Bali’s most popular dive is the USS Liberty. This was a freighter that the Japanese torpedoed in 1942. Attempts to tow it to a port failed and after it was beached for 20 years, it eventually it sank in 1963 due to earth tremors following a volcanic eruption on Bali.
Tom and Kathy took this picture, they were snorkeling in the area.
Actually is was one of our bests dives ever! (Alex and Greg – missed you guys!!) Unfortunately our underwater camera ceased to work when preparing it for this dive, so all we have are memories. Although visibility was only fair, once we were on and in the wreck the water was very clear. The type and amount of fish and invertebrates on and around the wreck was staggering. We saw more new species then on any other dive. Two highlights: A 5 ft. Barracuda calls the wreck home. Due to the number of divers on the Liberty, is is quite comfortable with you swimming to within 2 feet of him. I have never seen Barracuda’s 2 inch sharp teeth that close before!
Gloria with our guide, (he needed one weight to keep him down, I needed five!)
Also, above the wreck was a school of hundreds of 8-10 inch silver fish schooling. If you saw Finding Nemo, you remember the fish schools shifting size and direction. This was that! We were able to swim up into the school as they moved around us. Awesome. Also, many new soft corals, gorgonians, and hydrozoans. An excellent dive.
These gals were the “porters” for all our equipment. She had a tank and all our weights! Others take two tanks, one on their head another on their shoulder.
