Home › Continents › Asia › Indonesia › Bali › Tulamben › USS Liberty
USS Liberty Shipwreck Tulamben Bay
There is a gigantic shipwreck resting on its side in shallow water around forty metres from the black sand beach at Tulamben Bay in the North East of Bali.
The information in this section explains how it sank (and why), how deep the dive is on the USAT Liberty, and what marine life species exist on this famous sunken wreckage.
Historical Facts about USAT Liberty Wreck
First launched in 1918, the Liberty was a United States Army Transport cargo ship powered by steam.
Here's the thing:
A Japanese submarine torpedoed the 120 metre long vessel as it made its way through the Lombok Strait during World War II.
On January 11th 1942, the damage from two torpedo strikes rendered the ship inoperable.
Nonetheless, there were no official reports of any serious casualties.
The US Navy decided to tow the derelict remains of the hull to the planned destination of Singaraja harbour, in the north of Bali Island.
However, the naval operation failed to meet its intended destination. In fact, the ship was abandoned and stranded close to the beach at Tulamben. The ruin was subsequently unloaded of its cargo and valuables.
How Deep is the Dive on the USAT Liberty?
Mount Agung is the largest volcano in Bali. It towers over the sleepy village of Tulamben towards the north-east of the island. On the 18th of February in 1963, the volcano erupted, causing the death of 1,600 local residents.
The eruption was so fierce that the hot magma flow pushed the wreckage of the colossal ship into the sea. It found its final resting place around 40 metres from the shoreline, below the Gunung Agung volcano.
- Shallowest Point: Five (5) metres
- Average Depth: Fourteen (14) metres
- Maximum Depth: Thirty (30) metres at high tide
- Underwater Visibility: Fifteen to thirty metres
- General Currents: Weak to Mild
- Unusual Hazards: None Noted
Over the years, nature has taken hold of the vessel and produced magnificent coral reef structures on the shallow shelf.
The decks of the sunken hulk still face seaward and provide a unique widespread habitat for thousands of aquatic animals and plants.
Pro Tip: Because the Liberty Shipwreck is so close to the shore, and sections of the ruins are so shallow, it is one of the world's best wreck dives that also creates memorable snorkeling activities.
Marine Life at USAT Liberty Wreck
The house reefs found at Tulamben Bay provide incredible habitats for a plethora of rare marine creatures. Some of the most noteworthy examples include:
- Anthias (sea goldie)
Blennies fish- Boxer crab (Lybia tessellata)
- Crinoids (phylum Echinodermata)
- Cuttlefish
- Frogfish
- Fusiliers
- Gobies fishes
- Gorgonian sea fan (Alcyonacea)
- Napoleon wrasse
- Nudibranch (sea slug)
- Pygmy seahorse
- Sharp nosed puffer fish
Pro Tip: The USAT Liberty Wreck dive site is not deep and the water movement is mostly calm. As a result, many of the local dive schools use this spot for conducting the Night Diver Specialty course.
Related Information and Help Guides
- Best Diving and Snorkeling at Tulamben
- Coral Garden Dive Site Tulamben Bali
- The Drop Off Wall Dive in Tulamben Bay
Pro Tip: The short video [8:55 seconds] presented by 'Blue Horizon Diving' contains amazing footage of the team scuba diving the USAT Liberty Shipwreck in Tulamben Bay, Bali, Indonesia.