Liberty Dive Resort

Liberty Dive Resort is a beachfront dive resort in Tulamben on Bali’s north-east coast, built around one of the island’s most famous dives: the USAT Liberty, a Second World War cargo ship that lies just off the pebble beach. The resort is a registered PADI Dive Resort and combines a dive centre with rooms, so you can roll out of bed, walk to the shore and be on the wreck within minutes.

Tulamben’s appeal is that almost everything is a shore dive. Alongside the wreck, the resort’s divers visit the Drop Off wall, the Coral Garden and the muck-diving sites of Seraya Secrets, where the focus shifts to frogfish, ghost pipefish and other critters. Accommodation comes in resort, cottage and family rooms.

What to expect

The Liberty was torpedoed in 1942 and later came to rest just offshore, broken up and heavily encrusted with coral. Its shallowest parts can be seen by snorkellers, while divers explore the hull and the deeper sections. Early morning dives often bring schools of jacks and bumphead parrotfish, and night dives reveal a different cast. Porters carry tanks to the beach entry, which is over smooth volcanic stones.

Because the dives start from the beach, there is no boat schedule to follow, so you can plan dives around the light and your own energy levels. Tulamben is also a quieter place to stay than the south, with a village atmosphere, black-stone beaches and views of Mount Agung behind.

Packages & prices

Dive and snorkel prices are not shown on the resort’s homepage; contact the team for current rates, packages combining rooms with dives, and courses.

• Shore dives – USAT Liberty wreck, Drop Off, Coral Garden.
• Muck diving – Seraya Secrets and nearby critter sites.
• Snorkelling – shallow parts of the wreck from the beach.
• Rooms – resort rooms, cottage rooms and family rooms.

Safety & requirements

The pebble beach can be slippery and surf occasionally breaks on the entry, so wear booties and follow the guide’s timing. Visibility and conditions are usually easy, but divers should stay within their certification depth, since parts of the wreck lie deeper than recreational beginners should go. Snorkellers should watch for divers’ bubbles and boats. Bring your certification card and logbook.

Tips

• Dive the wreck at dawn before day-trip groups arrive from the south.
• Book a night dive; the wreck is famous for its after-dark life.
• Stay at least two nights to combine the wreck with Seraya and the Drop Off.
• Bring a macro lens if you are into underwater photography.
• The drive from the south is long, so plan a stay rather than a day trip.

Snorkellers and non-diving partners are well catered for, since the shallowest parts of the wreck can be seen from the surface a short swim from shore.