For scuba divers seeking a truly distinctive base in the Sipadan region, the Seaventures Dive Rig presents a unique option. This permanently moored, converted oil platform in the Celebes Sea is just a short boat ride from the shores of Mabul Island. It has been transformed from industrial function into a scuba diver’s haven, providing immediate, direct access to some of Malaysia's most famed dive sites.
The operational brilliance of the Seaventures Dive Rig lies in its practical efficiency. The purpose-built dive deck, with dedicated gear stations, streamlines preparation. Descend via the external elevator to your waiting dive boat, or take the memorable giant stride directly from the platform itself into the rich waters below. As an authorised operator, the team prioritises securing the coveted Sipadan permits for guests, with a structured system that guarantees a visit to this world-class site with a minimum stay of just 3 nights, and 2 visits with 5 nights. Snorkellers are welcome on the dive trips as well. This removes uncertainty and allows you to focus on the diving ahead.
Your diving agenda effortlessly blends the majestic and the minute. Scheduled trips venture to Sipadan’s sheer walls, where encounters with green turtles, swirling jackfish, and patrolling reef sharks are commonplace. Returning to Mabul, you'll explore a muck-diving paradise alive with frogfish, crocodilefish, and a host of rare cephalopods. Integral to your package is unlimited diving on the rig’s own artificial reef. This thriving ecosystem, supported by the platform’s legs, is a macro photographer’s dream, offering endless opportunities to observe cryptic critters right beneath your room.
Between dives, the Seaventures Dive Rig offers a comfortable, social atmosphere tailored to divers. Accommodations, from standard cabins to more spacious deluxe rooms, are designed for practicality and rest, each with a private ensuite. The panoramic sundeck becomes a natural gathering point at day’s end, a place to relax with a drink, share sightings, and watch the horizon absorb the sunset. Complimentary Wi-Fi enables you to connect, though the camaraderie with fellow divers often proves more engaging.
The rig’s model provides remarkable value, especially for those committed to extensive diving. Packages are structured to maximise time underwater across the region’s top sites, offering a cost-effective solution without compromising on access or quality. Solo travellers can avoid single supplements through shared twin arrangements, fostering new friendships.
Ultimately, Seaventures is more than a resort; it is a 'one of a kind' dive experience. It combines unwavering access to Sipadan’s pelagic drama with the intricate critter life of Mabul and its own unique house reef, all from a base that is as functional as it is fascinating. For scuba divers who value authenticity, efficiency, and a story worth telling, this platform stands as a irresistible choice in the heart of Borneo’s underwater wonderland.
There are 38 rooms at Seaventures, each with air-conditioning and a private en-suite bathroom.
- 7 larger Deluxe rooms - 6 have king-size beds and 1 room has 3 single beds.
- 31 smaller Standard rooms - 9 have queen-size beds, 20 have twin beds, and 2 rooms have 1 single bed. Most of them have seaview windows.
All the rooms have:
- Air-conditioning and ceiling fan
- Private shower with hot and cold
- Basic toiletries and towels, hairdryer
- Bedside reading lights
- Housekeeping
- Desk, chair, wall mirror
- Wardrobe and shelves
- Drinking water
- 220v electricity supply, UK-style 3-prong plugs
- Fire alarm, life jackets and fire extinguishers
Note: Power 24 hours a day. However, there is a scheduled generator shut down at 6 am, 2 pm and 10 pm (not more than 1 minute each time). Kindly refrain from charging any electrical components during these intervals to avoid any potential damage during the changeover.
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Seaventures Rig Dive Centre Facilities:
- Showers, dive gear storage area (not locker), gear washing, nitrox, gear rental office.
- Gear up and ride the elevator down to the dive boat or to the water’s edge for a stride entry.
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Dive Boats (33–35 ft / ~10m):
- Total boats: 12 (9 dive boats, 3 transfer boats).
- Dive boat capacity: Max 10 guests with 2 dive masters (DMs).
- Safety equipment: DAN oxygen sets and first aid kits on board.
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Daily Boat Dive Activities:
• Non-Sipadan Dive Trip (Mabul & Kapalai)
- Schedule: Starts ~8 am.
- Dives: 2 dives before returning to the rig for lunch, followed by a 3rd dive.
- Travel time: Mabul (minutes away), Kapalai (~12 mins).
• Sipadan Dive Trip (Permit-dependent)
- Schedule: Starts ~6 am. Return: After 3rd dive (before lunch).
- Dives: 2 dives at Sipadan Island + 1 dive at Kapalai.
- Extras: Light breakfast provided at Sipadan; 2 towels given (vs. 1 for non-Sipadan dives).
- Travel time: Sipadan (~25 mins from the rig).
Sipadan Permit Policy:
- Guaranteed 1 visit with a 4-day/3-night package; 2 visits with 5-night stay.
- Extra permits (2 dives/day) may be requested on arrival (subject to availability).
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House Reef Dives (Unlimited (7 am – 7:30 pm)):
Rules:
- Buddy system only (no solo dives). No dive guide provided.
- Consult standby dive master before diving. Log name/details on the whiteboard.
- Subject to current/weather conditions.
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Diver Safety & Emergency Procedures:
• Medical Attention:
- First aid/oxygen kits: Located at front office, bar, classroom, dive station, and dive boats.
- Emergency response: Alert staff if unwell; EFR team provides assistance.
- Recompression chamber: 1-hour boat ride to Semporna Special Forces Base (Borneo mainland).
• Fire Incident:
- Smoke detectors/alarms, fire extinguishers on every deck.
- Follow evacuation floor plan (posted in rooms) to meeting point.
- 24-hour standby boat for emergencies.
• Security:
- Malaysian General Operation Force on standby (7:00 PM–6:00 AM daily).
- Staff available 24/7; guests advised to stay in rooms during security incidents.
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Extras / Special Dives: Extra dives available on request (additional charges apply).
A stay at the Seaventures Dive Rig is defined by its unique setting, yet your time on the platform is designed for diver practicality and relaxation. Life onboard this stationary base revolves around communal spaces that encourage connection and rest after a day beneath the waves.
The expansive, open-air sun deck serves as the social heart of the Seaventures Dive Rig. Here, you can rehydrate at the bar while watching the sky paint itself in sunset hues over Mabul Island. It's a natural social point for exchanging the day's stories and planning the next. Indoors, the dedicated games room offers a change of pace with table tennis and pool, providing a relaxed, casual atmosphere for evening downtime.
A photo station caters to underwater photographers needing to manage their digital work. For moments of pure relaxation, the massage room offers a welcome respite for tired muscles. A small souvenir shop allows you to take a memento of your unique rig adventure home. Throughout the platform, complimentary Wi-Fi keeps you connected, though the constant sea breeze and ever-changing view often prove more compelling.
Resort facilities include: Complimentary Wi-Fi - Dedicated photo station with charging facilities - Games room (pool table and table tennis) - Souvenir shop - Massage room - Panoramic Sun Deck with Bar - Communal dining area
At Seaventures Dive Rig you'll find a wide variety of Asian and Western cuisine, prepared buffet-style by local and Chinese cooks. Enjoy dining in different locations on the platform, including the open dining deck. Try the BBQ lamb chops with black pepper sauce, or a nice mixed salad. After dinner you can watch the sun set, with a drink in your hand from the sundeck. Enjoy the gentle breeze, and take in the best view in the area, overlooking the island of Mabul. During the peak season, the bar provides live music and karaoke for entertainment.
Dining times:
Breakfast: 7 - 9 am
Lunch: 12 - 2 pm
Tea/coffee break: 4.30 - 6 pm
Dinner: 7 - 9 pm
Sample dishes: White radish beef soup, steamed fish, seafood, rice, chicken stew, tofu, mixed vegetables, green salad, mixed fruits. Additionally, they have cakes, desserts, coffee, and tea available 24/7 next to the dining area, for guests who may want a quick bite in between dives.
The diving schedule is timed around meal times at this resort. On non-Sipadan days, the boat returns to the resort for lunch. If you go to Sipadan, there will be a packed lunch for you.
The Seaventures resort caters to all dietary requirements, so you can enjoy your meals without any worries.
"
The staff is very helpful and friendly. The food is nice and not repetitive. The dive guides are professional." -
Libby Lai, Hong Kong, 3 October 2025 ...
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Diving options were good but expensive. Diving is not included on the last day which is the biggest flaw for guests without flights on the same day. Rooms were old and my room was leaking through the window whenever it rains." -
Cheerene Wee, Singapore, 23 July 2024 ...
"
Everything was great, the food, the crew, the facilities, the facility itself. We will be back (not soon enough)." -
Colm McGarry, Australia, 03 December 2019 ...
"
Dive masters were extremely helpful and aware of the dive group safety. Food was great to tide me over between dives. Management was always around to check on the diving and service, and have a few beers after diving." -
Michael Harkness, USA, 10 October 2017 ...
"
Equipment was decent. Staff was fantastic - friendly and helpful. Facilities were OK. Food was great." -
Dora Lim, Singapore, 7 October 2015 ...
"
The best things about Seaventures were: rental of all dive equipment, rental of under water camera and dive computer, very friendly staff, very friendly environment, organized dive trips, we dived 3 days in Sipadan out of 5 nights." -
Sara Abbany, United Arab Emirates, 17 February 2014 ...
"
There are quite a few options in Mabul/Kapalai area to choose from, but when I found out there was an oil rig that had been converted into a dive resort, I looked no further. Just loved the idea. It's probably the ugliest thing you'll ever see and if you're looking for a 5-star resort, this place is not for you because the rooms really are in a need of a major overhaul. Somehow, though, the place made sense - everything worked as it should. Food was tasty and plentiful, rental gear was in good condition and most divemasters were great (Ricardo and Kelvin, keep up the good work!).
The diving in nearby islands of Mabul and Kapalai is good and can be great if you just have the patience to look for the small stuff. And Sipadan, of course, is just beautiful. Probably not what it was 20 years ago, but still really beautiful." -
Veiko Termonen, Estonia, 20 August 2011 ...
"
Basic rooms, but clean. Food was OK. Staff were very friendly. The transfer boats were OK. We needed to bring our adaptors for the DIN connection. They charge for rental. They allow divers to dive without computer." -
Inge Van Stappen, Belgium, 2 July 2011 ...
"
Really good setup and we enjoyed the diving but, as experienced divers, we felt very restricted. The whole operation seemed to be setup for new divers. For example there was a strict 45 minute limit on dives, which meant that many of our dives felt very cut short - we were returning with well over 100 bar. It became a very frustrating experience.
We brought much of our dive gear with us but we rented fins. These were completely inadequate for scuba diving in occasionally strong currents. Dive guides were generally very good, finding lots of good critters etc. Short dive times were frustrating as noted above. Food was great." -
Graham Midgley, Australia, 9 June 2011 ...
"
From picking us up at the airport to drop off, all was very professional, personable and good value for money. Charges for things were fair. They put us in a spacious room when we asked for a triple. Food was plentiful and good. Dives were excellent. Dive masters kept a watch out for you and yet allowed experienced divers to feel under control as well." -
Jenny Winkelman, USA, 26 March 2011 ...
"
Regarding the Seaventures Resort, it was very unique and the room and diving setup was great. Staff that actually went diving with you was great, they were very knowledgeable, interested and concerned and were great to hang out with. Crew on board was friendly and all smiles. Resort management seemed to be more in work mode which made me feel a bit uncomfortable and not very welcome. Food was good but had little variety." -
Sander Koopmans, Netherlands, 9 August 2010 ...
"
The staffs are very friendly and helpful, we stayed in the VIP room and it was really huge and spacious. The food was good to our liking. I like the way the oil rig was perched high up, I can have a good 360 deg view of the surroundings. The staffs help us to setup our diving equipments, totally fuss free. I'm a happy diver. The best part of all is that there's free wifi everywhere, I can surf the internet and update my diving experiences, live telecast!" -
Tiffany Ng, Singapore, 8 April 2010 ...
"
I just wanted to give you my very positive feedback about this company, accommodation and diving were simply excellent, staff is friendly and competent ... and I was lucky enough to dive Sipadan 4 days on 5!" -
Bastien Petit, France, 13 November 2009 ...
"
The equipment were all fully functional and dives were seamless. It wasn't the newest equipment and they didn't have a computer for everyone (nor a full-length wetsuit for me); these were just minor things and the reason why I didn't give them 5 (out of 5)." -
Nanda Sandhu, Switzerland, 1 January 2009 ...
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Our diving holiday at Sipadan with Seaventures was fantastic. Cannot fault the diving. Seaventures focussed 100% on giving us the best diving experience possible. We were lucky to have 2 dives every day at Pulau Sipadan, and even 3 on the last day." -
Patricia Jasudasen, Malaysia, 24 August 2008 ...
"
Everything was very well-organised. Meals were on time, dives were well run and slick, and accommodation fine." -
David Knight, South Africa, 17 July 2008 ...
"
Everything about Seaventures was fantastic. The staff were always on time and really organized, not to mention friendly and accommodating. There was plenty of food and it was all delicious. And then there was the diving -- more fish and turtles and sharks than I could shake a stick at!" -
Michelle Bishop, Canada, 12 February 2008 ...
"
Excellent. Equipment was in working order, staff were very friendly and knowledgeable, fun to hang out with between dives. Living on an oil rig was a really great experience." -
Keith, Canada, 17 February 2007 ...
"
The dive rig was fantastic. Accommodation was simple but fine. Food was good & service friendly." -
Mike Debelak, Australia, 8 September 2006 ...
