It may look like a brightly colored wreck, but Malaysia‘s Seaventures Rig Resort in Pulau Mabul is actually a former oil rig conveniently located within Malaysia’s Coral Triangle, a defined marine region that’s regarded as one of Earth’s most important areas of biodiversity. Don’t expect a Michelin star on the dining room or plush guestrooms: The accommodations, operated separately from the diving operation, are comfortable but basic, and the whole point is to be gliding through the briny deep. In that department, the rig is hard to beat. Rated as a PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Resort with a stellar safety record, there’s a top-of-the-line dive station and a staff of professional divers familiar with the local waters capable of leading all level of dive enthusiasts on underwater adventures.

PADI courses are available, ranging from beginner to professional certification. No need to pack your tanks and flippers — there’s high quality rental equipment available, along with dive boats for excursions to areas including the sunken wrecks along Kapalai Island and the legendary diving waters and Turtle Tomb of Sipadan Island. Live music and barbecue for all offer a dry component to stays, but the biggest perk of all is definitely a wet one: an elevator that lowers divers directly into the reef waters located below the rig.

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