Bali dive village on the northeast coast, defined by the coral-covered USAT Liberty wreck just offshore.
Tulamben is one of the world's great shore dives. The USAT Liberty wreck, a US Army cargo ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1942 and dragged onto the beach after the 1963 eruption of Mount Agung, lies just 30 metres from shore in 3 to 29 metres of water. The wreck is encrusted with coral and swarming with hundreds of fish species, making it accessible to divers of almost any level.
The village itself is small and unpretentious, strung along the northeast coast road. Most visitors come purely for the diving and stay in one of the modest dive resorts clustered near the beach. Dawn dives are popular — the Liberty wreck is at its quietest and most photogenic before the day-trip boats arrive from Amed and Candidasa.
Beyond the Liberty, Tulamben has several other good dive sites including the Drop Off, a vertical wall starting at 3 metres and plunging to 40, and the Coral Garden, a pleasant reef for snorkellers and beginner divers.
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Getting There
Tulamben is on the northeast coast of Bali, roughly 90 kilometres from Denpasar and about two hours by road. Most visitors arrive by private car or scooter — there is no direct tourist shuttle from Kuta or Seminyak, though some Amed-bound services stop at Tulamben if you ask.
The road from Denpasar goes via Amlapura and around the base of Mount Agung, which makes for a scenic drive through rice terraces and volcanic landscape. Coming from Ubud, the drive is about 1.5 hours via the northern route through Kintamani and along the caldera rim — a worthwhile route in its own right.
If you are arriving from Lombok or the Gili Islands, the fastest route is by fast boat to Amed (some services) or Padang Bai, then by road.
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When to Go
The best diving conditions at Tulamben are from April to November, during the dry season, when visibility on the Liberty wreck can reach 20 to 30 metres on good days. The wet season (December to March) brings more swell and reduced visibility but is rarely bad enough to stop diving entirely.
Tulamben is worth visiting in the wet season if you want lower prices and fewer people. The wreck crowds mostly disappear, and the dive sites are often shared only with resort guests. The sea here is generally calmer than the south of Bali even in the wet months.
Bali's high season (July–August and the Christmas–New Year period) brings more day-trippers to the wreck, which is why dawn diving is so strongly recommended. Book accommodation and dive packages in advance for these periods.
