The Grotto Bay Resort is seeking to upgrade its spa facilities to offer floating massages in the heart of Prospero’s Cave.

While the resort has been using the cave to host treatments at its Natura Spa for several years, a planning application submitted to the Department of Planning last month proposed expanding the existing facilities with a series of pontoons bridges on the cave’s lake.

The three floating bridges will each lead from the existing pathway to platforms floating on the cave’s lake, where patrons would receive massages and other treatments.

Grotto Bay Hotel manager JP Martens said the idea of the proposal is to create a unique experience for hotel guests without negatively impacting the cave.

“That cave in particular used to be a disco many years ago, and it’s been largely underused ever since,” he said. “We were looking at the tourism plan and at the activities and entertainment things that we could offer guests to do in Bermuda, and we felt this would provide something exciting for our guests.

“There will be minimal to no impact on the cave itself. There are no fixed structures being proposed, and everything that we have in the plans is environmentally tested. We are meeting all of the planning requirements, and we have met with planning along with several other groups already.”

While he said the idea was not entirely unique to Bermuda as other countries offer spa facilities in caves, he felt it will provide a fantastic new amenity for the guests of the resort.

“They will be able to receive spa treatments in the cave between the stalactites and stalagmites,” he said. “It’s a beautiful, peaceful setting.

“We felt that it was a very unique experience, combining the cave and its peaceful environment with spa treatments. It’s something that’s really exciting, something really novel. We have the infrastructure and we have the assets and all this is using the assets and creating an experience for our guests.”