Scuba Diving in Tulamben
The Ultimate Guide
Tulamben sits on Bali’s northeast coast and is best known for the USAT Liberty shipwreck – a 125‑metre cargo ship torpedoed in WWII that now lies just a short swim from shore. Warm water, mild currents and straightforward shore entries make diving here relaxed for all levels. Besides the wreck, divers can explore coral gardens, black‑sand muck sites and dramatic drop‑offs. Macro lovers will find nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, mimic octopus and pygmy seahorses, while big‑fish fans can encounter schooling jackfish, bumphead parrotfish and reef sharks. With a compact coastline packed with variety, Tulamben delivers world‑class wreck and critter diving without long boat rides.
Difficulty
Easy
Temperature
27-30°C
Visibility
15-25m
Diving Highlights
Best Months to Dive
Getting to Tulamben for Diving
✈️Transportation
Fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar. From the airport it’s a 2.5–3‑hour drive to Tulamben along Bali’s east coast. There is no public transport to the village, so most visitors arrange a private car with driver (about IDR 600 000–800 000 per journey) or a taxi through their dive resort. Confident riders can rent a scooter for a lower cost, but travelling with dive gear on a bike is not recommended. Once in Tulamben, the village is small – most hotels, dive centres and restaurants are within walking distance of the beach.
Country
Indonesia
Currency
Indonesian Rupiah
Electricity
220V, 50Hz，Euro Plug
Cost of a Dive Trip in Tulamben
Day Trip
Dive Resort
Meal
Accommodation
Best Dive Sites in Tulamben
🐠USAT Liberty Wreck
The USAT Liberty is a 125‑metre World War II cargo ship resting just off Tulamben’s beach. Torpedoed in 1942, it was beached and later pushed back into the ocean by Mount Agung’s 1963 eruption. Today the wreck lies between 5 and 30 m deep, covered in hard and soft corals and alive with trevallies, bumphead parrotfish, groupers and countless reef fish. Its accessible shore entry and calm conditions make it suitable for all levels, and night dives reveal hunting morays and Spanish dancers.
🐢Coral Garden
Situated a short swim east of the Liberty, Coral Garden is a calm reef dive with depths from 3 to 20 m. The site features colourful hard and soft corals, anemones and manmade Balinese statues and stupas that act as cleaning stations. Shallow areas teem with reef fish and ribbon eels, while deeper sections hide leaf scorpionfish and occasional ghost pipefish. It’s ideal for relaxed photography and night dives.
🦈Drop-Off (Tulamben Wall)
Formed by ancient lava flows, the Drop‑Off is a dramatic underwater wall that plunges from a few metres to beyond 70 m. Divers descend from shore and drift along sponges, sea fans and coral growth while watching schools of fusiliers, damselfish, angelfish and occasional turtles. Deeper sections may reveal groupers, reef sharks and napoleon wrasse, and macro hunters can find leaf scorpionfish, nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses on the wall.
🐙Seraya Secrets
South of Tulamben village, Seraya Secrets is a black‑sand muck dive famous for its rare critters. Depths of 5–25 m and a gentle slope make it perfect for photographers seeking mimic octopus, ornate ghost pipefish, frogfish and all manner of shrimp and nudibranchs. The dark sand provides excellent contrast for macro subjects, and patient divers are rewarded with unusual sightings.
🐚Batu Kelebit
Accessible by a short jukung boat ride, Batu Kelebit is a deep reef with three steep ridges and lush hard corals. The site slopes to over 60 m, with an average depth around 25 m and visibility of 10–30 m. Early‑morning dives sometimes encounter bumphead parrotfish feeding near the shallow corals, while deeper ridges attract groupers, trevallies and the occasional shark. With little current and warm water, Batu Kelebit is ideal for experienced divers who enjoy wide‑angle scenery.
🦑Emerald
A quieter site southeast of Tulamben Bay, Emerald features a gentle sloping reef starting around 12 m and extending to 30 m. The lighter sand and low diver traffic mean larger, more pristine sponges and corals. Divers can expect sweetlips, pufferfish, grouper and schooling sardines, as well as garden eels poking from the sandy floor and occasional octopus or stingrays. Sometimes a stronger current turns the dive into a smooth drift.
🐡Boga Wreck (Kubu Wreck)
Sunk deliberately in 2012, the 40‑m‑long Boga Wreck lies at 18–38 m and offers a deep‑wreck adventure for advanced divers. The ship is filled with photo‑worthy props such as a jeep, amphorae and statues. Access is via shore entry and a six‑minute swim from Kubu village. Marine life includes barracuda, snappers, lionfish, groupers and macro creatures like nudibranchs and ghost pipefish around the sandy base.
🦀Kubu Reef
Next to the Boga Wreck, Kubu Reef is a colorful shore dive with depths of 3–25 m and a mix of rocky slopes and black‑sand patches. Coral bommies and scattered patches attract macro life, while a quirky area of submerged bicycles and motorbikes offers fun photo opportunities. The mild conditions and varied habitat make it a great second dive after the wreck.
🐋Batu Ringgit
Batu Ringgit is an underrated macro dive north of Kubu. A rocky beach entry leads to a slope descending to about 25 m, alternating between black sand, rubble patches and coral‑covered ridges. Dedicated critter hunters search here for ghost pipefish, frogfish, whip‑coral shrimp and rare nudibranchs like the donut Doto. The sheltered setting and low diver traffic make it ideal for slow exploration and photography.
What Divers Say About Diving in Tulamben
Marcus Rodriguez
DivemasterTulamben surprised me with how much variety it packs into such a small stretch of coastline. 🏝️ Walking straight off the pebbly beach and dropping onto a 125‑metre WWII wreck is surreal — the Liberty is draped in corals and swarming with jackfish and bumphead parrotfish, and I never get tired of exploring its nooks and crannies. The best part? No boat rides! Most dives are shore entries, so you can squeeze in four or five dives a day without ever climbing a ladder. 🏖️ The black‑sand slopes around Seraya and Batu Ringgit are a macro photographer’s dream: nudibranchs in every colour, ghost pipefish hiding in crinoids and even the occasional mimic octopus crawling along the sand. 🐙 On deeper boat dives like Batu Kelebit the scenery opens up with coral‑covered pinnacles and the chance of reef sharks or schooling trevally. After each dive, it’s back to a laid‑back village where you can rinse your gear, sip a coconut and watch Mount Agung glow at sunset — pure bliss. 🌅
Frequently Asked Questions About Diving in Tulamben
When is the best time to go scuba diving in Tulamben?
Diving is possible year‑round, but the dry season from April to November offers the calmest seas and clearest visibility (around 15–25 m). Rainy season dives from December to March are also good and often quieter with cheaper accommodation.
What marine life can I see while diving in Tulamben?
Tulamben is famous for big schools of jackfish and bumphead parrotfish around the Liberty Wreck, plus reef sharks, turtles and occasional eagle rays on the wall dives. Macro sites host nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, mimic octopus, frogfish, pygmy seahorses and countless shrimps and crabs.
Is Tulamben suitable for beginner divers?
Yes. Most Tulamben dive sites are shore entries with mild or no current, making them perfect for beginners. Deeper wrecks like the Boga require an advanced certification, but the Liberty, Coral Garden and Drop‑Off have shallow sections for all levels.
How many dive sites are there in Tulamben?
Tulamben’s coastline spans about 10 km and includes more than a dozen dive sites, from the famous USAT Liberty Wreck and Coral Garden to muck dives like Seraya Secrets and deeper boat dives such as Batu Kelebit, Emerald and Alamanda.
What are the water temperatures and visibility in Tulamben?
Water temperatures stay warm at 27–30 °C throughout the year. Visibility typically ranges from 15 to 25 m, with the clearest water during the dry season and slightly reduced viz during the rainy months.
Do I need to take a boat to dive in Tulamben?
Most of Tulamben’s signature sites (Liberty, Coral Garden, Drop‑Off, Seraya) are shore dives. Some sites like Batu Kelebit, Emerald and Alamanda are accessed by traditional jukung boat; rides are short and usually arranged through your dive centre.
Are there strong currents in Tulamben?
Currents are generally mild. Shore dives are usually calm, while outer boat sites can have light to moderate currents that sometimes turn into gentle drift dives. Local guides will plan dives according to conditions and your experience.
What facilities are available in Tulamben?
The village has a range of dive resorts, homestays and restaurants. Dive shops provide gear rental, guides and air fills. Many resorts have pools and beachfront restaurants, and the vibe is relaxed and low‑key compared to busier parts of Bali.