Tulamben
Indonesia · Bali
A black sand fishing village on Bali's northeast coast, Tulamben is built around the USAT Liberty — a 120m WWII wreck that sits 30m from the beach in 5–30m of water. The wreck is famous, but the macro on the surrounding muck and the drop off at the next bay over make it a full week's diving without a boat.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
USS Liberty wreck is the main draw. Surrounding reef has thinned modestly since 2010 but macro and muck diving here don't depend on cover.
Coral cover
Fish life
More fish than a healthy reef of its kind.
Heat
No unusual heat right now.
Fishing
Some fishing is allowed here, in marked zones.
Sources · MERMAID and partner coral surveys · Reef Life Survey · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
30 species across the dive sites here
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Seen 8 days ago
at Nusa Penida
Critically endangered
Hawksbill turtle
Seen 8 days ago
at The Drop-Off
Critically endangered
Blacklip Butterflyfish
Seen 11 days ago
at Nusa Penida
Least concern
Leaf scorpionfish
Seen 11 days ago
at The Drop-Off
Least concern
Moorish Idol
Seen 11 days ago
at Nusa Penida
Least concern
Ornate Ghostpipefish
Seen 11 days ago
at The Drop-Off
Least concern
Pacific Trumpetfish
Seen 11 days ago
at Nusa Penida
Least concern
Whitetip reef shark
Seen 11 days ago
at Crystal Bay (Nusa Penida)
Vulnerable
Black-Margined Nudibranch
Seen 16 days ago
at The Drop-Off
Reef manta ray
Seen 16 days ago
at Manta Point (Nusa Penida)
Vulnerable
Tryon'S Hypselodoris
Seen 16 days ago
at The Drop-Off
Ribbon eel
Seen 17 days ago
at USS Liberty Wreck
Least concern
Pygmy seahorse
Seen 24 days ago
at USS Liberty Wreck
Least concern
Harlequin shrimp
Seen 25 days ago
at Coral Garden
Bannerfish
Seen 29 days ago
at Crystal Bay (Nusa Penida)
Painted frogfish
Seen 1 month ago
at Coral Garden
Least concern
Zephyr Hypselodoris
Seen 1 month ago
at The Drop-Off
Magnificent Chromodoris
Seen 1 month ago
at Nusa Penida
Clark's Anemonefish
Seen 1 month ago
at Nusa Penida
Least concern
Great barracuda
Seen 1 month ago
at USS Liberty Wreck
Least concern
Bumphead parrotfish
Seen 1 month ago
at USS Liberty Wreck
Vulnerable
Ocean sunfish (bumphead mola)
Seen 1 month ago
at Crystal Bay (Nusa Penida)
Ocean sunfish (mola)
Seen 1 month ago
at Manta Point (Nusa Penida)
Bluestreak cleaner wrasse
Seen 2 months ago
at Manta Point (Nusa Penida)
Least concern
Bluespotted ribbontail ray
Seen 3 months ago
at Crystal Bay (Nusa Penida)
Least concern
Napoleon wrasse
Seen 3 months ago
at The Drop-Off
Endangered
Garden eels
Seen 7 months ago
at Coral Garden
Least concern
Mandarinfish
Seen year round
at Coral Garden
Least concern
Blacktip reef shark
Rare sighting
at USS Liberty Wreck
Vulnerable
Oceanic manta ray
Rare sighting
at Manta Point (Nusa Penida)
Endangered
Dive sites
USS Liberty Wreck
bumphead parrotfish · great barracuda · pygmy seahorse · ribbon eel
The Drop-Off
whitetip reef shark · napoleon wrasse · hawksbill turtle · leaf scorpionfish
Coral Garden
painted frogfish · harlequin shrimp · mandarinfish · garden eels
Manta Point (Nusa Penida)
reef manta ray · oceanic manta ray · bluestreak cleaner wrasse · whitetip reef shark
Crystal Bay (Nusa Penida)
ocean sunfish (bumphead mola) · bannerfish · whitetip reef shark · bluespotted ribbontail ray
Nusa Penida
reef manta ray · blacklip butterflyfish · moorish idol · hawksbill sea turtle
What divers say
Nowhere else can I do four shore dives a day on a world class wreck and walk back to a warung for nasi goreng between them.
Good to know
Early-morning crowds
Liberty gets busy by 9am with day trippers. Stay locally and dive it at sunrise — it's a different wreck.
Cobble entry
Booties with stiff soles save ankles. The walk in is the hardest part of the dive.