U.S.A.T. Liberty
World War I
Liberty was launched on 19 June 1918 by the Federal Shipbuilding Company in Kearny, New Jersey, and acquired by the United States Navy on 7 October 1918 and commissioned the same day with Lieutenant Commander Charles Longbottom in command. Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, Liberty departed the New York Navy Yard on 24 October 1918, arriving at Brest, France, with her cargo of horses on 8 November. Over the next 6 months, Liberty made two additional cruises from New York to France discharging both animal and general cargo at French ports. Loaded with 436 tons of U.S. Army cargo and 2,072 tons of steel rails, Liberty arrived at Newport News, Virginia, on 30 April 1919 from her final cruise. She was decommissioned there on 7 May and was returned to the United States Shipping Board the same day.
World War II
By 1939, Liberty―although owned by the United States Maritime Commission was employed by the Southgate-Nelson Corporation of Norfolk, Virginia. In November 1940, Liberty was one of ten ships taken up by the United States Army for defense service. At the time of the United States' entry into World War II in December 1941, USAT Liberty was in the Pacific. In January 1942, she was en route from Australia to the Philippines with a cargo of railway parts and rubber. On 11 January, Liberty was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-166 about 10 nautical miles (19 km) southwest of the Lombok Strait, near position 08°54′S 115°28′E. U.S. destroyer Paul Jones and Dutch destroyer Van Ghent took the damaged ship in tow attempting to reach Singaraja, on the north coast of Bali. However she was taking too much water and so was beached on the eastern shore of Bali at Tulamben so that the cargo and fittings could be salvaged.
Mount Agung Eruption
In 1963 the tremors associated with the eruption of Mount Agung caused the vessel to slip off the beach, and she now lies on a sand slope in 30 to 100 feet (9.1 to 30 m) of water, providing one of the most popular dives off Bali.
*Information from Wikipedia.org
Gallery
Dive Sites
There are about 15 unique dive locations accessible from Tulamben. The five listed below are the sites we frequent most often, but we can explore as many as you want - contact us for more details.
USAT Liberty Shipwreck
If a diver must choose a single dive in Tulamben, this is without question the one. A historical curiosity and wonderland of marine life, the Liberty has evolved over the past five decades into a coral-encrusted silhouette of its previous life, teeming with an astounding variety of water dwellers. Vibrant Batfish, ink-black Sturgeon, sea horses, eels, and an enormous school of Jackfish are just some of this regulars that call the Liberty home.
The Drop Off
A collection of submerged lava flows at the southeast tip of Tulamben Bay is commonly known as The Drop Off. With depths exceeding seventy meters, and a drop beginning not far from shore, The Drop Off, along with The Liberty, is considered first-rate diving and another home to stunning aquatic life.
Coral Garden
Between the Liberty and Drop Off is the Coral Garden. It's a nice long shallow reef that follows the beach for about 150 meters. A great area for photography with an abundance of reef life. Some vary rare sea life can be seen here; Leaf Scorpion Fish, Ribbon Eels, Harlequin Ghost Pipefish and Spanish Dancer Nudibranchs. You can also see large schools of Snapper, Trevally and Sweetlip along with the occasional reef shark.
Seraya Secrets
Right in front of the Seraya resort is what is known locally as the 'muck dive'. Diving from 3 to 35 meters with a shallow reef and sloping rock bottom. Here you can see Frogfish, Scorpion Fish, Lionfish, Sea Month's, Harequin Shrimp, cuttlefish, mimic octopus, striped catfishm nudibranchs, micro colored crinoids and large frogfish. There's no muck here!
Batu Kebit
Just beyond the jagged coastline of Alam Anda sits a rock cluster known as Batu Kelebit. The dramatic reef drop extends to fifty meters, giving way to a stunning view of local marine life like Barracuda, Sea Cucumbers, and Reef Sharks. A classic coral reef, Batu Kelebit is unique when compared to the black-sand for which Tulamben Bay is well-known, due to the white sands flanking the coral blooms. Batu Kelebit is accessible by jukung and is fitted with a mooring buoy, similar to Alam Anda.
Meet the Team
Kadek Suteja
Owner
Alex Made
Owner
Made Tom
Dive Master
Komang Darma
Dive Staff
Putu Gading
Dive Master
Made Unyil
Dive Master
Ketui Susi
Housekeeping
Comank Ani
Housekeeping
Gede Yuda
Dive Staff
Ketut Yogi
Dive Master
Wayan Gilang
Dive Master
Chile
Dive Dog