Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels Offers Inner Space Opportunities to Maldives, Philippines and Caribbean Resorts

October 20, 2026 — Tony Webb, founder of Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels, LLC, has outlined a proposal connecting resorts in the Maldives, Philippines, and Caribbean islands with movable underwater hotel accommodation, coral reef restoration and maritime education, following 16 years of developing the underwater hotel concept covered by U.S. Design Patent D736,947.

Maldives, Philippines and Caribbean island resorts are invited to explore participation in the proposed program, which would allow them to offer their future guests stays at a Planet Ocean Underwater Hotel without purchasing the movable underwater hotel vessel.

Webb’s work follows 13 years in outer space tourism. His subsequent focus on Inner Space tourism and underwater hospitality centers on revenue from people experiencing the underwater hotels while providing continuing support for massive coral reef restoration.

A request from the Maldives

According to Webb, a diplomat from the Maldives approached him immediately after COP21 in December 2015 to explore how his underwater hotel design could help the island nation. He describes that request as a defining moment in a development journey already underway.

Webb says a recent face-to-face meeting in Malé with the Maldives Minister of Tourism and Environment and an official from the ministry responsible for fisheries and ocean affairs emphasized fabrication of the first-ever movable underwater hotel for the Maldives. Officials can inspect the 26 guestrooms and triple-redundancy systems, experience an overnight underwater stay, and evaluate the allocation of 16.5% of net profits to coral reef restoration.

“The 2015 request from the Maldives diplomat gave this extraordinary work a purpose that has stayed with me,” said Tony Webb, founder and managing director of Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels, LLC. “The 16-year dedication is to connect underwater stays with continuing support for coral restoration, provide ordinary people with a pathway to a free one-night stay through social media participation, support education, and involve the maritime veterans responsible for operating the facilities.”

From 13 years in outer space to 16 years of dedication to Inner Space

Webb describes the proposed underwater experience as “Inner Space.” The concept places guestrooms approximately 30 feet below the surface within a normal atmospheric environment, with fresh-air circulation and elevator access through separate steel shafts.

Beyond underwater accommodation, the underwater hotel could support future long-term space training for SpaceX and Blue Origin, as well as observation by university students and marine biology researchers. Educational activities would depend on partnerships, operating procedures and the suitability of each location.

Plans also include dining above or below the surface. Where conditions allow, guests could observe sparkling marine bioluminescence and stars in the night sky during the same stay.

Continuing support for coral restoration

Planet Ocean is allocating 16.5% of net profits to coral reef restoration, supported by independent audits and transparent reporting.

The intended approach links restoration funding to operating activity, with expenditure supporting documented conservation work. Actual funding would depend on operating results and implementation of the allocation.

Philippines fabrication and training

The Philippines features in the proposed fabrication, assembly and training network. Cooperation with suppliers in China and South Korea would provide specialized steel and acrylic components for the rapid fabrication and assembly of the movable underwater hotels for SE Asia and Indian Ocean.

A proposed Planet Ocean Underwater Hotel Training Center in the Philippines would reproduce the underwater hotel environment for instruction in maintenance, safety procedures, guest services and redundant systems. Training is also envisioned in the Maldives.

Qualified maritime veterans will contribute operating experience. Employee co-ownership and community participation are additional elements of the framework for safe and enjoyable experiences.

Resort participation and educational access

The proposed host-resort arrangement would provide participating resorts with use of a movable underwater hotel for five years without requiring them to purchase the vessel. Resorts would contribute hospitality services and existing guest relationships under agreed terms.

Planet Ocean also offers 2,000 complimentary one-night stays per underwater hotel through its FREE ONE NIGHT STAY Program, utilizing a Paying It Forward program. It is an amazing display of people helping people.

About Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels

Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels, LLC, founded and funded by Tony Webb, is developing movable underwater hotels connecting eco-tourism with ocean conservation. Its proposed model combines coral restoration funding with local employment, education and community participation.