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. I also dived here in 2024. 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 Ringitt is located about 5.3 kilometres to the north-west of Tulamben (by road) and is the second most distant local dive sites in that direction. An approximate GPS mark for the dive spot is S8° 14.334" E115° 33.883" (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 sheds are near the white buildings centre

After heading north-west out of town, you travel along the main road and then down about 5 kilometres from town you turn right onto a side track towards the ocean. There is a couple of large shade shelters, 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 40 metres or so from the sheds. When ready, you also walk south through the bush and on beach to where you gear is.

A very cute anglerfish	And another one!

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 ridge running from the black sand beach down. We follow the ridge at first and then go south-east. The bottom is sand except for the first bit.

A juvenile blue koran angelfish	A shrimp in a featherstar

On most of my dives here I went to around 25 to 28 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 10 for most of the rest of the dive. Exit is normally at the same spot as you started. Second dive is from here but normally ends back near the dive sheds.

An ornate ghost pipefish	A ghost shrimp

There are so many things to see at this dive site. Similar to other Tulamben sites, there are normally lots of anemones and flatworms. There are also plenty of shrimps, on sea whips, in anemones and featherstars and on starfish. I also saw quite a few small anglerfish.

One of the more unique shrimps I have ever seen, in an anemone	A starfish shrimp

There are also some interesting juvenile fish, including bicolour parrotfish and blue koran angelfish. I also saw a small ornate ghost pipefish in the shallows. There are some mooring blocks which have lionfish on them and plenty of mantis shrimps. There are a few barrel sponges around. I also saw Moorish idols, butterflyfish, and even some barracuda.

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

Juvenile bicolour parrotfish	A spindle cowrie on a sea whip

NUDIBRANCHS AND FLAT WORMS

Some more photographs, this time of nudibranchs.