Dive Sites of the Tulamben Bay Area

Diving Conditions

Stoney Beach of Tulamben

The area at Bali's north coast known as Tulamben area houses some of the most popular and best known dive sites of Bali and probably Indonesia. There is enough marine life and variation of dive sites to spend many days or even weeks during your diving holiday / vacation in Bali. Non-divers will have a pleasant time snorkeling in this area.

Conditions are good with normally no or mild north-west flowing currents and water of pleasant temperature. Most dive sites in this area of north Bali are accessible directly from the coast which is covered with volcanic rocks and cobbles. Underwater, the seafloor changes at approx. 6 meter depth from rock to sand.

The best conditions to dive Tulamben can be found during late March-July, October and November, during these periods the southeast monsoon visits Bali which is responsible for the dry season. Visibility can reach an awesome 40 metres when you diving in Tulamben at the right time of year.

Marine Life

Underwater life and creatures can be found of many species living in the Asian Pacific region, ranging from reef inhabitants like corals, sponges, gorgonians, frogfish, ghostpipe fish, boxer crab and many kind of reef fishes to large pelagics like Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) and white-tip reef sharks. There are even rare sightings of animals like hammerhead sharks and whale sharks in this area (although in water with a depth greater then recreational diving allows).

Gunung Agung

Bali's Holy Mountain Gunung Agung

Tulamben lies in the shadow of Bali's holy mountain named Gunung Agung or Mount Agung. Gunung Agung is a volcano of the stratovolcano type and is the highest point of the island with it's 3142 metres (10473ft). Gunung Agung is Indonesian for Great Mountain.

On March 17, 1963 the volcano exploded violently, burrying complete villages under ash and rock. Rivers of lava flowing down from the eastern side of the mountain, just passing Besakih temple, Bali's holiest and mother temple. On that date at Besakih temple, priest were preparing for the Eka Dasa Rudra ceremony which is of great importance in the Balinese calendar and takes place once every century. The time the ceremony was planned to take place was disputed by some priests, and the erupting volcano understated their beliefs.

1963 was the first time in threehundred years that the volcano erupted. Today the mountain is still active but much more quiet then the other volcano's of Indonesia which sometimes reach the news.

From the top of the mountain it's possible (when the sky is clear) to see the peak of the volcano of Lombok, Mount Rinjani (3726mtr / 12419ft). Because Mount Agung blocks clouds from the south, this part of Bali is one of the dryest parts of the island.

Tulamben Bay Dive Sites

Tulamben Bay is the area north of the volcanic spurs that form the Drop-off dive site. Most popular dive sites in the Bay area are:

The USAT Liberty Shipwreck

USAT Liberty Shipwreck

The famous and probably easyest dive-able shipwreck in the world is located along Tulamben's shore. It is the wreck of the USAT Liberty Glo which was beached on Tulamben's shore during the second world war. The USAT Liberty (mistakenly called USS Liberty by some other Balinese dive operations) has formed an artificial reef of 120 metres long (400ft) during the past 45 years. It is now located underwater 30metres from the shore in Tulamben Bay.

The wreck is an easy, very popular dive site and can be reached directly from the stony beach. Many people visit this dive site during their Scuba diving holidays in Bali and it can be pretty busy, on the shore and underwater, especially during morning hours and early afternoon. The marine life is stunning and someone estimated that there can be found over 300 species of fish around this shipwreck. A night dive at this location is highly recommended and regarded as an magical experience by many divers.

The USAT Liberty is an ideal place to conduct recreational Scuba diving courses like the PADI "Open Water", "Advanced", "Wreck Diver", "Night Diver" and "AWARE Fish Identification" specialty courses. This dive site is an outstanding place to bring your underwater camera and record some of the beautiful things that you will see during your holidays in this area.

View at Tulamben Bay

Drop-Off aka Tulamben Wall

A dive site known by the name "Drop-Off" is located south-east from the shipwreck at the end of the stoney shoreline. The way is formed from three old flows of lava from Mount Agung and drops to a depth of over 60 metres (200ft).

The Drop-off dive site is reached from the stony shore at the end of a (most of the year) dry river. This location is ideal for conducting deep diving specialty courses and technical diving.

Coral Gardens aka Patch Reef aka Paradise House Reef

The Paradise resort in Tulamben was the first accommodation to stay at and start your holiday diving from back in the days. The reef right in front is called after this operation and is also known by names as "Coral Gardens" and "Patch Reef". It provides shore excess and nice dives just east of the busy shipwreck area. Though not as spectacular as the wreck of the USAT Liberty itself, one can find some surprising marine life while diving this dive site.

The River

"The River" is a place where most dives to Tulamben's Dropp-of dive site start from the shoreline. The River is for some diver not a really interesting site to stay for a long time because of the lack of serious coral growth. When examined closer however, there can be found some remarkable macro marine life at this place and the small patches of coral that do life here on the sandy bottom offer an oasis inhabited by small critters..

Beyond Tulamben Bay

There are some interesting locations to conduct your Scuba dives that are located just outside Tulamben bay. These sites can be reached by minibus or local fishing boat (Jukung) from Tulamben's bay in about 10-15 minutes:

Batu Kelebit aka Kelebit Rocks

This dive site is located east from Tulamben bay and is reached by Jukung in about 15 minutes. Batu Kelebit is formed by lava from Mount Agung's eruption of 1963 and this area offers an outstanding variety of sea fans, coral bushes and sponges. There are reef sharks and bumpbead parrotfishes here on many occasions.

Emerald Bay

Emerald bay can be found bit to the east of the Batu Kelebit dive site and is a small bay that is named after the Emerald resort that is situated here. There is a "wreck" of a Toyota car at this dive location aswell as some interesting marine life. Popular by Japanese divers and snorkelers.

Tukad Abu aka Seraya Secrets

Seraya is a Scuba resort that is located at the shore, a 10 minute drive east of Tulamben's main locations for diving. The dive site in front of the resort is known by many underwater photographer as a macro critters heaven. Many kind of Nudibranch and different type of Ghost-Pipefish can be found here in the right season..

Tulamben Bay Area Dive Sites, Bali Indonesia

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