Dive Happy

  • Philippines
  • Indonesia
  • Thailand
  • Maldives
  • Myanmar
  • Liveaboards
  • Diving Podcast

Scuba Diving The Liberty Shipwreck, Bali: A Quick Guide

The Liberty Shipwreck is Bali’s most famous dive site, and there are plenty of other great places along the north eastern coast of Bali too, making it an ideal – and cheap – dive destination.

What is the Liberty Shipwreck?
One of the most famous wreck dive sites in the world, the wreck of the USAT Liberty sits submerged on Tulamben Beach in north east Bali. The wreck has been underwater since 1963, and is now home to a huge amount of fish and coral. The stern is at 6 metres and the bow at 30 metres, and the ship itself is 120 metres long, providing a great playground for divers of all abilities to explore. Just behind Tulamben Beach is Mount Agung volcano, which last erupted in 1963, pushing the Liberty off the beach proper and into the position you can see today. The sand around the Tulamben region is black volcanic sand rather than the usual white stuff.

Blue Ribbon Eels

Is the Liberty the only dive site?
Definitely not! The Tulamben coastline has numerous dive sites, of which the Liberty happens to be the most famous. The Drop Off is a dramatic wall dive that goes down 40 metres plus which leads into Alamanda, another equally good dive site right next door, while the Coral Garden is a shallow site that is packed with exotic marine life like blue ribboned eels, mantis shrimp, cuttlefish and leaf scorpionfish, plus huge great clouds of schooling jacks. For photographers it’s extremely rewarding – there is a lot to snap on each dive. There is definitely enough diving around Tulamben to keep any diver occupied for 4 to 5 days at least. That’s just in the north east of Bali too – there are plenty more dive sites further down the coast as well if you want to move around.


[Cuttlefish Closeup video – Dropoff, Bali]

What are the dive conditions like?
The diving around Tulamben is very easy. The visibility is very good – at least 20 metres, although it can be a bit silty. Currents are generally very mild or non existent. It’s a very good place to learn to dive, especially given you can explore the Liberty as part of your Open Water course.

Most dives are shore dives, walking from the resort across the road, down past the grazing goats and onto the pebble beach and then straight into the water. It’s a bit surreal walking down Tulamben high street in 30 degree heat wearing a wetsuit. Your scuba gear (BCD and tank) is carried down for you by the local porters – usually on their heads! You have to be careful on the beach as it can be a bit slippy on the pebbles in full dive gear.

Walking To The Dive - thanks Kerri for the pic!

What’s in Tulamben ?
Tulamben is a very small town with about 10 dive resorts and several restaurants. It’s more a strip of shops either side of the road which runs parallel to the beach. All the resorts offer accommodation as well as diving. Internet is available too, but it’s pretty slow, so don’t expect too much. It’s pretty much an eat/sleep/dive routine, but resorts can organise daytrips to some of Bali’s topside attractions like temples and rice terraces too.

How do I get there?
Tulamben is a three hour drive from Bali’s airport at Denpasar. It’s a fairly interesting journey with twisty roads. Resorts will lay on a free pick up and transfer for you to meet you at the airport. Grab some water at the airport before you get in the car. You can stop somewhere up the coast for a meal too if you’re hungry.

Can you recommend a dive resort?
Definitely. I stayed with Tulamben Wreck Divers, which is owned by a retired Australian couple Tony and Dot Medcraft. They are an easy going couple with years of experience who have a casual but extremely well organised dive operation. Their Balinese dive staff are aces at finding all manner of critters on the dive sites and are good fun to be with and always happy to tailor the diving to your individual preference – even if it’s only one person and the guide doing a dive. I went diving really early on a couple of days – 5.30 am start – and Made, my guide, was reliable, enthusiastic and more awake than me on both occasions.

Their resort has a variety of accommodation for different budgets – I stayed in a Superior Room for $US30 a night with ensuite shower and toilet, double bed, tiled floor, fridge with cold drinks and coffee and tea making facilities plus a safe. It’s clean, basic and comfortable. Diving is around US$50 per day for two dives including all gear and guide, plus porter fees. You can get even better rates for doing several days diving as a package. [I didn’t get a journalist freebie, incidentally – I paid all my own expenses at TWB].

Any other tips?
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at Denpasar Airport. It costs USD $25 which you can pay in cash dollars or with Visa / Mastercard. There are a clutch of ATMs that accept Visa/Mastercard in the baggage reclaim area where you can withdraw Indonesian Rupiah for your holiday.

You might also want to check out Diving Bali by Wally Saigan and David Pickel, an excellent, richly illustrated book that delivers an exhaustive and entertaining overview of all of Bali’s dive sites. There are scores of them!



Diving And Travel Insurance

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities including scuba diving, as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Start Planning Your Indonesia Dive Trip Now!

:: Check the availability and pricing of liveaboards in Indonesia and book online.


:: Find the cheapest flights to Indonesia - one search will show you the prices and times from scores of airlines for your trip. A real timesaver. You'll typically need to fly into Jakarta and then get a connecting flight to Sorong (SOQ) for Raja Ampat, Labuan Bajo (LBJ) for Komodo, Biak for Cenderawasih Bay (BIK) - but check with your liveaboard operator on optimum flights


:: Make sure you don't forget to bring any of the essentials for your scuba diving trip with our comprehensive Liveaboard Packing List


:: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.


:: Find available places to stay in Indonesia on Booking.com - usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too. The Jakarta Airport Hotel, located in Terminal 2, is convenient for a transit stayover.


:: Need inspiration? See our Best Places To Dive In Indonesia for ideas of where to go and what to do.


Dive Happy Podcast Newsletter

In-depth conversations about the best diving hotspots in Asia. Join the free Dive Happy podcast newsletter to get the next podcast episode sent to you direct:
Listen to previous Dive Happy podcast episodes.

Last Minute Liveaboard Deals

  • Last Minute Liveaboard Deals June 2025

More Indonesia Diving Stories

  • Indonesia Entry Requirements June 2025
  • Where To See Manta Rays In Indonesia
  • Where To See Whale Sharks In Indonesia
  • Komodo Dive Sites Overview
    • Manta Alley, Komodo
    • Cannibal Rock, Komodo
    • Yellow Wall, Komodo
    • Batu Bolong, Komodo
    • Pengah Kecil, Komodo
    • Castle Rock, Komodo
    • Crystal Rock, Komodo
    • Sebayur Kecil, Komodo
    • Siaba Besar, Komodo
    • Tanjung Batu Besar, Komodo
    • Saleh Bay Whale Sharks
  • Gangga Island Diving Trip Report December 2023
  • Menjangan Island Diving November 2023
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard June 2023 Trip Report
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard Deals 2025
  • Diving Raja Ampat – A Quick Guide
  • How To Get To Raja Ampat
  • Raja Ampat Christmas Liveaboard Trip Report December 2022
  • Sorong Airport Guide
  • Komodo Liveaboard Trip Report August 2022
  • Diving The USAT Liberty Shipwreck, Bali June 2022
  • Bali Muck Diving June 2022
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard Trip Report 2020
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard May 2018 Trip Report
  • Raja Ampat to Triton Bay Liveaboard Trip Report 2017
  • Raja Ampat to the Banda Islands Liveaboard Trip Report
  • Raja Ampat to Triton Bay 2008
  • Diving Triton Bay 2017
  • Triton Bay Whale Sharks
  • Indonesia’s Best Scuba Diving
  • Cenderawasih Bay
  • Bali Scuba Diving
    • Menjangan Island
  • Lembeh
  • Bangka
  • Kalimantan
  • Palau Weh
  • Banda Sea
    • Gunung Api
    • Ambon
    • Nusa Laut
    • Banda Islands
    • Banda Islands Land Tour
    • Manuk
  • Diving Raja Ampat Podcast
  • Diving Bali Podcast
  • Diving Cenderawasih Bay Podcast
  • Diving Triton Bay Podcast
  • Misool Eco Resort Podcast
  • Diving Indonesia

Dive Happy Podcast

  • Tonga Humpback Whales Podcast
  • Tubbataha Reef Diving Podcast
  • The Father Of Palau Diving: Francis Toribiong
  • Sogod Bay Diving Podcast
  • LAMAVE Volunteer Whale Shark Research
  • Dream Job: What’s It Like To Be A Marine Biologist?
  • Dumaguete Diving Podcast
  • Komodo Diving Podcast
  • Diving The Yonaguni Monument, Japan Podcast
  • Diving Koh Lanta Podcast
  • Moalboal Diving Podcast
  • Diving The Banda Sea Podcast: Part 2
  • Diving The Banda Sea Podcast: Part 1
  • Diving Hawaii Podcast
  • Diving Malapascua Podcast
  • Diving Taiwan Podcast
  • Diving Japan Podcast
  • Diving HTMS Chang And Alhambra Rock Podcast
  • Diving The WW2 Shipwrecks Of Coron Podcast
  • Diving Lembongan Podcast
  • Diving Romblon: the Philippines’ Secret Super Macro Paradise
  • Triton Bay Diving 2020 Podcast
  • Dream Job: Liveaboard Cruise Director Podcast
  • Diving Triton Bay Podcast
  • Diving Tubbataha Reef Podcast
  • Diving Yap Podcast
  • Diving Truk Lagoon Podcast
  • Diving Sogod Bay Podcast
  • Misool Eco Resort Podcast
  • Diving Palau Podcast
  • The Manta Rays Of Myanmar’s Black Rock Podcast
  • Diving Myanmar Podcast
  • Diving Bali Podcast
  • Diving Cenderawasih Bay Podcast
  • Diving Komodo Podcast
  • Diving Raja Ampat Podcast
  • Dive Happy Podcast Home Page

My Recent Dive Trips

  • November 2024: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • October 2024: Forgotten Islands and Banda Sea liveaboard, Indonesia
  • August 2024: Komodo and Saleh Bay liveaboard, Indonesia
  • May 2024: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • April 2024: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • February 2024: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • January 2024:Gangga Island Resort, Indonesia
  • December 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • Mejangan Island, Bali
  • October 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • June 2023: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • April 2023: Maldives liveaboard
  • April 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • February 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • December 2022: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • December 2022: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • August 2022: Komodo liveaboard, Indonesia
  • June 2022: USAT Liberty shipwreck, Bali, Indonesia
  • April 2022: Stonehenge, Koh Lipe, Thailand
  • March 2022: Manta Rays at Koh Bon, Thailand
  • January 2022: Richelieu Rock liveaboard, Thailand
  • March 2021: HTMS Chang and Alahambra Rock liveaboard, Thailand
  • February 2020: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • December 2019: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2019: Malapascua, Philippines
  • June 2019: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • April 2019: Tulamben, Bali
  • December 2018: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • December 2018: Anilao, Philippines
  • October 2018: Moalboal, Philippines
  • October 2018: Malapascua, Philippines
  • July 2018: Tulamben, Bali
  • May 2018: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
  • April 2018: Sogod Bay, Philippines

My Less Recent Dive Trips

  • May 2017: Apo Island and Dumaguete, Philippines
  • April 2017: Tubbataha Reef, Philippines
  • April 2017: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • March 2017: Triton Bay, Indonesia
  • March 2017: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
  • September 2016: Tulamben, Bali at Alba Dive Resort
  • August 2016: Cenderawasih Bay on Damai 1
  • April 2016: Sogod Bay at Sogod Bay Scuba Resort
  • February 2016: Raja Ampat and Banda Islands on Damai 1
  • April 2015: Anilao at Crystal Dive Resort
  • March 2015: Myanmar and Similan Islands on Thailand Aggressor
  • May 2013: Similan Islands on Thailand Aggressor
  • April 2013: Tubbataha Reef on Discovery Palawan
  • January 2013: Komodo, Indonesia on MSY Damai
  • August 2012: Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
  • April 2012: Similan Islands and Southern Thailand liveaboard
  • January 2012: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • August 2011: Hanifaru, Maldives
  • June 2011: Tubbataha Liveaboard Hans Christian Andersen
  • April 2011: Similan Islands and Southern Thailand liveaboard
  • April 2011: Carpe Vita Liveaboard, Maldives
  • March 2011: Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
  • December 2010: Menjangan, Bali
  • July 2010: Tofo, Mozambique
  • July 2010: Sardine Run, South Africa
  • May 2010: Sangalaki / Derawan, Tambora
  • March 2010: MV Flying Seahorse, Similan Islands
  • March 2010: MV Orion, Southern Maldives
  • January 2010: Big Blue Explorer, Palau
  • November 2009: MSY Damai, Banda Sea Liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2009: MSY Damai, Komodo Liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2009: MV Orion, Maldives Liveaboard
  • September 2009: MV Scubanet, Koh Losin, Thailand
  • May 2009: MSY Seahorse, Banda Sea liveaboard, Indonesia
  • March 2009: Sachika Liveaboard, Maldives
  • February 2009: Daytrips, Koh Lanta, Thailand
  • January 2009: MV Jazz, Burma (Myanmar) Liveaboard

Back In The Day Bragging Rights Dive Trips

  • November 2008: Borneo Explorer, Visayas Liveaboard
  • September 2008: S/Y Siren, Komodo Liveaboard
  • August 2008: Ocean Rover, Sulawesi Liveaboard
  • August 2008: NAD Lembeh Resort, Indonesia
  • June 2008: Koh Tao
  • March 2008: Maldives, Bandos Island
  • February 2008: MSY Seahorse, Raja Ampat Liveaboard
  • January 2008: MV Jazz, Burma Liveaboard
  • October 2007: Bali Dive Safari
  • September 2007: Davao, Philippines
  • July 2007: Great White Sharks, Rodney Fox Liveaboard
  • June 2007: Big Blue, Palau Liveaboard
  • May 2007: Whale Sharks at Exmouth, Australia
  • April 2007: Borneo Explorer, Tubbataha Reef Liveaboard
  • December 2006: Komodo Dancer, Komodo Liveaboard

Disclosure: Divehappy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and amazon.co.uk).

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travellers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

© 2005–2025 DiveHappy.com. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy

  • Diving The Similan Islands 2025: A Quick Guide
  • Similan Liveaboard Trip Report 9-13 February 2025
  • Barracuda Tornado, Koh Tachai, Similan Islands February 2025
  • Manta Ray at Koh Bon, Similan Islands, February 2025
  • Jacks Tornado, Richelieu Rock, February 2025