A surgical access portal (10) includes a seal housing (20), a sleeve (30) mountable to the seal housing, and a seal (50) disposed within the seal housing. The seal includes a first layer (52) having an opening for the reception and passage of a surgical instrument, a second continuous layer (54) for providing a fluid tight seal in the seal housing in the presence and/or in the absence of a surgical instrument, and a third layer (56) having an opening for the passage of a surgical instrument therethrough. The first and third layers have a higher density than the second layer for maintaining the second layer in an axially compressed state therebetween.
