Seaventures Dive Rig (on sea)

Mabul Water Bungalow Resort (on water)

Sipadan Mabul Resort - SMART (on land)

Mabul Beach Resort of Scuba Junkie (on land)
 

Sunset Deck

We traveled as a group of 5 adults, 2 kids.
All the adults were divers, kids were snorkelers.
Hotel ambience: the most unusual we had been to. It's a rig in the middle of the sea, converted to a hotel! It is not a luxury resort, but divers will appreciate the process oriented approach to all the dive planning. No elevators, no swimming pool etc. A nice game room with table tennis, pool tables serves as entertainment. Rooms are small, water in taps is a little salty, but these are small inconveniences.

Hotel food : we had read and heard horror stories about the food in the nearby hotels in Mabul but this hotel did a fantastic job with food. The regular buffet food always included a healthy selection of food. Because we mentioned that some of our group was vegetarian, they served us an additional entree at our table every day. From Indonesian curries to stir fried noodles to spaghetti pomodoro to egg fried rice - they did a great job with the food. We were really thankful as divers and snorkelers can get pretty darned hungry, and the hotel really went out of their way to ensure that we were all served delicious food to our dietary requests.

Diving : the diving in Mabul, Kapalai is, frankly, quite average. We were not impressed. However Sipadan is really nice. Healthy reefs, beautiful water, and lots of underwater life. We went for 7 dives in Sipadan and saw many many turtles, reef sharks, and lots of the standard coral fish - wrasse, moorish idols, goby, trigger fish, angelfish, bat fish, butterfly fish, lion fish .. a long list. The Seaventures rig dive leaders Barye and Jonathan were excellent. Brian took the kids snorkeling, and they loved it too. Snorkeling in Sipadan was really top notch.

Net net - a great experience for divers. Would not recommend it for non- divers as there is really not much for them to do.

Stayed November 2016, travelled with friends

“Amazing stay”
5 of 5 bubblesReviewed 1 week ago
We went as a group of 5 Swedish guys in june 2016 and we had a great time. We did 11 dives and they were all world class. Service was great, rooms were clean. The employees were nice and even the manager took his time to speak to us alot. Food was good with alot of variance to it. Diving in mabul and kapalay was great but nothing compared to sipadan. We would love to come visit again but it was a very expensive experiance. Much love /Kristoffer

Stayed June 2016, travelled with friends

“A unique experience and great escape!”
5 of 5 bubblesReviewed 3 weeks ago via mobile
I have just enjoyed 5 nights and 6 days living on an Oil Rig, i was guaranteed 2 days diving in Sipadan but actually did 3 days totalling 15 dives. Fantastic diving, Sipadan speaks for itself! The whole dive crew from the lift operator to the dive masters (big shout out to Super Suki) and instructors were fantastic. Always helpful, always smiling and going the extra mile to make sure everything was running smoothly. The food, buffet style, was tasty and varied. The rig was a one off and totally unique experience which added to the enjoyment of the whole week. It was nice to meet other divers and share stories over a beer or two! But it was big enough to find your own space and chill out. Fantastic and thank you!

Stayed October 2016, travelled solo

The rig is close to excellent diving and is a very professional dive operation and accomodation center. Being a rig the rooms aren't spacious but they are clean and the beds are comfortable - always a bonus in Asia. The meals are buffet style and were always varied and tasty. The rig also had nice extras such as cake being available at all times - much appreciated when coming back from a dive in the middle of the morning. Another advantage of being a rig was that there was a lot of room to prepare dive gear and to relax after diving. The dive masters were all great and the dive boats roomy and fast so you got to the dives quickly and comfortably.

Stayed October 2016, travelled solo

“Good diving, good food and okay housing”
4 of 5 bubblesReviewed 4 weeks ago
Room was a little shabby with salty showers. Some hidden expenses via dive sites fees (other than sipadan) which you kind of have to pay. Just include all fees in the price, everyone wants to dive sipadan anyway. Otherwise all one could ask for when diving sipadan. Very nice and friendly crew.

Stayed October 2016, travelled solo

Was great from start to finish, we had a ride over to the rig and a welcoming party awaiting from all the staff. Within the next hour after checking in we were off to our first dive at Mabul, my mask broke on the first boat dive in and the instructor kindly let me use his.
We had a three night stay and four days and managed to get three days at sipadan which was amazing, the captain Ramesh was very lovely introduced himself the first night always checking if everything was okay, asking for feedback etc. And this went for all the staff really professional, really attentive and great guides for spotting things. Sipadan speaks for itself was great to have 11 dives there felt really lucky! The food was great and the cakes amazing, equipment was really good, and beer reasonably priced. We didn't head over to Mabul because we were shattered but there is a transfer which others liked. Sipadan itself both the rig and dive site is well guarded. Always felt safe. And the rooms were lovely too good air con big bed perfect, the games room is also good if you're not diving the whole day. The price is high when you total up gear etc, and I think the only improvement could be that everyone should be given a dive computer if they don't have their own from a safety point of view as you do deep dives at sipadan and have unlimited rig dives so someone on a budget may opt out of renting when it is essential but you know this before going and it's definitely worth the money!
Also.... WE SAW A HAMMERHEAD! Big heads up to Ching Ching, Jonathan, Adam, helmi and Barry sorry if I've forgotten anyone! They were all fab!

Stayed September 2016, travelled as a couple

“DIVING DIVING DIVING!!!!”
5 of 5 bubblesReviewed 19 September 2016
Fantastic sunsets and awesome crew to look after you.
Best place to really get a full on diving experience, Diving right under the rig itself is very cool also, just kit up and in you go, lowered down on the elevator directly into the water or step off as you like. Not to mention the night dives!! Diving haven!!
When heading back to dive Sipadan, wouldn't go anywhere else!
Stayed December 2015

“Great diving, great food, good organized diving”
4 of 5 bubblesReviewed 18 September 2016
Diving around Sipadan good, in 6 days package 2 days secured.
Diving organized very good/professional.
Rest of the dives around Kapalan / Mabul not that spectacular.
Rooms relatively small, but only needed for sleeping.
Food is good, enough variation and taste good to very nice

Stayed September 2016, travelled as a couple

The staff here are all very polite and kind, sparing no expenses in making your dive vacation here as memorable as possible.

My special shout-out to the dive masters Adam, Suki and Brien. They are all great at their job and are always cheerful and striving to do the best for their divers.

Accommodation wise, it's interesting to stay at the rig as the interior resembles a dated cruise ship. The amenities definitely show their age though, so don't expect 5 star luxurious experience, but then again, some people (myself included) much rather have the authentic feel of staying in a refitted oil rig.

Diving is definitely world class at Sipadan. Mabul and kapalai does have good macro though if you are into that, same for the house reef as well. I think they used to be a lot better but the influx of diving courses in the recent years have taken their toll on the ecosystem.


Stayed September 2016, travelled solo

“5 day 4 Nights Stay”
5 of 5 bubblesReviewed 13 September 2016
It was my 2nd returned trip after last visit on June.
Room was ordinary container type room with air condition but comfy bed is enough for me to sleep & dives. Very friendly staffs & good dive master with skills & knowledge. Food is good & love their daily soup. Very relaxing place to stay with no mosquito, sand flies as we are in the middle of ocean. Highly recommended if you plan to do some diving there. Grab your equipment & immediately you can jump into the house reef with your buddy!

Room Tip: 4th floor is the quiet room but lots of stairs to climb
See more room tips

Stayed September 2016, travelled with friends

“Great experience ”
5 of 5 bubblesReviewed 12 September 2016 via mobile
I did the four day, three night package and wish I'd have stayed longer. The rig as a concept is unique in itself and having all the dive gear right there on the rig made it very atmospheric when you're having dinner and a beer in the evening! I was lucky enough to go during a quiet week and had two days at Sipadan, both great with plenty of sharks, turtles, barracuda and jack fish to name a few. You also have the added bonus of unlimited house reef dives under the rig which gives you a chance to explore more macro stuff.
The staff are all nice and friendly and the food is really good, always a good selection - don't miss the nice cakes in the fridge! Bar prices are very reasonable, the room was always cleaned well. The sun deck is a great spot to chill and watch the sunset plus we had armed guards on the rig at night to ensure our safety. Overall a very special experience.

Stayed September 2016, travelled solo

We just stayed here for 4 days and had a great time. Airport pickups at Tawau was great as was the boat transfer.

Awesome rocking up to the rig and taking the lift up, nice welcome from staff. Good orientation by energetic staff member (Brynne).

Food for the entire stay was excellent, good mix of western and eastern. Never was left wanting and even when out diving all was sorted.

Also big plus was the reasonable beer prices.

Now the rooms I have to say are a little average but they do the best with what they have, what we were expecting though. Would be nice I think to have a little upgrade in the bathrooms. Great aircon and comfortable bed.

Now for the diving. We had a great time. We dived for 3 of the days . Hired gear which costs as you expect, gear had no real issues. Dives sipidan for 2 of the days as the rig was not full. The boats, organisation and dive masters were all well done. Day trips to sipidan well planned.

All in all it cost a bit but definitely recommend.

Oh many people on reviews talked about the salty showers. Now it would be nice to have fresh water this isn't going to happen. I found it fine, I would wash my face with a small amount of drinking water which worked well.

Stayed September 2016, travelled as a couple

We booked 5 nights on the rig in order to get 2 days guaranteed at Sipidan. We were lucky to get 3 days and loved each and every one. Bumphead parrotfish too numerous to count, lots of reef sharks, turtles, the HUGE jack school, and large schools of smaller reef fish off the walls. What's not to love about that? We are divemasters and appreciated the quality of the divestaff on the rig who gave good briefings and looked for the special critters that we requested. Unfortunately we missed the barracuda tornado but that all the rest made up for that miss. We enjoyed the food on the rig and spent extra for the VIP room which we enjoyed with the very large rooms and big king size bed. Our last day we did the big jump off the rig and I'd say that took all the courage I could muster! Don't miss out on the house reef diving below the reef. Loads of macro, a couple big morays, lots of reef fish and other interesting things to keep you busy and you can dive your tank. The only downside is the 45 minute limitation on dive time. Not sure if that's a Seventures limitation or limitation set by Sipidan Marine park. Lastly, I believe it's the only place that will guarantee 1 day in Sipidan if you book 3 nights and 2 days if you book 5 nights. To me that is the best thing about the area. SIPIDAN!!! LOVE IT! <3

Room Tip: VIP Rooms for Space

I did extensive research before visiting Seaventures. My only reason for visiting Semporna and Seaventures, was to visit Sipidan. While I enjoyed my stay, I wouldn't return, here's why:

Pre service: 5 star - although I recommend that the driver communicates a little more. There were times I doubted if I was with a staff member and where we were going.

Rig service: 5 star - all requests met, lovely staff

Dive instructor: Jona or Jonathan without a doubt made my trip. I did my AOWD and Nitrox with him, and am a better diver thanks to his expertise, dedication and the knowledge he happily imparted upon me. In many ways I would say this is enough, being safety conscious, I find sometimes the standard in SE Asia is lower, however Jona and Seaventures were fantastic in this regard.

Facilities: the rig is old in every sense and very rusty. However, the large communal eating facilities is great, as is the gaming/education room upstairs.

Accommodation: excellent beds and air con, nice size. Very mediocre bedroom, with the biggest let down being the very salty shower water due to not enough rain.
Room service: this was an option, based on which category you store your key in. I didn't have mine serviced but still asked for water bottles, and was provided with these. I was a single supplement sharing, so could have been teamed with another guest, however was given my own room. Thank you.

Food: mediocre for the price (more on this later), but by Malaysian standards and buffet standards, it was okay. Behind improving the rig, this would be my suggestion for the greatest improvement to really increase the overall satisfaction and stay. Saying that, drink, desserts and toast always available.

Diving equipment: I hired all, and felt it was sufficient, and clean.

Dive reefs: Sipidan was good, but not great. Although, that's nature, could have been the day, the perception, etc. Other than Sipidan, the diving is average. While suitable for all levels, if you have a large number of dives in awesome places, you'll find the dive sites a let down. While there were a few dozen turtles and sharks one day, the rest of the fish life was average and nothing overly exciting.

Diving: maybe the only thing I didn't like about the trip, beside the price, was the dive time limit. Most locations I dive at is a 60 mins, or 50 bar surface time. At Seaventures it is 45 mins, which is 25% less diving. If you are efficient on air like me, you will rarely come up with less than 100 bar. Plenty more dive time potential, but limited.

Price: someone is making profit here, that's for sure. The per day price of the rig accom package, not including the course, was more than my 4star liveaboard in the Maldives a few weeks earlier. Also, the diving sites weren't as great, making it even more expensive in many ways. The rig and the resorts, manage to capitalize of the fact that Sipidan only offer so many passes per day. This means that competition is steep, and this flows through, and effects accommodation.

Summary:
Pros - air conditioning, single supplement room at regular prices, accessibility to Sipadan, Jona (a dive master and a master diver - this is the dude you want teaching you anything and everything about diving).
Cons - food, dive time limit, and PRICE

Mid-range prices for budget accommodation. My trip was paid for by work, and I'm still not happy about the price paid. Overall, I enjoyed my stay. Would I return to Sipidan or Seaventures again, no!

Stayed August 2016, travelled solo

ahh! Sipadan!
Made even more memorable by this one of a kind dive hotel. Excellent courteous staff, one of the most Experienced Instructors/Guides (thank you Jonatan!), comfortable fully functional rooms (the aircon is better than most 5*resorts) and a Captain and chef who would come and discuss your needs in person. We are vegetarians, and were looked after well. Throw in an unlimited supply of Deserts!!!

A house reef that is better than most dive sites, unlimited diving here. Scorpions and bumpheads and morays and nudies. We even spotted a turtle early morning!
Surprise courtesy extended by getting us on the boat to Sipadan a lot more often than what was promised!!! A great sundeck and fascinating sunsets.

We were a little underwhelmed and unsure on arrival, but by the 2nd day, we were having a blast already! Good people, great conversations, new friends and good times.

Its an Oil Rig. Unbelievable!

Stayed August 2016, travelled as a couple

I stayed at Seaventures for 4 weeks in August while filming for a wildlife documentary. Our team's needs were quite different from most recreational divers but Seaventures' team rose to the challenge magnificently. Staff were helpful and courteous and all of our outlandish requests were accommodated when possible. We were allocated a separate area in the dive centre for our rebreathers and also a large aircon room for our filming equipment.

I've stayed on the rig before and since my last visit a few years ago there have been a lot of improvements made to the furnishings in the rooms and common areas. The rig as a whole is run very efficiently and the food is simple but some of the best in the Mabul area from my experience.

Big Thanks to Suzette, Ramesh, Mitchell and all the SV team.

Stayed June 2016, travelled on business

We stayed in VIP#1, which is on the 4th floor overlooking the observation deck. Creature comforts provided: blasting AC, hot shower and comfy beds! Food was plentiful and delicious and the chef catered to my dietary restrictions (gluten/dairy). Social atmosphere and staff is very helpful and friendly. Visibility of first few dives around Mabul and the rig was not great but still lots of things to see. Staff told best vis usually in Mar-May. Sipadan was major highlight - not to be missed. Definitely a unique experience - highly recommend!

Stayed August 2016, travelled with family

Back from my 1 week stay with Seaventures :) Amazingly smooth operation! Great experience staying on the rig! Please do not come here expecting 5-star resort facilities, but you do definitely get superb service! Staff were friendly and attentive, felt very homely kinda like a small kampung. The rig has a rustic feel to it, absolutely unique and charming!

Dive crew relaxed and friendly, very good vibes. (Wouldn't want to be diving with crew that is unhappy and overworked). Dive briefings consistent and clear. Dive deck facilities are great, air duster available for cameras! Plenty of space to accommodate all guests plus equipment.

I travelled solo, booked 6d/5n and have gotten 3 days at Sipadan :) Special shoutout to Mitchell, Garry, Kyna, Jona, Ramesh, the rest of the crew! Thanks for the fantastic time and awesome dives!!!

One of the best options of diving in the world. The Rig itself is a little old and rusty, but other than that, nothing at all to complain. Food was ok, the staff is super nice and friendly, accommodations and large enough and clean (the bathroom looks very beaten and old, but is clean ). And the dives in Sipadan are amazing. The support for the divers is very organized and efficient. The airport transfers were precisely on time with good quality boats and vans. And you can jump from the Rig to the sea as many times you want, which is very fun. Having a beer in the helideck at the sunset in the middle of the ocean after a an entire day of dives is really priceless. Will comeback in the future for sure.

Stayed July 2016, travelled with friends