Dive In Tulamben Bali
LOCATED about 100 km from Denpasar in a small village on the northeast coast of Bali. Tulamben has become Bali's most famous diving area and therefore where you are most likely to meet internationally recognized underwater photographers and writers. Their magnificent coral mounds teem with a spectacular variety of marine life.
Tulamben is on the bay receives plankton-rich waters from the major ocean current that moves from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. This, coupled with the fact that the dive sites provide totally different physical environments, mean that Tulamben contains a stunningly diverse underwater ecosystem. Tulamben is a favourite with marine biologists, underwater photographers and divers.
Tulamben have several dive sites such as:
The Shipwreck
It is a lovely dive site, possibly the world's easiest wreck dive, and suitable for all grades of divers. The wreck used to be an American supply ship USAT Liberty. Over the years anything reusable was removed. In 1963, with the earth tremors from the last eruption of Mount Agung, the wreck slid further down the slope where it still lies as close to the beach.
The wreck is 120 m long and lies approximately 30 m offshore and almost parallel to the beach on the sand slope (deck to sea). In time, the wreck has completely overgrown with coral and stock a home for many fish. The wreck of an American vessel is a great site for photography and easy access. The wreck could be one of the most visited and easiest wreck dives in the world, but it can get very crowded.
Unfortunately, there are also two negative items you should not hide. First, the wreck is Bali's most popular dive site with quite some divers underwater. Second, the silly habit like 'feeding fish' is quite common. Nevertheless it is more than worth to dive the wreck to observe the incredible fish life.
The Drop Off
Located just of the eastern end of the beach on the rocky area, and drop to a sandy bottom at just over 60 m. This site, an old lava flow from Mount Agung, is at the opposite end of the bay from the Shipwreck. Contains an excellent 'aquarium section' and very popular with snorkelers. There is a lagoon that is very calm and not normally subject to heavy surf, a great place to conduct initial training for beginner divers.
The Wall
Starts in 1 m deep water and drops almost vertically to 40 m. Besides the amazing coral growth it also offers an incredible underwater landscape with many overhanging rock formations. The area is also perfect for snorkeling.
The Coral Garden
Provides an excellent and protected environment for shallow waters activities. The marine life is as abundant in the coral gardens and the sand slope as elsewhere in the bay. The coral garden is wonderfully grown with hard and soft coral. This dive site is also a superb snorkeling area with none to mild current.
Shark Point
Located at a favorable current occasionally gray reef sharks can be seen and rarely hammerhead sharks. The current sometimes can be quite strong and cold water from the deep may be welled up more shallow. This dive site is not suitable for snorkeling.
Kelebit Rocks
Take a short ride to the east of the Drop Off to these 2 large rocks that lie just offshore. The dive site is quite dramatic and consists of three steep ridges encrusted with an incredible diversity of hard corals, beautiful sea fans, fire corals and sponges. Between these ridges are channels of white sand. This place is not so popular with beginner divers due to the depth and the limited bottom time.
Paradise Reef
Located between the Drop Off and the Shipwreck and this place is full of unusual marine lives found here. Underwater photographers dive here and they still find the place is so interesting.
Illustrations of Tulamben Dive Site
Tulamben is on the bay receives plankton-rich waters from the major ocean current that moves from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. This, coupled with the fact that the dive sites provide totally different physical environments, mean that Tulamben contains a stunningly diverse underwater ecosystem. Tulamben is a favourite with marine biologists, underwater photographers and divers.
Tulamben have several dive sites such as:
The Shipwreck
It is a lovely dive site, possibly the world's easiest wreck dive, and suitable for all grades of divers. The wreck used to be an American supply ship USAT Liberty. Over the years anything reusable was removed. In 1963, with the earth tremors from the last eruption of Mount Agung, the wreck slid further down the slope where it still lies as close to the beach.
The wreck is 120 m long and lies approximately 30 m offshore and almost parallel to the beach on the sand slope (deck to sea). In time, the wreck has completely overgrown with coral and stock a home for many fish. The wreck of an American vessel is a great site for photography and easy access. The wreck could be one of the most visited and easiest wreck dives in the world, but it can get very crowded.
Unfortunately, there are also two negative items you should not hide. First, the wreck is Bali's most popular dive site with quite some divers underwater. Second, the silly habit like 'feeding fish' is quite common. Nevertheless it is more than worth to dive the wreck to observe the incredible fish life.
The Drop Off
Located just of the eastern end of the beach on the rocky area, and drop to a sandy bottom at just over 60 m. This site, an old lava flow from Mount Agung, is at the opposite end of the bay from the Shipwreck. Contains an excellent 'aquarium section' and very popular with snorkelers. There is a lagoon that is very calm and not normally subject to heavy surf, a great place to conduct initial training for beginner divers.
The Wall
Starts in 1 m deep water and drops almost vertically to 40 m. Besides the amazing coral growth it also offers an incredible underwater landscape with many overhanging rock formations. The area is also perfect for snorkeling.
The Coral Garden
Provides an excellent and protected environment for shallow waters activities. The marine life is as abundant in the coral gardens and the sand slope as elsewhere in the bay. The coral garden is wonderfully grown with hard and soft coral. This dive site is also a superb snorkeling area with none to mild current.
Shark Point
Located at a favorable current occasionally gray reef sharks can be seen and rarely hammerhead sharks. The current sometimes can be quite strong and cold water from the deep may be welled up more shallow. This dive site is not suitable for snorkeling.
Kelebit Rocks
Take a short ride to the east of the Drop Off to these 2 large rocks that lie just offshore. The dive site is quite dramatic and consists of three steep ridges encrusted with an incredible diversity of hard corals, beautiful sea fans, fire corals and sponges. Between these ridges are channels of white sand. This place is not so popular with beginner divers due to the depth and the limited bottom time.
Paradise Reef
Located between the Drop Off and the Shipwreck and this place is full of unusual marine lives found here. Underwater photographers dive here and they still find the place is so interesting.
Illustrations of Tulamben Dive Site
| Type of Dive | : | Wreck-diving, Beach-entry, Shore-diving, Wall-diving, Night-diving, Deep-diving, Photography |
| Visibility | : | 12 - 25 meters, best in the morning and due to the amount of plankton in the water, lower when it has been raining |
| Current | : | Zero to mild currents |
| Temperatures | : | 250 - 320 C |
| Depths | : | 5 - 40 meters |
| Level | : | Introductory |
| Highlights | : | Extraordinary diversity of marine life, beautifully colored wall, fullmoon night-dive, great photographic opportunities and color contrast with the black sand, great snorkeling site. Good growth coral of encrusting animals on wreck. Super variety fish, excellent numbers. Full moon night dive on the Shipwreck. |
| Conditions | : | Black sand slope, coral gardens and a wall. The fist-sized black stones can make entry tricky when there are waves present. Many hard and soft corals. |