Every wreck tells a story, and along Bali’s east coast, three of them sit within easy reach of our dive centre here in Amed. From a WWII cargo ship to a mysterious sunken fishing boat and a deliberately scuttled patrol vessel, each wreck has become its own thriving reef, layered with decades of coral growth and marine life. As Amed’s first 5-star PADI Dive Resort, established in 2004, we’ve been diving these three sites for over two decades, and they never stop surprising us.
Here’s your guide to Amed’s wreck diving scene, and the history sitting beneath the surface.
USAT Liberty: Bali’s Most Famous Wreck
No wreck diving trip to this coast is complete without the USAT Liberty, Bali’s most iconic dive site, just a short trip from Amed in nearby Tulamben. Torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in January 1942 while carrying railway parts and rubber, the Liberty was beached and left on the shore of Tulamben, where she sat for two decades until eruptions from Mount Agung in the 1960s shook her into the sea. Today she rests broken but unmistakably ship-shaped, entirely encrusted in coral and home to an extraordinary density of marine life.
What you’ll see: Bumphead parrotfish up close, resident turtles, the occasional Napoleon wrasse, schools of jackfish, and reef life at almost every depth of the wreck, from the shallows down to around 30 metres.
We run regular trips to the Liberty from our Amed base, and it pairs beautifully as a first or second dive alongside our local Amed sites.
The Japanese Wreck: Amed’s Own Mystery
Much closer to home, tucked into the quiet black-sand bay of Banyuning, lies the Japanese Wreck, Amed’s own resident shipwreck and one of our favourite local dives. Its history is genuinely uncertain: some say the name is a shift from “Javanese,” pointing to a small fishing boat that drifted over from Java, others believe it was a Japanese patrol vessel lost during the Second World War. Whatever its origins, decades submerged have turned it into a rich, coral-covered reef.
Resting in shallow water between roughly 6 and 12 metres, the wreck is blanketed in soft corals, sponges, and gorgonian sea fans, with pygmy seahorses occasionally tucked into the fans if you look closely. Its shallow depth makes it one of the rare wreck dives suitable for both certified divers and confident snorkellers.
What you’ll see: Soft coral and gorgonian-covered hull structures, reef fish including bannerfish and clouds of sea goldies, the occasional pygmy seahorse, and a gentle sloping reef beyond the wreck itself.
Kobu Wreck: The Deliberate Reef
A short drive north of Amed, near the village of Kubu, lies the Kobu Wreck (also known as the Boga Wreck), a decommissioned patrol vessel deliberately scuttled to create an artificial reef.
Unlike the Liberty and the Japanese Wreck, both shaped by history and chance, the Kobu Wreck was sunk intentionally, and it shows: the structure remains largely intact, with clear swim-throughs and features like its bridge and cargo holds still recognisable.
Sitting deeper than our other two wrecks, roughly 15 to 38 metres, the Kobu Wreck is best suited to Advanced Open Water divers, and it’s one of our favourite sites for guests working toward their PADI Wreck Diver or Deep Diver specialty.
What you’ll see: An intact wreck structure with swim-throughs, schools of batfish and trevally, lionfish and moray eels along the hull, and macro life including nudibranchs and small critters settled into the surrounding sand.
Good to know before you go:
- The Kobu Wreck requires Advanced Open Water certification due to its depth
Diving Amed’s Wrecks with Jukung Dive Resorts
Our instructors Komang, Wayan, and Jiajia know all three of these wrecks inside out, from the shallow drift at the Japanese Wreck to the deeper swim-throughs of Kobu and the sheer scale of the Liberty. As Amed’s original 5-star PADI Dive Resort since 2004, wreck diving has been part of our story since day one, and we’ll happily build your trip around exactly which wrecks you want to explore, and at what level. All three can be combined into a multi-day wreck itinerary with our team
Ready to Dive Amed and Tulamben Wrecks?
Whether you’re chasing history, macro life, or your next specialty certification, our team at Jukung Dive Resorts will take you through the best wreck diving this coast of Bali has to offer. Get in touch to book your wreck diving package, or ask us about the PADI Wreck Diver specialty course during your stay.
Book your wreck diving trip with Jukung Dive Resorts, Bali’s first 5-star PADI Dive Resort since 2004.