Once just another oil rig used to pollute the ocean, Malaysia’s Seaventures Dive Resort is now one of the most popular diving spots in the Pacific Ocean.
The waters surrounding an oil rig
are probably the last place you’d imagine to find such an amazing array
of coral reefs, and a diverse marine life, made up of hundreds of
species of colorful tropical fish, sea turtles and other marvelous
creatures. But this particular oil rig is actually a hotel where divers
from around the world book rooms, so they can be close to Sipadan
Island, known for its incredibly beautiful underwater scenery.
The oil rig sitting in the Celebes Sea is owned by Suzette Harris, an
Singaporean business woman whose father in law bought the metal
monster, in 1988. She says in Singapore you can buy a used oil rig, just
as easy as you would an old boat. After buying it, he had it towed to
Borneo waters and started this unique diving hotel. While they tried painting it in lively colors, to give it a welcoming
look, there’s just so much you can do with an oil rig, and visitors
should not expect five-star accommodations. The rooms are tidy but tiny,
there’s hardly any closet space and the air smells from the oil
powering the generators. The food isn’t exactly gourmet either, but
tourists who stay at the oil rig hotel, don’t care much about these
details. To them it’s all about being at the heart of the Coral
Triangle, an area with a rich marine diversity.
Seaventures Dive Resort may not be as luxurious as I’m sure many other hotels in Malaysia, but it’s unique setting, and the fact that it’s the only oil rig hotel in the world, make it one of the world’s most popular tourist resorts.
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