Nature · Ubud
Tulamben Wreck
Busy 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM Found on Google Maps 3 Oct 2026
The Tulamben Wreck—the USAT Liberty—is one of the world's most famous and accessible shipwreck dive sites, resting just 30 meters off the stony black volcanic beach of Tulamben in Karangasem Regency. Torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in the Lombok Strait during World War II in January 1942, the 125-meter American cargo ship was beached in Tulamben before the devastating 1963 eruption of Mount Agung pushed the hull into the sea. Today, the wreck rests on a steep sandy slope between 5 and 30 meters deep, completely encrusted in kaleidoscopic hard corals, sea fans, and anemones. Teeming with over 400 species of marine life—including resident bumphead parrotfish, giant barracuda, and green sea turtles—it offers an extraordinary shore-access dive for both scuba divers and snorkelers.
Insider tips
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01
Dawn Bumphead Parrotfish Dive. Schedule your first dive at 6:00 AM before day-trip vans arrive from southern Bali; dawn is when the famous school of giant bumphead parrotfish departs the wreck's interior.
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02
Snorkeling the Upper Hull. Non-divers can enjoy spectacular views; the top sections of the shipwreck lie only 4 to 5 meters beneath the surface, allowing snorkelers and freedivers to easily explore the structure.
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03
Hard-Soled Dive Booties. Tulamben's beach is composed of smooth, baseball-sized black volcanic rocks; wear hard-soled dive booties to navigate the shoreline comfortably when carrying scuba gear.
Good to know
- Dive Logistics & Porters
- Guided 2-tank shore dives typically cost Rp 600,000 to Rp 900,000 including gear, dive guide, and porter fees (local village women carry the heavy tanks on their heads); village conservation fee is Rp 20,000–50,000.
- Best Seasons & Visibility
- Diving is exceptional year-round; the calmest surface conditions and highest underwater visibility (15–30 meters) typically occur from April to July and October to November.
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