Learn diving in Tulamben

Learn diving in Tulamben

As the world's largest archipelago country, with around 70 percent of its territory comprising of water, Indonesia is blessed with plenty of breathtaking underwater scenery. Many divers make their way to the country’s many islands to discover this beauty. For those not yet certified to dive, Indonesia is also a great destination to get a license.

If you're making your way from the capital, you can easily join dive courses in Jakarta mostly issued by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) or Scuba Schools International (SSI). Or, for a better recreational diving experience, head to the island of Bali where you’ll find many attractive dive sites.

Tulamben, in the north-eastern part of Bali, around a 3-hour drive from Denpasar, is one of the island's favorite diving spots. For beginners, the site is highly recommended because you can learn to dive there in any month of the year.

According to professional diving instructor I Made Suwena, diving in Tulamben is also cheaper than other spots in Bali because it can be accessed without having to rent a boat.

"Divers can simply swim around 10 meters from the beach to reach its beautiful underwater vista," said Made.

With clear visibility starting from 15 to 20 meters, you can expect to see many interesting species of fish such as the big-eye trevally, jack fish, gobies, sweetlips and lizardfish swimming very close to your face.

The USAT Liberty shipwreck, which has been there since 1942 after it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, has attracted plenty of divers to explore the site and will also serve as a spectacular bonus for beginners learning to dive in Tulamben.

With coral growing on the ship’s 120-meter frame, and with it being home to some rich marine life including the schooling jack fish, barracuda, napoleon wrasse, humpback parrot fish, white and blacktip reef sharks, as well as pigmy seahorses, the site is the ultimate underwater playground.

For those worried about their safety, Tulamben's calm, smooth waters offer a safe place for your diving course. A number of medical support services are also available in the area.

The net price of a dive course in Tulamben starts from Rp 4.5 million (US$382.5) for a PADI certificate and Rp 4.3 million for a SSI certificate, which includes an open water diving course, certification and log book, pool and open water sessions, basic diving gear and tank rent.