Location
This sleepy village on the North East coast of Bali is reached in a two and a half hour road journey from Sanur. Most of the sites are then beach entry, though for some you will need to take a small local boat for a few minutes.
Tulamben is one of most famous diving areas in Bali. Tulamben Bay, is situated in the World's richest marine biogeographic zone with more than 2500 different species of fish and 700 corals. situated on the northeast coast, the bay receives very plankton rich water from major ocean current that moves from the Pacific to Indian Ocean and vice versa.
High lights
The main attraction is the wreck of the USS Liberty, famous for the amazing variety of marine life found there. This is a must-dive site in Bali , and a photographers' paradise. Other sites include a great drop-off, a shallow coral garden, and a deep coral reef. Tulamben is the best place to night dive in Bali and, being on the East coast, you can take an unforgettable sunrise dive.
Conditions
No currents here, or very mild. Black volcanic sand. Usually very calm flat surface though full moon, especially after the New Year or in late summer, can bring in big waves. The temperature is generally around 27° or 28°. This dive site is suitable for all dive levels.
Kubu Reef
A rich and healthy reef a few minutes by road from the other Tulamben dive sites, dived from the shore. This site features ridges heading from the shore down to aroud 30m. In addition to healthy hard and soft corals divers can often see Jackfish, Barracuda, Triggerfish, and Turtles on a lucky day.
US Liberty shipwreck
This 120m-long WWII-vintage wreck is one of Bali's most popular dive sites,offering even snorkellers an opportunity to view her where she lies on black sand shelf close to the beach.An armed cargo steamship,the USAT Liberty was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in January 1942 in the straits about 15km southwest of Lombok and was evacuated and beached at Tulamben. At the first the Americans planned to salvage her and her cargo,but that never happened and she sat on the beach until 1963 when the volcano Gunung Agung erupted in violent fashion,toppling the ship beneath the wave.
She now lies raughly parallel to the beach in 6-35m of water,with her bow pointing north.The stem and bow are relatively intact,but the section amidships has broken up. the years under the sea have also done divers a favour,turning this wreck into one of Indonesia artificial reefs.
The currents running by bring in lots of nutrients for the coral, and gorgonian fans, soft coral trees and barrel sponges have all flourished, especially around the stern and near the catwalks of the engine room midships.
A resident school of bigeye jacks often lurks here-unafraid of divers, you can approach them and enter the school to have them whirl around you. The ship is also a haven for emperors, parrotfish,batfish and sweetlips. Look for anemones and nudibranchs in the coral-rich areas.
Drop Off
The nearby wreck gets the headlines, but don'tmiss out on this site while you are in the area. Being on the northeast coast of Bali, Tulamben Bay receives plankton-rich waters from the major current that moves from Pacific to the Indian Ocean. this, coupled with the fact that the three main sites here provide totally contrasting physical environtments, makes Tulamben Bay a diverse and fascinating ecosystem.The black sand bottom provides a dramatic contrast, to help bring out the colours of the corals, gorgonians, fish and other marine life. At the south end of the bay, a rocky point falls off sharply underwater and sharks, whale sharks and even molas have been sighted here.
Batu Kelebit
This deep coral site is is just round the corner from the Tulamben Drop Off. The coral starts from about 25m, down to past 70m. Lots of big Triggerfish, Sweet lips, Midnight Snapper and colorful Clownfish & Angelfish. Big pelagics & Sharks. Access just a few minutes by traditional boat from Tulamben it self. This long stretch of coast is all diveable so you can take multiple dives along here.
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