Diving Tulamben

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Scuba diving Tulamben. The small fishing village of Tulamben is famous in the diving community thanks to the USAT Liberty Wreck. It offers very easy and relaxed dives with amazing marine life and also super healthy corals.

USAT Liberty Wreck 

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USAT Liberty Wreck, Tulamben, Bali

The USAT Liberty Wreck. It is, without any doubt, the most famous dive site in Bali. Not only that but it is also classified as one of the best dives in the world.

It lies in the shallows of Tulamben Bay and is easily accessible from the shore. The wreck is 120 meters long. The bow is only 4 meters deep, while the stern reaches depths of 28 meters.

Marine diversity around the Liberty is just incredible! The wreck has become an impressive artificial reef. It is completely covered with soft and hard corals. Divers can enjoy the beauty of the numerous families of sponges and gorgonians growing out from the wreck. On top, many schools of fish actually live here. For example, jacks, batfish, sweetlips, and unicornfish can be seen daily. Also, you’ll also have the chance to swim next to big barracudas, turtles, groupers, hump-head parrotfish, and also morays. In addition, if macro-life interests you, the Liberty Wreck provides many exciting critters to discover. For instance, leaf scorpionfish, frogfish, ghost pipefish, anemone fish, and also lots of sea slugs.

Only on this spot, there are more than 600 species of fish and corals!

It is said to be the safest wreck in the world. Therefore, it is an excellent spot for divers at all levels. Also, even snorkelers can enjoy this beautiful wreck.

It also offers a great night dive! In truth, you can see completely different marine life. The highlight is hump-head parrotfish that come every night to sleep at the wreck. Also, it is a fantastic show to observe big groupers teaming up with moray eels hunting together.

It is heaven for underwater photographers.

Diving Bali – Tulamben Coral Garden 

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Leaf scorpion fish, diving in Tulamben, Bali

Coral Garden is located in shallow waters in the middle of Tulamben Bay. Highlights in this reef are the staghorn corals and also lots of anemones home to many different species of clownfish, which makes this dive site a truly special one!

On top of the anemone fish, you’ll have the chance to spot a great variety of marine life! Like ribbon eels, lionfish, schooling jacks, and also fusiliers. In addition, with a bit of luck, we can also see some groupers and small reef sharks as well.

It is another easy and beautiful dive at Tulamben. Consequently, it is suitable for all levels of scuba divers.

Drop Off. Diving Tulamben

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This dive site is accessible from the shore. It is located on the very west corner of Tulamben Bay. At the beginning is a black volcanic sandy bottom rapidly becoming a wall that drops deeper than 70 meters. It is a wall dive where you can spot beautiful and huge gorgonians and barrel sponges.

The highlight is a big gorgonian that grows on a platform at 30 m in the corner of the drop-off, where the currents can split. In the blue, we have the chance to spot big pelagics. Like for example, hump-head parrotfish, Napoleon wrasses, schools of jacks, fusiliers, and lots of butterfly fish.

There is usually little or no current, so this dive site is one of our favorites for deep-dive specialties.

Boga Wreck

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Boga Wreck, diving Tulamben, Bali

The Boga Wreck is Bali’s newest wreck. It is located on the beach in Kubu Bay, about 10 minutes’ drive from the Liberty Wreck.

It is a Dutch cargo ship about 50 meters long. In 2012, it was sunk on purpose to help create marine life in the area. It is one of the many projects in Bali for marine conservation and coral propagation.

Since it sunk,  it has been moving deeper until it has finally stabilized. The bow lies about 15 meters deep, and the stern at 35. It is in a vertical position, and it seems that it is already stuck and will remain in this position.

The structure is in very good condition and you can explore its interior. Highlight in the wreck is the steering, one of the favorite places for divers to take photos. You can also see a car, diving tanks, and statues of Buddha. Around the wreck grow coral gardens full of like. Divers also have sunk bikes, motorcycles, and other structures. It is a perfect place for underwater photography.

The wreck has fulfilled its mission, and today, the corals begin to cover the ship, and many fish have found their home here. We often see schools of barracudas and batfish—also anemones and a wide variety of macro life, such as nudibranchs and leaf fish.

To dive the Boga Wreck, you need a minimum Advanced certification, and we also recommend diving with Nitrox to enjoy a longer bottom time exploring the ship.

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Boga Wreck, diving Tulamben, Bali

Diving Tulamben: Batu Kelebit 

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Humphead parrotfish, diving in Tulamben, Bali

Named by the local community, this dive site is only 10 minutes from the shore via Jukung, a traditional Balinese boat. You can recognize the dive spot by boulders breaking the water.

These boulders continue underwater as lava flows, forming steep walls on each side. In contrast, there is a sandy bottom in the middle. Corals can be seen from shallow depths to 50 meters. Highlights are hump-head parrotfish in the shallower depths.

But, to truly appreciate this dive, one must dive deeper than usual. For instance, at deeper depths, you’ll have the chance to spot big pelagics such as tunas, white-tip, black-tip, and occasional silky sharks.

It is a deep dive. Therefore, minimum advanced certification is required.

Below, you can watch this video—a typical day diving in Tulamben at the USAT Liberty Wreck.

Video credit: Ludovic Amevor

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