Imagine diving from a converted oil rig - that's exactly what awaits at Seaventures Dive Rig, the world's most unique dive resort stationed just off Mabul Island's northern shore. This one-of-a-kind accommodation offers budget-conscious divers unbeatable access to both Sipadan's legendary drop-offs and Mabul's incredible macro diving sites. The rig's industrial design provides a surprisingly comfortable stay, complete with spacious dive stations and the thrill of descending to your dive boat via an external elevator - or stepping straight into the thriving macro paradise directly beneath the platform.
Your diving package includes unlimited day and sunset dives beneath the rig. The artificial reef created by the resort platform's structure attracts an astonishing variety of marine life - a Rainbow Nation of frogfish, blue-ringed octopus, hunting cuttlefish, pipefish and nudibranchs - and the expert guides know exactly where to find the most elusive critters. As an authorised Sipadan operator, we prioritise securing permits for our guests to experience one of the world's top dive destinations. 1 day visit to Sipadan is guaranteed with a minimum 3 nights diving package, and 2 visits with 5 nights. Snorkellers are welcome on the dive trips as well.
After your dives, unwind on the panoramic sundeck of the Seaventures Rig with a cold drink as you watch the sun dip below the horizon. Stay connected with complimentary Wi-Fi, share stories with fellow divers about Sipadan's swirling tornadoes of barracuda and patrolling reef sharks, or simply relax to the gentle sound of the sea. Accommodation options range from cosy standard rooms to more spacious deluxe quarters, all featuring private ensuite bathrooms. Solo travellers can opt to share a twin room to avoid a single supplement - a great way to meet like-minded diving enthusiasts.
With our Seaventures Dive Rig packages, you can extend your stay to fully explore both Sipadan's big animal encounters and Mabul's incredible macro life, all at one of the most affordable dive resorts in the region. Seaventures isn't just a place to stay, it's an unforgettable diving adventure that combines convenience, value, and one of the most unique settings in the dive world. Whether you're a macro photography enthusiast or an adventure-seeker that craves the thrill of diving with turtles and sharks, this rig offers the perfect base to experience the best of Malaysian Borneo's underwater treasures.
There are 38 rooms at Seaventures, each with air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms.
- 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
- Bedside reading lights
- Housekeeping
- Desk and chair
- Cabinet
- Wall mirror
- Drinking water
When park guest permit numbers allow, there is a 2 dive trip to Sipadan (including packed lunch). Alternatively it will be a 3 dive day around Mabul or Kapalai. Unlimited buddy diving under the Seaventures platform is also included (until 7 pm each day). Sipadan is a 25 minute boat ride from the rig. The Mabul dive sites are just a few minutes away, and Kapalai can be reached in about 12 minutes.
Seaventures Dive Rig guarantees 1 day visit to Sipadan with a minimum 4 days / 3 nights scuba package, and 2 visits with 5 nights stay. Permits will be confirmed at the time of booking. For diving at Sipadan more often, there is the possibility to apply on arrival for extra permits (2 dives per day), depending on availability.
Gear up and ride the elevator down to the dive boat or to the waters edge and stride off - now there's a novel entry!
There are 2 10-metre fibreglass dive boats, for 14 divers maximum per boat. 2 divemasters are provided for a full boat. The dive boats carry DAN oxygen sets and first aid kits, and there is a standardised evacuation procedure. The is also an additional medical kit and oxygen supply at the resort.
There is an underwater photo / video service available by Scubazoo.
The nearest re-compression chamber for diving emergencies is located in the Semporna Special Forces Base on the Borneo mainland, 1 hour boat ride away.
Staying on the Seaventures Rig is all about novelty and value for money. Most spend the days diving and the nights chilling out on the open platform overlooking Mabul on this 'stationary liveaboard'.
You can also enjoy a game of pool, sing your heart out in the karaoke lounge, take in the latest Hollywood blockbuster in the movie room or surf the web in the internet room - there are 3 terminals with free wireless connection.
Resort facilities include: Free internet - Photo station - TV room - Karaoke lounge - Souvenir shop - Pool table - Conference room - Sun deck - Bar - Fax service
Location: off Mabul Island, near Sipadan, Sabah, Malaysia
A wide variety of Asian and Western cuisine prepared by local and Chinese chefs. Try the succulent BBQ lamb chops with black pepper sauce. Enjoy dining in different locations on the platform. 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.
Available cuisine:
- Chinese cuisine
- Buffet style dining
- Seafood
- BBQ
- Italian
- Vegetarian and halal on request
Watch the sun set after dinner on the sundeck in the gentle breeze taking in the best view in the area overlooking the island of Mabul.
"
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 ...
"
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 ...
MORE PACKAGE DETAILS
Special offers: Packages prices have been discounted by 6% until further notice. Offer closes: 31 Dec 2050
Special rates apply for Malaysians and expatriates with Malaysian work permits. Please contact us for details at ask@dive-the-world.com
Destinations:
Sipadan Island (Diving environment: wall diving, drift diving, advanced divers, very popular; Highlights: shark action, turtles, schooling fish/big pelagics),
Mabul (Diving environment: beginner & advanced divers, very popular; Highlights: great macro life/marine diversity), and
Kapalai (Diving environment: beginner & advanced divers, very popular; Highlights: great macro life/marine diversity).
Resort diving includes:
Dives (as detailed in the packages above), unlimited self-guided day and sunset dives underneath platform, boat rides to sites, experienced English-speaking divemaster (maximum 6 divers per guide), tanks, weights and weightbelts, drinking water, hot drinks and snacks.
Diving excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own):
Dive computer (USD 7 per day), scuba equipment (USD 28 per day), Sipadan park permit fees (diver: USD 106 per day). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card). Sipadan permits are not transferable.
Optional extras:
Extra day at Sipadan (2 dives: USD 71 +SST), extra boat dives (Mabul/Kapalai (minimum 3 customers)), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (USD 6 per tank), dive insurance, soft drinks. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased on site are subject to change.
Important note: All Sipadan divers must take their passport and diving license (minimum: advanced license), or a printed copy of it, to the Sipadan Island marine park office for presentation. The Sabah Parks authorities do not accept a digital copy of a diving license and divers that are unable to verify their qualification status will not be permitted to dive.
Resort accommodation includes:
Bed, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinking water, hot drinks, snacks, roundtrip transfers from Tawau airport (assuming 2 persons), Semporna jetty fee.
Accommodation excludes (mandatory):
8% sales and service tax (SST) on package price (to be paid in advance), Malaysian tourism accommodation tax - USD 2 per room per night (to be paid in cash at the resort).
Single Supplement:
This is optional at this resort - single travellers may choose to share accommodation or elect to pay an additional charge for the sole occupancy of double/twin bed room.
Optional extras:
Single supplement on single travellers only (payable in advance). Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.
How to get there:
The resort is located just off the northern shore of Mabul Island, which is a 40 minute speedboat ride from the port of Semporna. Seaventures Dive Rig provide return transfers from Tawau Airport to Semporna and Mabul.
Scheduled transfer times from Tawau Airport to Seaventures are at 8:30 am and 11 am (transfer times from hotels in Tawau town are at 7:30 and 9:30 am). Boat transfer times from Semporna to the resort are at 10 am and 12:30 pm. If you arrive on any flight which does not time well with the transfers then you must wait at the airport for the next available transfer or overnight in Tawau/Semporna. Diving is only possible on the first day if you arrive on a morning flight.
Scheduled boat transfer times from Seaventures to Semporna are at 11 am and 2 pm. Land transfer times from Semporna to Tawau Airport/town are at 12 noon and 3 pm. Please allow 4 hours between resort departure and your flight departure time.
Transfers assume a minimum of 2 persons. If there is only one resort guest on a scheduled transfer, there will be a land and boat transfer surcharge for single travellers (payable on arrival). If in doubt, ask us for a quotation.
Note: Individuals/couples can arrange private transfers at additional cost. Special transfers can be arranged for groups.
Find more details on how to get there (including airlines) in our Malaysia dive resorts travel section.
Dive clubs and group discounts:
Groups of 7 guests or more - 1 extra person can join free of charge.
Add-on package:
For those making their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Malaysian Borneo, we highly recommend extending your journey with a 2-night stay at Sepilok Nature Lodge, near Sandakan. This unforgettable add-on lets you experience close encounters with wild orangutans in their natural rainforest habitat - an absolute highlight of any Borneo adventure.
Click to view product. Special discounted trips highlighted in yellow
Mabul Beach Resort
Sipadan Kapalai Resort
Borneo Divers Resort
Mabul Water Bungalows
Seaventures Dive Rig
Sipadan Mabul Resort
Sipadan Dive Day Trips
