USAT Liberty Shipwreck Dive: One of Bali’s Best Dive Sites
Are you looking to go diving in Bali but feel overwhelmed on where to dive or what dive site in Bali best suites your interests and skill level? I highly recommend looking into the USAT Liberty Shipwreck dive. Located off the coast of Bali near the village of Amed is one of Bali’s most iconic dive sites. The USAT Liberty was a United States Army cargo ship that was hit by a Japanese torpedo during WWII. This once mighty vessel now sits at shallow depths off the coast of Bali. The USAT Liberty Shipwreck dive is perfect for both beginners and advance divers. As you descend beneath the water, you will come face to face with the remains of this famous shipwreck that now serves as an artificial reef teeming with coral and marine life. Join me as I dive into the history of the USAT Liberty, how it became a dive site, booking with a reputable dive company, and share more information on the dive itself, marine life, and coral that surround this renowned shipwreck.
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The USAT Liberty was a United States cargo ship. The USAT Liberty was first launched in Kearny, New Jersey on June 19, 1918.
Originally, the ship provided services to the United States Navy, transporting horses from the United States to France. Not only was the USAT Liberty used t transport horses from one continent to the next but it hauled cargo of various supplies.
After WWI, the USAT Liberty was decommissioned. But when the United States became involved in WWII, the USAT Liberty was active once more, this time by the United States Army.
During WWII, the USAT Liberty was transporting cargo from Australia to its destination of the Philippines. On January 11, 1942 she was hit by a Japanese torpedo launched by an I-166 Submarine just off the coast of Bali.
Two other destroyers in the area attempted to tug the ship to shore to rescue the crew and save the cargo but the USAT Liberty was taking on to much water and was ultimately left on the beach near Tulamben, Bali.
Surprisingly, there were no recorded deaths during the torpedo attack. Most supplies were salvaged from the ship.
In 1963, the nearby volcano, Mt. Agung erupted, and the USAT Liberty was pushed back into the water by the forces of mother nature. The eruption altered the landscape and caused the ship to basically be pushed back out to sea where its current resting place is.
The USAT Liberty Shipwreck Divesite
The USAT Liberty Shipwreck is one of the world’s most accessible shipwreck dives. No wonder it’s one of Bali’s most popular dive sites.
This is a shore dive and the ship is located only 40 m (130 ft) from the beach at Tulamben.
Not only is the ship close to shore, but the ship rests at depths as low as 5 m (16 ft) to a maximum depth of around 30 m (100 ft).
Because of the location, depth, clarity of the water, and calmness, the USAT Liberty Shipwreck is a dive site that is well suited for both beginner and more advance divers.
This shipwreck has provided excellent surfaces for coral to grow and is now home to many coral species and marine life.
Finding a Dive Company in Amed, Bali
Amazing dive sites and snorkel spots have put Amed on the map. Visitors come to Amed for many reasons but primarily for the phenomenal diving and snorkeling.
Amed is one of Bali’s most popular places for visitors to come to who want to dive and therefore there are several reputable dive shops in Amed. Most dive shops in Amed will have similar tour packages, dive sites, and prices.
Based on the location of my hotel and recommendations, I booked the USAT Liberty Shipwreck dive with Bali Dive Cove.
Bali Dive Cove was very responsive in their emails, answered any questions I had, and made me feel at ease with my tour.
This was a two tank dive and I opted for the 5 am (sunrise) dive. Don’t worry, there are other times, I just wanted to avoid crowds and be done earlier in the day.
The price for a 2 tank dive was 900,000 IDR (about $57). This included 2 tanks, all dive equipment, transportation, a towel, and breakfast.
Diving the USAT Liberty Shipwreck
My day started early, 5:00 am. I met at Bali Dive Cove in Amed, along with dive master we loaded the truck and drove 20-ish minutes to the beach at Tulamben.
The USAT Liberty Shipwreck is a shore dive, so we prepared our gear, had a brief introduction on the dive site and what the day was going to be like and what we might see while diving.
The two tank dive allowed for the first dive to go around the USAT Liberty Shipwreck while the second dive gave us opportunities to explore inner parts of the wreck.
For the first dive, I went to a max depth of 19 m (62ft). We dove around the USAT Liberty. This was my first shipwreck dive and I was amazed by the shear size of the site. We slowly explored the outer portion of the ship. Many coral and marine life species call this wreck home. We saw the usual suspects, the angel fish, clown fish, and groupers. But one marine species I’ve yet to see is a garden eel. When slowly ascending and heading toward shore, we saw a whole patch of garden eels. It was an eerie sight and they are much bigger in person then I expected.
The second tank dive, we went to a max depth of 18 m (59 ft). The second tank dive consisted of the dive tour going within the USAT Liberty. We slowly explored some of the larger rooms. I even got a chance to swim through some smaller sections of the ship into various rooms. The current picked up during the second dive and some portions were a struggle to swim, it was somewhat exhausting but very worthwhile.
Diving the USAT Liberty Shipwreck was one of the best dive sites I’ve done, I can clearly see why this is perhaps Bali’s most famous dive site.
Photos of the USAT Liberty Shipwreck Dive Site
Here are a few additional photos taken during my two tank dive at the USAT Liberty Shipwreck. All photos were taken with my Nikon COOLPIX W300. I absolutely love this camera for underwater photography. It’s an easy to use point and shoot camera that can go up to 30 m (100 ft).
The Nikon COOLPIX W300 can be found on Amazon. Although discontinued, it is still sold and remains one of my favorite underwater cameras.
Conclusion
Diving the USAT Liberty Shipwreck in Bali is an incredible experience and in my opinion, a must do dive spot when visiting Bali. Divers get to learn some WWII history, see unique marine life, and dive at one of the worlds most accessible shipwrecks. Start the dive swimming around the shipwreck, the second tank is a completely different experience where divers can swim through portions of the ships corridor all while paying attention to the beautiful coral and vibrant fish that call this shipwreck home. Without a doubt the USAT Liberty is one of Bali’s most premier dive sites. Whether you are diving the USAT Liberty shipwreck as part of your open water course or an experienced diver looking for a new challenge, the USAT Liberty shipwreck is the perfect dive site for all levels.
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