Wreck
Legendary wreck
Top-50 dive sites of the world
The USAT Liberty, built in 1918 in New Jersey, was working as a cargo ship during World War II, when a torpedo from a Japanese submarine hit it. This wreck is 120m/394ft long and 20m/65ft wide. The wreck rests on a 90 degree angle with its shallowest part at about 5-10m/16-33ft deep and another side of the wreck touches a black volcanic sand slope at about 30m/98ft deep. Though the ship’s structure is slowly disintegrating, it is possible to swim safely into some of the large cargo holds. The wreck is covered with corals but it is still possible to see the bow of the wreck, guns, boilers, toilets and the anchor chain.
When To Go Diving
Diving is available year round. The best conditions to dive are between May and November. Temperatures range from 23C/73 to 30C/86F. The average water temperature stays around 24-29C/75-84F.
What to see
The variety of marine life occupying the wreck includes anglerfish, ghost pipefish, neon nudibranches, shrimps, garden eels, yellow mask surgeons, schools of batfish, fusiliers, sweetlips and butterfly fish. Also, pygmy seahorses, white tip sharks, huge parrotfish, napoleon wrasse, barracuda and giant trevalleys can be spotted near the wreck.
Best liveaboards in USAT Liberty Wreck
Show all liveaboardsReviews about USAT Liberty Wreck
USAT LIberty is an amazing dive site
I have dived the wreck many times over then past 10 years and I can highly recommend it as one of the best dives in Bali. Vis can be amazing but does depend on the current and what has been happening the previous 24hrs so check the weather. I would recommend to do a day dive and then follow up with a night dive. At night the big grouper are out and and it is a totally different dive at night.
Access is straight off the beach and you need to navigate the large pumas stones at entry, but locals from the dive shop on hand to a... Read more
ssist if required. The ocean floor drops off very quickly and so you are actually not that far off-shore to dive the wreck. Many people learn to dive at Tulamben so it will be no challenge for open water divers and what an awesome site to do your dive training on as I did 10 years ago. The marine life is amazing and you really need to dive the wreck several times to take it all in. I have a Youtube video posted so take a look you will be amazed. There are a number of dive shops in town and accommodation, being an Aussie I normally stay and dive with Tony Medcraft at Tulamben Wreck Divers. He will do packages and pick you up from Denpasar airport. Any questions just post on Youtube and I will be happy to answer them. Adrian Palm