Amed and Tulamben: black sand and the Liberty wreck
Fishing villages, snorkelling straight from the beach and a Second World War shipwreck covered in coral.
- Area
- East
- Start from
- Ubud
- Distance
- about 2.5–3 hours
- Time needed
- 3–4 days
- Best season
- Best April – November
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Transport
- Car or bus; scooter locally
- Tickets & rules
- Small fees at some beaches; dive operators handle the rest
Why go
Amed is a string of fishing villages along the east coast, with black-sand beaches, colourful jukung outrigger boats and coral reefs right off the shore. It's slow, peaceful and perfect for snorkelling and diving.
A little north, Tulamben is famous for the USAT Liberty wreck, lying close to shore in shallow water. You can snorkel over the top of it or dive deeper, surrounded by fish and coral.
The views of Mount Agung from the coast at sunset are wonderful.
The story
The USAT Liberty was an American cargo ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1942 in the Lombok Strait. It was towed towards the shore and beached at Tulamben.
In 1963, the eruption of Mount Agung and related tremors pushed the wreck into the sea, where it now lies on a slope at shallow and moderate depths.
Amed's villages traditionally lived from fishing and salt-making; you may still see traditional salt production on the beach.
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Getting there
Drive east from Ubud via Karangasem. Dive centres in Amed and Tulamben organise everything.
A suggested plan
- Day 1Arrive in Amed, snorkel at Jemeluk Bay.
- Day 2Early morning trip to Tulamben for the Liberty wreck.
- Day 3Japanese wreck and other reefs, sunset at a viewpoint.
- Day 4Lempuyang or Tirta Gangga.
Where to stay
Small resorts and guesthouses along the coast.
Good to know
- Go to the Liberty wreck early in the morning to avoid crowds.
- Bring water shoes for the rocky beaches.
- Currents can be strong on some sites; dive with a guide.
- Don't touch coral or marine life.