About Drop Off
Located in Tulamben Bay on Bali’s northeastern coast, Drop Off, also known as the Tulamben Wall, is a rewarding dive site recognized for its dramatic underwater landscape. This site was formed by ancient lava flows from Mount Agung, resulting in a varied topography that offers a compelling experience for divers seeking to avoid the crowds often found at the nearby USAT Liberty wreck. The dive begins on a gentle sandy slope, rich in macro life, before transitioning to a vibrant reef system. As you descend, the reef gives way to a vertical wall starting around 15 meters, plunging deep into the ocean. This wall is adorned with healthy hard and soft corals, dense black coral bushes, and impressive gorgonian fans, some spanning over two meters, creating a visually stunning environment. Drop Off is celebrated for its diverse marine life, catering to both macro enthusiasts and those seeking larger encounters. You can expect to find white-tip reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, and various moray eels, alongside schools of fish like big-eye trevally. The sandy slopes and coral crevices harbor frogfish, octopus, crabs, shrimp, and a variety of nudibranchs, especially active in the early morning. Towards the evening, lionfish become more prominent. The shallow areas around five meters, often called the "aquarium section," teem with reef fish and cuttlefish, providing an excellent spot for a relaxed finish or snorkeling. Typically, this site offers calm conditions and easy shore entry, making it accessible for a wide range of divers. It’s frequently used for advanced and deep dive training due to its varied depths and generally mild currents. With average visibility of 15-20 meters and water temperatures between 27-29°C, Drop Off consistently delivers a high-quality diving experience, whether you prefer slow macro hunting or leisurely wall drifts.
Highlights
Season calendar
Apr – Nov (Apr–Nov)
The dry season brings calm seas, 25–30m+ visibility, and strong currents that attract mantas, sharks, and pelagics to Komodo. Alor offers pristine reef diving with 20–40m visibility. Bali's Nusa Penida delivers Mola Mola encounters from July to October. Water temperatures range from 24–28°C — a 3mm or 5mm wetsuit is recommended.
Dec – Mar (Oct–Apr)
Raja Ampat peaks during the wet season with calmer seas, plankton-rich waters attracting manta rays, and excellent biodiversity. Water is a warm 28–30°C with 15–25m visibility. The Banda Sea opens its rare expedition window from September to December, with hammerhead sharks and pristine seamounts. Lembeh Strait offers world-class muck diving year-round. A 3mm wetsuit is sufficient.
Dive site facts: Drop Off
- Depth
- 5–60 m
- Current
- Mild
- Entry
- Shore / dayboat
- Level
- Intermediate
- Dive type
- Wall, Muck diving, Reef, Wall
- Region / port
- Indonesia
- Coordinates
- 4.6045° S, 123.7396° E
Conditions & Currents
Currents at Drop Off are generally mild, contributing to its reputation as a calm and accessible dive site. However, divers should always consult local guides and captain briefings for daily conditions, as currents can vary. The site is typically accessed via an easy shore entry. Visibility often averages around 15 to 20 meters, with the clearest conditions usually found in the mornings. Water temperatures consistently range between 27°C and 29°C, eliminating the concern for thermoclines. Divers should plan their gas consumption conservatively, especially if exploring the deeper sections of the wall, which can extend beyond 60 meters. Its manageable conditions make it suitable for a broad spectrum of certification levels, though awareness of depth and bottom time is crucial.
Why dive Drop Off from a liveaboard?
Drop Off is one of Indonesia's signature dive sites. A liveaboard sleeps you on the water and puts you in the water for three to four guided dives per day, including dawn and night dives that day-boat operators rarely offer. You skip the daily commute back to port and reach quieter, less-crowded sites in the same region on a single trip.
Below are the liveaboards that include Drop Off on their Indonesia itineraries.
Liveaboards diving Drop Off
These liveaboards may visit Drop Off on selected itineraries, the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Panunee
Indonesia

Naga Biru
Indonesia

Ecopro Duyung Baru
Indonesia

Jaya
Indonesia

Wellenreng
Indonesia

Komodo Aggressor
Komodo, Indonesia

Blue Manta
Indonesia

Mari
Indonesia

Situju7
Komodo, Indonesia

Pindito
Indonesia

Mermaid II
Komodo, Indonesia

Pearl of Papua
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Dive sites similar to Drop Off
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- Suitable for
- Beginner
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Adonara Channel
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Adonara Channel stands as one of Alor's most iconic dive sites, celebrated for its dynamic currents and exceptionally rich biodiversity.
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Adonara Wall
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Adonara is an Indonesian island dive site, renowned for its vibrant underwater topography characterized by submerged seamounts.
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Agnay Fish Sanctuary
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Agnay Fish Sanctuary is nestled in a sheltered bay near the village of Agnay in Romblon, a province celebrated for its rich marine biodiversity.
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- 9–18 m
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Ai Island Reef
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Ai Island Reef, nestled within the Banda Sea, offers a remarkable diving experience characterized by its rich marine biodiversity and varied underwater topography.
- Suitable for
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- Liveaboard only
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Akitsushima
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The Akitsushima is a distinguished World War II Japanese seaplane tender, sunk in September 1944 during an American air raid in Coron Bay, Palawan.
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