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Dive Review of Seaventures/Seaventures Dive Resort in
Malaysia/Sipadan and Mabuol

Seaventures/Seaventures Dive Resort: "Diving Sipadan from the Oil Rig", May, 2019,

by David W., Paris, FR (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 7 reports with 5 Helpful votes). Report 11022 has 1 Helpful vote.

Photos Submitted with this Report


Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling 5 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Wanting to try something different, we chose to stay at the Oil Rig Hotel: Seaventures to dive Sipadan Island in Malaysia (one of the top 10 diving destinations in the world). It’s an Oil Rig which has been converted into a modern recreational diving resort with plenty of facilities, and I organised everything for the trip online quite easily.
After ladning in Tawau we took a taxi straight to the Heritage Hotel, not a fancy place but it’s close to the airport, cheap and clean, and dinner was a simple chicken and rice meal across the road. We were picked up in the morning and taken to the Jetty in Semporna 1.40 hours away and onto a fast boat to the rig which took 45 mins.
Once we checked in, unpacked and had lunch, we did a dive right under the rig itself, then took a boat over to Mabul Island for some Muck diving, and unexpectedly got to see some huge fish. You can do three to five dives a day here, and even night diving around the rig with a buddy if you want.
Sipadan Island was our main goal, but only 120 dive permits are issued daily so It can get super busy in high season when demand outstrips availability. Our dive operator gets 11 day passes to Sipadan so if you stay minimum 4 days here, they can guarantee at least one trip to Sipadan. It was quiet during our stay, so we were lucky enough to dive at Sipadan five days in a row! Note: You must pay the Sipadan dive permit each day you go.
The dive boat for Sipadan leaves at 6am for the 25-minute ride, which gets you to the island nice and early to sign in for the day. It worked out perfectly as we were often enjoying breakfast on the beach after our first dive. We’d then do two more dives before heading back to the Rig for lunch. After lunch, you can just relax on the rig, which is what we did, I had a nap and then sorted out pictures, or you could hop onto a boat for one or two more local dives, or just dive under the rig with a buddy.
The Dive Centre was superbly run, and they offer the full choice of PADI courses with extra emphasis in add-on courses like Tech Diving/Cave diving (Sipadan Turtle Tomb). The rental gear looked in great condition, the crew handle and clean all the gear (you clean your own wetsuits) and they were helpful.
It can be really busy with divers. Seaventures seems to be a favorite for confirmed divers.
Websites Seaventures   Seaventures Dive Resort

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Philippines Thailand Indonesia Red Sea
Closest Airport Tawau Getting There Check the boat schedule from Semporna to be sure to go on the same day.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy Seas calm, no currents
Water Temp 26-29°F / -3--2°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 50-90 Ft/ 15-27 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks 1 or 2
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments Many divers were well equipped with Nauticam and other big housings and the divemasters were helpful to help them with the gears. There is a camera room.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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