The USAT Liberty can be dived as part of your PADI course or beginner experience or as part of a fun dive package for certified divers. Click on one of the links below or keep scrolling for more info.
The appeal of the USAT Liberty lies in its scale and history. Few shore dives offer the chance to explore such a large wreck, with sections ranging from shallow water down to deeper areas for more experienced divers.
Different parts of the wreck reveal themselves depending on depth and timing, making it a site that can be enjoyed over multiple dives rather than just once.
When dived at the right time, the Liberty delivers exactly what makes it iconic.
Over the years, the Liberty has transformed from a cargo ship into a living reef, covered in coral and home to a wide variety of marine life. Today, it offers a unique combination of exciting wreck diving and coral-covered reef.
The appeal of the USAT Liberty lies in its scale and history. Few shore dives offer the chance to explore such a large wreck, with sections ranging from shallow water down to deeper areas for more experienced divers.
Different parts of the wreck reveal themselves depending on depth and timing, making it a site that can be enjoyed over multiple dives rather than just once.
When dived at the right time, the Liberty delivers exactly what makes it iconic.
Marine life is abundant across the wreck. Divers commonly encounter:
Sunrise and early dives often offer calmer conditions and more fish activity, which is why timing makes a real difference at this site.
Yes. Parts of the USAT Liberty lie in shallow water and can be suitable for beginner divers when dived carefully. Deeper sections of the wreck are better suited to certified divers with more experience.
Because of the site’s popularity and changing conditions, dive planning and timing are especially important here.
At Bali Dive Cove, we typically organise two dives on the USAT Liberty when conditions allow. The first dive usually focuses on exploring the outer sections of the wreck, allowing divers to get familiar with its scale and layout. The second dive goes deeper into the wreck experience, with the option to explore swim-throughs and penetration areas for those who feel comfortable and appropriately certified.
The Liberty is also included on the final day of the PADI Open Water course, as well as for Discover Scuba Diving experiences, and forms part of Advanced Open Water, deep, wreck and other specialty courses.
We highly recommend and prefer early morning or sunrise dives to enjoy calmer conditions, less crowds and better marine life activity. Our guides know the wreck well and plan each dive to suit the group, the chosen sections of the wreck, and the conditions on the day.
Many divers choose to turn this into a three-dive day, starting with two sunrise dives on the Liberty, followed by a third dive at Tulamben Drop Off, Coral Gardens, or back in Amed on one of our local reefs.
Interested in diving the USAT Liberty?
How deep is the USAT Liberty shipwreck?
The wreck begins in shallow water at around 3 metres and slopes down to approximately 30 metres, depending on which sections are explored.
Is the USAT Liberty very busy?
The Liberty is one of Bali’s most visited dive sites. Early morning and sunrise dives are often the best way to experience the wreck in a more relaxed way.
Is it worth diving the USAT Liberty more than once?
Yes. The wreck is large, and different sections reveal themselves depending on depth, timing and dive profile. Many divers choose to do multiple dives to explore different areas rather than trying to see everything in one dive.
Can you do a night dive on the USAT Liberty?
Yes. The USAT Liberty is one of Bali’s most popular night dives. After dark, the wreck takes on a very different feel, with increased activity from octopus, hunting fish and other nocturnal marine life. Night dives are planned carefully and are suitable for certified divers with appropriate experience.
Do you need wreck certification to dive the USAT Liberty?
No. Large parts of the wreck can be explored without wreck certification. Deeper sections, swim-throughs and penetration areas are only dived by appropriately trained and certified divers.
Is the USAT Liberty suitable for snorkelling?
Yes. The shallow sections of the wreck lie close to shore and can be snorkelled in calm conditions. Many snorkellers visit the Liberty to see fish life around the upper parts of the wreck.
How long does it take to get to the USAT Liberty from Amed?
Tulamben is around a 20-minute drive from Amed, making the USAT Liberty easy to include as part of a single dive day or a multi-day diving itinerary.
