Thirty minutes by boat from Sipadan Island, there is an old oil platform sitting above the Celebes Sea that has been converted into a PADI 5-Star dive resort. No beach, no pool, no lobby. You step off the boat and straight onto a rig deck, and the ocean is directly below you from the moment you arrive.
This guide is based on a visit to Seaventures Dive Rig and covers the diving, the facilities, the room options, and what to expect from a stay off the coast of Semporna.
Read also: Tuaran Mee in Sabah: Golden Noodle Worth Travelling For
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Most Unique Dive Resort in Malaysia
Seaventures Dive Rig began as an offshore oil platform and has been operating as a dive resort since the 1990s, making it the world’s first dive rig resort. It sits above the Celebes Sea off Mabul Island, in the waters of Sabah’s eastern coast. The conversion kept the industrial bones of the structure intact while adding guest cabins, a dining area, a bar, and dive decks that drop directly into the sea.
The result is a resort that functions unlike anything else in Malaysia. There is no land beneath you, no shore to walk along, and no distraction from the reason most people come here: diving.
What to Expect at Seaventures Dive Rig
House Reef
The house reef sits directly beneath the rig and is accessible at any time of day. Guests on unlimited house reef packages can drop in whenever they choose, independent of the guided boat dives. The reef holds healthy coral coverage and a consistent presence of reef fish, making it a reliable option for early morning and night dives.
Sipadan Island
Sipadan is a 30-minute boat ride from the rig and consistently ranks among the top dive destinations in the world. The island rises from a 600-metre seamount in the Celebes Sea and the wall diving around it is among the most dramatic in the region.
Key sites include Barracuda Point, where large schools of chevron barracuda spiral in the water column above the wall, South Point, which draws schooling hammerheads during the right season, and Turtle Cavern, an underwater cave system with a significant turtle population. The biodiversity across Sipadan’s sites runs to over 3,000 fish species and an extensive coral coverage.
Sipadan diving requires a government permit issued by Sabah Parks. The permit costs RM250 per day and is not included in Seaventures packages. Availability is limited and allocated on a quota basis, so confirming permit availability before booking your stay is essential.
PADI Courses at Sipadan Island
Seaventures Dive Rig is a PADI 5-Star Resort and runs a full slate of courses from Open Water through to specialty certifications. Each course includes a PADI certification card, training manual, and use of certified dive equipment. The location makes it a practical place to complete advanced training, with immediate access to both the house reef for skills work and Sipadan for deeper dives.
Facilities at Seaventures Dive Rig
The rig layout is compact but covers the essentials without feeling cramped. The open-air dining area serves full-board meals across all stays, with a menu built around local Sabahan dishes. The bar is the social hub between dives, and the main deck lounge is where most of the post-dive debrief conversations happen.
Other facilities on the rig include a mini gym, a massage room, a game area with pool table, table tennis and mahjong, a sundeck at the top of the structure with unobstructed sea views, and a conference room. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout.
A short boat ride from the rig reaches Mabul Island, where the Sea Gypsy communities live in villages built on stilts above the water. It is worth the trip across for an hour on land and a look at a way of life that has been on these waters for generations.
Types of Rooms
Seaventures offers three accommodation options.
Deluxe Room
The largest option on the rig, with a seating area and ocean views. Equipped with satellite TV, air conditioning, hot shower, fresh bedding, towels, and daily housekeeping. Only three Deluxe Rooms are available. An upgrade from Standard to Deluxe costs an additional RM250 per night.
Standard Room
Twin or double configuration with air conditioning, hot shower, fresh bedding, towels, and daily housekeeping. The most common room type on the rig and suited to divers who plan to spend most of their waking hours in the water.
Dormitory
Shared accommodation for those travelling solo or on a tighter budget. Functional and social, with the same proximity to the dive decks as the private rooms.
For current rates and availability, visit the Seaventures website directly before booking.
Things to Do on Seaventures Dive Rig
Life on the rig runs on a dive schedule. Days start early, often before sunrise for those chasing the house reef at first light. Boat dives to Sipadan depart on a set timetable and return mid-afternoon. Evenings are quiet by most resort standards: the sundeck at dusk is the main event, with the Celebes Sea running flat and the light dropping over the water in the way it does only this far east in Malaysia.
Rig jumping or leaping from the platform into the sea, is a tradition on Seaventures and one of the more memorable non-diving activities available. The height is significant and the drop is clean.
Full equipment rental is available on the Seaventures Dive Rig, covering BCDs, wetsuits, regulators, masks, and fins. Dive computers are available at an additional charge.
Important Information For Visitors
- Minimum stay: Three nights, required for Sipadan permit application.
- Sipadan permit: RM250 per day, applied separately through Sabah Parks. Not guaranteed and subject to quota availability.
- How to get to Seaventures Dive Rig: Fly to Tawau Airport in Sabah, then transfer to Semporna by road (approximately one hour). Seaventures Dive Rig provides boat transfers from Semporna.
- Included in packages: Return boat transfers (minimum two divers), three guided boat dives daily, unlimited house reef dives, full-board meals, cabin accommodation.
- Not included: Sipadan diving permit, equipment rental, dive computer rental, miscellaneous charges.
Contact and Booking Details
- Contact: (+60) 88-261 669
- Email: info@seaventuresdive.com
- Address: Mabul Island, Off, 91300 Semporna, Sabah
- Website: seaventuresdive.com
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to be a certified diver to stay at Seaventures? No. Non-divers can stay on the rig and access the facilities. PADI courses are available for those who want to learn during their stay.
- Is the Sipadan permit guaranteed? No. Sipadan permits are issued by Sabah Parks on a daily quota basis. Seaventures applies on your behalf but availability cannot be guaranteed, particularly during peak season. Confirm permit availability before committing to dates.
- What is the best time to dive Sipadan? April through August offers the most consistent visibility and the calmest sea conditions. Hammerhead sharks are most commonly sighted between April and June around South Point.
- Is Seaventures suitable for beginner divers? The house reef is suitable for newly certified divers. Sipadan’s wall and current diving is better suited to those with intermediate experience and above.
Sustainability in Sipadan
Seaventures operates under Sabah Parks regulations, which set the daily diving quota for Sipadan at 120 permits. This quota has been in place since 2005 and is one of the more effective marine conservation measures in Malaysia, limiting the human impact on one of the country’s most biodiverse reef systems.
The rig’s position off Mabul also means no land clearing, no beach modification, and no coastal development associated with the property.
To have your property included in a future Rolling Grace guide, get in touch at editor@rollinggrace.com.
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