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Tulamben, Bali

Scuba diver swimming over coral-encrusted shipwreck remains in blue water
Photo: G patkar, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
From the pebble beach, a few dozen metres out
Hours
Dives from early morning; night dives in the evening
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
3 h
With kids
Better without small kids
Beach entry
Small fee for divers
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Wreck
USAT Liberty, about 120 m
Depth
≈ 3–5 m at the top of the hull, down to ≈ 30 m
Nearby
Amed ≈ 13 km
Coordinates
-8.27750, 115.59250YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

≈ 120 mlength of the USAT Liberty cargo ship
SourceWikipedia: USAT Liberty
1942the year the damaged ship ended up on Tulamben's shore
SourceWikipedia: USAT Liberty
3–30 mdepth range of the hull
SourceTulamben dive centres
Shore entryno boat needed — straight in from the beach
SourceTulamben dive centres
≈ 13 kmto Amed
SourceOSRM route
≈ 103 kmby road from Ngurah Rai Airport
SourceOSRM route

The USAT Liberty wreck

USAT Liberty was an American cargo ship about 120 metres long. In 1942, during the Second World War, the damaged ship was towed towards Bali and beached at Tulamben; later the hull slid back into the sea, where it lies today.

Over the decades the wreck has become completely covered in coral, sponges and sea fans, turning into an artificial reef. Schools of fish hang around it, turtles and parrotfish are regulars, and at night crustaceans come out to hunt.

Liberty wreck snorkeling and diving

The hull lies on its side from 3–5 metres down to about 30 metres, a few dozen metres from shore. You can see the upper section while snorkeling when visibility is good, but a scuba dive is the real experience.

No boat is needed: you walk in from the pebble beach. By tradition, local porters — mostly women — carry the tanks on their heads from the dive centre to the water. Beginners can dive with an instructor, and experienced divers come back for night dives.

About Tulamben

Tulamben is a quiet village on Bali's northeast coast, at the foot of Mount Agung. The beach is big black pebbles, and guesthouses and dive centres line the road. People come here not for the beach but for what's underwater.

The star is the Liberty wreck: one of Asia's best-known dive sites, and one of the most accessible, since you can swim to it from the shore.

How to get to Tulamben

Tulamben is at the far end of the island from the airport: about 100 km by road, around 3 hours by car with traffic. From Ubud it's about 2–2.5 hours, from Amed 15–20 minutes.

Many dive centres in south Bali run day trips to the Liberty with hotel pickup. But it's easier to stay overnight in Tulamben or Amed and dive at dawn.

How to get to Tulamben from Ubud or Seminyak

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. Day dive trip — hotel pickup, gear and instructor included.
  2. Car with driver from the airport or Seminyak — about 3 hours; from Ubud 2–2.5 hours.
  3. From Amed — 13 km, 15–20 minutes.
  4. Stop at Tirta Gangga water palace on the way.

Where to stay

Tulamben has dive resorts and guesthouses right on the beach, many selling stay-and-dive packages. That's handy if you want several dives, including a night dive.

For more cafés and choice, stay in Amed, 13 km away: it's 15–20 minutes to the Liberty, and dive centres provide transport.

Is Tulamben worth it?

Yes, if you dive or want to try: a coral-covered wreck a few metres from shore is one of Bali's best dives, and it's open to beginners.

YesGo's take: beyond the wreck there's little to do in the village, the beach is pebbly and the drive from the south is long. Don't come just to snorkel — pair it with Amed.

Bali sea spots compared

Beaches, bays and snorkeling and dive spots on Bali rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.

Saraswati Temple4530 minfree; dance ≈ IDR 100,00044.4 km
Ayung River Rafting293 h≈ IDR 400,000–500,00044.7 km
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Tirta Gangga Water Palace241 h≈ IDR 50,00015.0 km
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Crystal Bay212 hSmall fee50.9 km
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Pemuteran214 hFree104.1 km
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Pandawa Beach202 h 30 min≈ IDR 25,00077.3 km
Dreamland Beach202 h 30 minFree78.1 km
Geger Beach202 h 30 minfree or ≈ IDR 5,000–10,00072.6 km
Tulambenyou are here193 hSmall fee—
Manta Point193 hTour only58.3 km
West Bali National Park164 h≈ IDR 200,000 + guide121.1 km
Menjangan Island155 htrip ≈ IDR 500,000120.3 km

East Bali in a day

An early dive on the Liberty at Tulamben, snorkeling in Amed, then Tirta Gangga on the way back. Add it to your trip — YesGo will set the timings and transfers.

  1. Tulambenyou are here3 h · Small fee
  2. 144 min walk from the previous stopAmed4 h · Free
  3. 181 min walk from the previous stopTirta Gangga Water Palace1 h · ≈ IDR 50,000

3 places · about 13 h 25 min with walks · 325 min on foot in total

Go · my route

How to do it right

  • Dive early, before the groups arrive.
  • Wear water shoes — the pebbles are big.
  • Try a night dive on the wreck.
  • Stay nearby rather than doing a day trip.
  • Nearby: Amed.

Questions

Where is Tulamben?

On Bali's northeast coast, in Karangasem regency, 13 km from Amed.

What is the Liberty wreck?

An American cargo ship about 120 m long, lying just offshore and covered in coral.

How deep is the Liberty wreck?

From 3–5 m at the top of the hull to about 30 m.

Can you snorkel the Liberty wreck?

Yes, the upper section when visibility is good, but scuba is best.

Is the Liberty wreck good for beginners?

Yes, a guided shore dive is possible even with no experience.

How do I get to Tulamben?

By car with driver or on a dive trip — about 3 hours from south Bali.

Is there an entrance fee?

Divers pay a small beach fee, usually included in the dive price.

When is the best time to dive Tulamben?

Early morning, in the dry season from April to October.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Wikipedia: USAT Liberty — length, how the ship came to Tulamben
  • Tulamben dive centres — depths, shore entry, porters, night dives
  • Wikidata Q987513 — coordinates; OSRM routing — distances to the airport, Ubud and Amed
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 10.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThe ship's history and size come from Wikipedia (USAT Liberty); wartime details are left out under YesGo policy. Depths, shore entry and conditions come from Tulamben dive centres. The beach fee isn't officially published, so it's marked unconfirmed. Distances are OSRM routes (airport 103 km, Ubud 83 km, Amed 13 km); travel times with traffic are our estimate.

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