This Key West Hotel’s Underwater Library Is Every Book Lover’s Fantasy

Marisa Spyker
This Key West Hotel’s Underwater Library Is Every Book Lover’s Fantasy

For avid readers, books and bodies of water—meaning oceans, lakes, pools, and even your bathtub—go together like sand and seashells. But as book and beach buffs also know, there’s an annoying little asterisk that comes along with that perfect pairing: Books can’t get wet.

Luckily, two Key West hotels have come up with a simple—and genius—solution to this dilemma: a “fully immersed” underwater library. Between The Gates Hotel and the 24° North Hotel, both part of The Keys Collection hotel group, the unique poolside perk consists of a water-filled tank stocked with classic novels. And key to this clever offering’s success is the fact that every one of the tomes, which include everything from Shakespeare and Yeats to Mark Twain reads, is 100 percent waterproof.

Courtesy of The Keys Collection
Courtesy of The Keys Collection

That means if you check out one of these classic reads you can safely transition from lounge chair to pool, beach, or bathtub without the worry of splotched or crinkled water-damaged pages. Sunscreen and spilled margaritas are no match for the splash-proof paperbacks either.

The pool at 24° North Hotel | Courtesy of The Keys Collection
The pool at 24° North Hotel | Courtesy of The Keys Collection

Use of the books is, of course, included for the duration of your stay at either hotel. But if you want to tote one of these reads with you on all your summer getaways, you can also purchase your favorite classic through Bibliobath, the Kickstarter-funded company that manufactures the water- and tear-proof books.

Courtesy of The Keys Collection
Courtesy of The Keys Collection

Now, we’re all for some Shakespeare, but can we all agree that this trend needs to spread to our favorite summer beach reads, too?

Related: This Tiny Floating Home in the Florida Keys Is Our New Dream Rental: