Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee. Resort nearby
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Last updated on August 28, 2023
The USS Liberty Wreck is the most famous scuba diving and snorkeling site in Bali. The wreck lies near Tulamben, about 30m from the shore, and sits from 5 to 30 meters deep under the surface of the sea. Covered by soft and hard corals, sea anemones and countless reef fish that have made a home out of this old ship, it became a unique and enjoyable snorkeling destination.
The ship is located in Tulamben, a small and remote coastal village in east Bali. It can be reached in around 2:30 hours by car from Kuta and Denpasar. Several tour operators organize day tours from these two cities, including a snorkeling stop on the wreck. It can be an option if you don’t stay in Tulamben area.
Access to the beach is free, the closest to the ship being the little road at the corner of the Liberty Dive Resort. We recommend snorkeling there early in the morning or late in the afternoon, as the site can be very crowded.
Enter the water from the beach, in front of the ship. After swimming for about 20 to 30 meters offshore, you will start seeing the ship.
The area to explore covers the whole wreck, which is approximately 120 meters long, with the shallowest part at about 5m deep and the deepest on the other side of the wreck at about 30m deep.
Immersed since 1963, the wreck is now hosting a rich biodiversity. Abundant coral formations, gorgonian fans, sponges and sea anemones cover the ship.
A huge and colorful range of fish has made the USAT Liberty their home, including schools of yellowfin surgeonfish, sergeant majors and, in deeper areas, hundreds of sea goldie.
Latticed butterflyfish, sunburst butterflyfish, Moorish idols, parrotfish and wrasse are also commonly seen at this location. If you are lucky, you will maybe spot a coral hind, one of the most beautiful reef fish of Southeast Asia.
Another excellent snorkeling spot (the Coral Garden) is located a few hundred meters south of the wreck. Most snorkeling tours to the USS Liberty also include a stop on this site.
There is a choice of dive centers, hotels, restaurants and supermarkets on the beach and between the main road and the beach.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
