Indonesia
Best Time to Dive in Tulamben / Amed
8.27°S 115.60°E
Divers come for the USAT Liberty wreck and the black-sand muck alongside it. That does not change through the year, so go when the weather is best: May to September. The full season runs April to November.
- Best time
- May–Sep
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Visibility
- 20–30 m
- Season runs
- Apr–Nov
- Dived from
- day boat and shore diving
- Tidal range
- 0.8–1.8 m
- Species logged
- 11
Worth knowing: 7 days a month of heavy rain.
Where it is
111 km across · coastline from Natural Earth 10m
Diving in Tulamben / Amed — monthly breakdown
A year of scuba diving conditions at a glance. Hover a month to isolate it.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions | Poor | Poor | Poor | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Poor |
| Water temp (°C) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
| Visibility (m) | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 |
| Marine life | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak |
| Best time | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorPeak season May–Sep
Long-term averages, 2016–2025. Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a. Water temperature is the surface mean; it is cooler at depth.
The Tulamben / Amed diving season
April to November · Peak season
8 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 28–30 °C
- Visibility
- 20–30 m
- Rain
- 11 days a month
Diving conditionsThe sea is rougher. It rains less.
Marine lifeReef manta (near-guaranteed), Bump-head sunfish (near-guaranteed) peak at Tulamben / Amed in these months.
December to March · Off season
4 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 29–29 °C
- Visibility
- 20–30 m
- Rain
- 28 days a month
Diving conditionsIt rains more. The sea is calmer.
Marine lifeReef manta (near-guaranteed) peaks at Tulamben / Amed in these months.
- Spring tides run 1.8 m against 0.8 m on neaps, so currents build around the full and new moon.
- Water temperature is satellite sea-surface temperature, so expect it cooler below the thermocline.
- Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a.
Tulamben / Amed water temperature and weather
1,074 underwater observation records · 21 surveyed years of ocean data · 10 years of sea temperature
Water & weather
Tulamben / Amed water temperature by month
The dashed line is the monthly average. Eight days in ten fall inside the band.
10th to 90th percentile rangemonthly mean
Rarely
rough enough to cancel
Seas top 1.5 m on under 1% of days. Enough to cancel a day boat
0
blowy days a month
Gusts over 40 km/h, about where a day boat stays in port
17
wet days a month
7 of them bring heavy rain
| Month | Swell | Gusts over 40 km/h | Wet days | Heavy rain | Air | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.1 m | 0% | 30 | 21 | 30 °C | 12.4 h |
| February | 1.1 m | 0% | 28 | 21 | 29 °C | 12.3 h |
| March | 1.1 m | 0% | 27 | 14 | 30 °C | 12.1 h |
| April | 0.8 m | 0% | 17 | 6 | 30 °C | 11.8 h |
| May | 0.9 m | 0% | 12 | 1 | 30 °C | 11.6 h |
| June | 1.1 m | 0% | 13 | 1 | 30 °C | 11.5 h |
| July | 1.2 m | 0% | 9 | 1 | 29 °C | 11.6 h |
| August | 1.2 m | 0% | 8 | 0 | 30 °C | 11.7 h |
| September | 1.1 m | 0% | 5 | 0 | 31 °C | 12.0 h |
| October | 0.9 m | 0% | 8 | 2 | 32 °C | 12.2 h |
| November | 0.7 m | 0% | 18 | 6 | 32 °C | 12.4 h |
| December | 0.8 m | 0% | 26 | 14 | 30 °C | 12.5 h |
Swell is the rough end of the month: nine days in ten come in under it. Sea temperature covers 10 years, waves 4.
Pick your week
48 weeks from the daily record. Darker is better, against this site's own year. Pick a month for the detail.
| Week 1 | January week 1: Poor | February week 1: Poor | March week 1: Poor | April week 1: Good | May week 1: Excellent | June week 1: Excellent | July week 1: Good | August week 1: Excellent | September week 1: Excellent | October week 1: Excellent | November week 1: Good | December week 1: Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 2 | January week 2: Poor | February week 2: Poor | March week 2: Poor | April week 2: Good | May week 2: Excellent | June week 2: Excellent | July week 2: Good | August week 2: Excellent | September week 2: Excellent | October week 2: Excellent | November week 2: Good | December week 2: Poor |
| Week 3 | January week 3: Poor | February week 3: Poor | March week 3: Poor | April week 3: Good | May week 3: Excellent | June week 3: Excellent | July week 3: Excellent | August week 3: Excellent | September week 3: Excellent | October week 3: Excellent | November week 3: Good | December week 3: Poor |
| Week 4 | January week 4: Poor | February week 4: Poor | March week 4: Poor | April week 4: Good | May week 4: Excellent | June week 4: Good | July week 4: Excellent | August week 4: Excellent | September week 4: Excellent | October week 4: Excellent | November week 4: Good | December week 4: Poor |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorBest week to go: first of June
January, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.2 m | 9 km/h | 93% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.0 m | 9 km/h | 94% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 9 km/h | 97% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.2 m | 9 km/h | 99% |
February, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.2 m | 9 km/h | 99% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.0 m | 9 km/h | 98% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 29 °C | 0.9 m | 10 km/h | 95% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.0 m | 10 km/h | 91% |
March, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 10 km/h | 91% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.2 m | 10 km/h | 92% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 10 km/h | 85% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 30 °C | 0.8 m | 9 km/h | 81% |
April, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 30 °C | 0.7 m | 10 km/h | 75% |
| Week 2 | Good | 30 °C | 0.7 m | 10 km/h | 65% |
| Week 3 | Good | 30 °C | 0.8 m | 11 km/h | 53% |
| Week 4 | Good | 30 °C | 0.9 m | 12 km/h | 41% |
May, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 30 °C | 0.9 m | 13 km/h | 38% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 30 °C | 1.0 m | 14 km/h | 41% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 30 °C | 1.0 m | 14 km/h | 42% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 30 °C | 0.9 m | 14 km/h | 37% |
June, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 29 °C | 1.0 m | 14 km/h | 36% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 29 °C | 1.0 m | 14 km/h | 39% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 15 km/h | 45% |
| Week 4 | Good | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 16 km/h | 48% |
July, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 17 km/h | 44% |
| Week 2 | Good | 29 °C | 1.2 m | 18 km/h | 36% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.2 m | 18 km/h | 21% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.2 m | 19 km/h | 21% |
August, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.2 m | 18 km/h | 27% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.2 m | 17 km/h | 25% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.2 m | 18 km/h | 23% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.2 m | 19 km/h | 20% |
September, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.2 m | 19 km/h | 17% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.1 m | 18 km/h | 18% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.1 m | 17 km/h | 19% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 17 km/h | 18% |
October, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 29 °C | 1.0 m | 17 km/h | 22% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 29 °C | 1.0 m | 17 km/h | 21% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 29 °C | 0.9 m | 16 km/h | 19% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 29 °C | 0.8 m | 15 km/h | 30% |
November, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 29 °C | 0.8 m | 14 km/h | 40% |
| Week 2 | Good | 30 °C | 0.8 m | 13 km/h | 50% |
| Week 3 | Good | 30 °C | 0.7 m | 12 km/h | 64% |
| Week 4 | Good | 30 °C | 0.7 m | 11 km/h | 75% |
December, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 30 °C | 0.8 m | 10 km/h | 76% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 30 °C | 0.8 m | 9 km/h | 80% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 29 °C | 0.8 m | 9 km/h | 84% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 9 km/h | 89% |
10 years of daily records, averaged into weeks.
Gear & storms
What to wear
Off the coldest water of each month, not the average — that is what the suit has to cope with.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suit | January: skin | February: skin | March: skin | April: skin | May: skin | June: skin | July: skin | August: skin | September: skin | October: skin | November: skin | December: skin |
One suit covers the whole year: a skin or 3 mm shorty.
Swell through the year
The rough end of each month — nine days in ten come in under it.
Amber is over 1.5 m.
Tides
Tropical storms
1 of the last 30 Aprils saw a tropical storm pass within 250 km. April is the only month with a recorded pass.
Share of the last 30 years with a storm that month.
- NOAASea surface temperature, from OISST and MUR
- ERA5Wind, waves, rain and air temperature, via Open-Meteo
- OBISMarine species records within 60 km
- IBTrACSTropical cyclone tracks, 1996 to 2025
Tulamben / Amed marine life — what you'll see diving
| Species | When | Observed window | Reliability | Evidence | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawksbill turtle | All year | Near-guaranteed | 345 | ||
| Green turtle | All year | Near-guaranteed | 246 | ||
| Reef manta | All year | Near-guaranteed | 202 | ||
| Bump-head sunfish | Aug–Oct | Near-guaranteed | 56 | ||
| Bluespotted ribbontail ray | All year | Near-guaranteed | 42 | ||
| Whitetip reef shark | All year | Near-guaranteed | 78 | ||
| Bumphead parrotfish | All year | Near-guaranteed | 24 | ||
| Napoleon wrasse | All year | Likely | 22 | ||
| Ocellated eagle ray | Jul–Sep | Likely | 9 | ||
| Bigeye trevally | Apr–May, Oct | Likely | 14 | ||
| Blacktip reef shark | Apr, Aug | Hit-or-miss | 9 |
Peak Present
- Observed window
- Months with records. Peak is where most of them fall.
- Reliability
- Near-guaranteed in 60% of surveyed years or more
- Likely 30% to 60%
- Hit-or-miss under 30%
- Evidence
- Years it was seen, out of the years anyone surveyed.
- Records
- OBIS sightings within 60 km.
These are sightings people logged, not a full survey of the reef. A species missing from a month may just mean nobody recorded one.
Diving Tulamben / Amed — common questions
- When is the best time to dive Tulamben / Amed?
- Divers come for the USAT Liberty wreck and the black-sand muck alongside it. That does not change through the year, so go when the weather is best: May to September. The full season runs April to November.
- When is the diving season in Tulamben / Amed?
- The diving season in Tulamben / Amed runs April to November, and it is at its best May to September.
- Is the diving in Tulamben / Amed good for beginners?
- Yes. It suits Open Water divers, so it works for a first trip after certification.
- How warm is the water in Tulamben / Amed?
- Between 28 and 30 °C at the surface across the year, coldest in August and warmest in April. It runs cooler below the thermocline.
- What wetsuit do I need in Tulamben / Amed?
- A skin or 3 mm shorty covers the coldest water of the year. The same suit works all year.
- What is the visibility like in Tulamben / Amed?
- Roughly 20 to 30 m depending on the month. That is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a rather than measured in the water.
- What will I see diving Tulamben / Amed?
- The most consistently recorded species are Hawksbill turtle (near-guaranteed), Green turtle (near-guaranteed) and Reef manta (near-guaranteed), from 1,074 records within 60 km.
- Does Tulamben / Amed get tropical storms?
- Yes. Over 30 years of records a storm passed within 250 km in Apr, most often in April at 1 of 30 years.
- Is there current in Tulamben / Amed?
- The tide rises and falls 1.8 m around the full and new moon, against 0.8 m in between. How much of that becomes current depends on the shape of the channel.
- When should I avoid Tulamben / Amed?
- December–March are the weakest months for conditions.
- How do you dive Tulamben / Amed?
- Mostly from day boats and the shore. Trips run through the season, Apr–Nov.