A submerged ship where tropical fish and colourful coral have made their home, the USAT Liberty wreck is a popular Bali dive site. Located in the north off Tulamben Bay, the shipwreck attracts a steady stream of divers and snorkellers keen to spy its underwater secrets.
Sunk in 1942 after being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, the US Army Transport Ship Liberty lies 30m offshore from the small fishing village of Tulamben. The dive entry point is from the beach which is also remarkable for its black sand and volcanic rocks that provide a stunning contrast against the beautiful colours of the marine life.
The just offshore location makes this site one of the easiest wreck dives and is considered suitable for all divers. The actual sunken ship is 120m long and you can still spy elements such as guns and anchor chains. The highest point is 3m below the surface so snorkellers are also able to see parts of the wreck along with the variety of aquatic life that live on and around the site.
The Liberty is totally covered in soft and hard corals as well as anemones, and attracts over 400 species of reef fish such as blue-eyed trevally, wrasse and unicorn fish. Many of the fish actually reside in the wreck and are used to interacting with divers which will further enhance your experience.
Another option is to dive the wreck site at night, which is particularly amazing during a full moon. On a night dive you may chance upon species such as Spanish dancers, bumphead parrotfish, turtles and whale sharks.
The Liberty is considered one of the best wreck dives in the world and as such, has the popularity to match. It's best to base yourself at Tulamben or the neighbouring fishing village of Amed for close proximity to the site. All the hotels in Tulamben have in-house dive operations or are associated with them in order to facilitate access to USAT Liberty. To visit, Tulamben is a 30-minute drive north of Amed or two hours' drive from Ubud.
