Many dive-heads-including those who've made pilgrimages to the Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef, and Manado-swear that Bali has the best diving in the world. Sites range from warm, easy dives for the novice around Nusa Dua to the spectacular wreck of the Liberty (pictured), a 390-foot American cargo ship that was sunk off Lombok on the island's northeast coast by a Japanese torpedo in 1942. (She was towed to shore by U.S. destroyers and abandoned on the beach at Tulamben; 20 years later, after Gunung Batur erupted, earth tremors caused the ship to slide into the sea.) While some parts of the wreck lie at a depth of about 100 feet, other parts are in shallow water-less than 20 feet-so it's a good site even for beginning divers. As many as a hundred divers a day visit the wreck in high season, so avoid early-afternoon excursions there if you can. Night dives of the Liberty are especially exciting. Bali is well-supplied with PADI-licensed dive centers, including Pro Dive Bali (62-361-726-823; www.prodivebali.com) and Scuba Duba Doo (62-361-750-703; www.divecenterbali.com). Both these dive centers will arrange transport from your hotel to the ship and return at day's end.
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