In 2023 I travelled to Tulamben for the third time and spent just over two weeks diving the north-eastern coast of Bali. I used Liberty Dive Resort, click here to read about the town and dive operations. This was the last dive site I visited during the trip and one I had not visited on previous trips. There are literally hundreds of potential dive sites located within a few kilometres of Tulamben but only a dozen or so are able to be visited.

Batu Niti is located about 4.4 kilometres to the south-east of Tulamben (by road) and is one of the more distant local dive sites. An approximate GPS mark for the dive spot is S8° 17.91" E115° 36.96" (using WGS84 as the datum).

A satellite photo from Google Earth that shows the location of the dive site Entry is the red mark, dive shed are near the white buildings top next to river

After heading south out of town, you travel along the main road and then down about 4 kilometres from town you cross a river and immediately turn left onto a side track towards the ocean. There is a large shade shelter, some tables/seats, a toilet, shower and camera wash tank. There is also a small kiosk selling drinks etc.

When you arrive, the resident porters carry your dive gear through the bush to the south and then onto the beach. The dives generally start about 100 metres or so from the sheds. When ready, you also walk south through the bush and on beach to where you gear is.

A photo of the reef	An anemone

Once geared up, you enter water there. The beach is black sand and then some rocks. It is a fairly easy entry and exit. The bottom consists of a slope running from the black sand beach down. There are not any ridges, but lots of rocks in some spots, like slides.

On all my dives here I went to around 25 metres and headed south for a bit before heading back towards the north. While here I stayed around that depth for up to 20 minutes and then back to 20 for 10 mins and then up to 16 for five and then again up in steps. Exit is normally at the same spot as you started. Second dive is from here but normally ends back near the dive sheds.

There are so many things to see at this dive site. Similar to other Tulamben sites, there are normally pom-pom crabs in the shallows. Other things commonly seen in the shallow areas are harlequin shrimps. Down deeper there are mantis shrimps (I saw one with three shrimps on top, orange mantis shrimps, dancing shrimps on tube and normal anemones, starfish shrimp and flatworms.

At this site I have also seen lots of razorfish, a few large trevally, some sole, a nice anemone with clownfish and flutemouths. As usual, plenty of crabs, squat lobsters, lots of nudibranchs and one of the tiny colourful black anglerfish. Also, I saw the strangest nudibranch I have ever seen, it looks like a jellyfish.

Squat lobster in a featherstar	A crab

At this site I also saw a tiny green translucent lionfish, so cute! There were also some large stonefish.

Clingfish on a sea whip	A very colourful anglerfish, so small and cute

This is a brilliant dive well worth many dives. I have now done six dives here over two trips. So much to see! Make sure you do it.

MORE NUDIBRANCHS

Some more photographs of nudibranchs.

OTHER SPECIES