carrying forward the discipline, precision, and mentorship instilled by his family legacy and Navy career.
Transition to Civilian Leadership
Today, Tony channels this unparalleled naval heritage into Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels, commanding ex-USN veteran crews in groundbreaking underwater innovation. His expertise in navigation, extreme maneuvering, celestial backup skills, and cadet instruction directly parallels the project’s demands—support vessel handling, triple-redundancy systems, precise assembly, and training the next generation of leaders.
This legacy commands deep respect in veteran communities, media, and strategic partners, elevating the mission to restore thriving Hawaiian coral reefs and open a new gateway to America’s paradise—under veteran comma’op