Kubu Dive Site
Bali, Indonesia · Near Kubu
Overview
Kubu is a small village between Amed and Tulamben on Bali's northeast coast. The reef here is a gentle black-sand slope with healthy coral formations that don't get the traffic of its more famous neighbours. It's a quiet, uncrowded alternative that delivers surprisingly good diving for a site most visitors drive past.
The dive site features a mix of hard coral bommies on volcanic sand, with a gentle slope descending to about 25 metres. An artificial reef structure has been added in recent years, which is developing good coral coverage and attracting marine life. The combination of natural reef, artificial structures, and muck-style sandy bottom gives Kubu an unusual variety for a single site.
Kubu represents what much of Bali's coast used to offer before dive tourism concentrated on a handful of famous sites. Quiet water, decent reef, interesting critters, and nobody competing for the good spots.
Marine Life at Kubu
The coral bommies host typical reef fish — anthias, damselfish, butterflyfish, and wrasses. Scorpionfish and frogfish are found on the bommies and artificial structures. The sandy slope is a muck diver's playground with nudibranchs, blue-spotted stingrays, ribbon eels, garden eels, and the occasional wonderpus.
Larger visitors include hawksbill turtles, the odd reef shark, and schools of fusiliers. The artificial reef structures attract particularly dense fish populations as they mature. Ghost pipefish appear seasonally in the gorgonians.
This is a good all-round dive site that offers something for both reef divers and critter hunters without excelling at either. The lack of crowds means you get the reef largely to yourself.
Dive Conditions
Shore entry over volcanic pebbles, similar to Tulamben but smaller and easier. No current. Gentle slope, easy navigation. Visibility is typically 10-20 metres. The site is diveable year-round but the dry season offers the best conditions.
The simplicity of this site is its strength. No challenging conditions, no special equipment, no advance planning needed. Just show up and dive.
⚓ Divemaster Notes
Kubu is the dive I recommend when someone says they want to escape the Tulamben crowds but still want easy shore diving. The reef is a step down from the Liberty wreck in terms of headline appeal, but the experience of having a reef to yourself is undervalued.
The artificial reef project here is worth checking out. It's well-designed and the coral colonisation is progressing nicely. Compare the different-aged structures to see the growth progression.
For macro, work the sand between the bommies methodically. The critter density is lower than Secret Bay but the conditions (better vis, less silt) make it easier to photograph what you find.
Combine with Tulamben and Amed diving for a northeast Bali circuit. Three days based in the area covers all three zones comfortably with shore diving throughout.
How to Get to Kubu
Kubu is on the coast road between Amed and Tulamben, about 15 minutes drive from either. Most visitors staying in Tulamben or Amed can easily include Kubu as part of a multi-site day. Some small dive operations are based directly in Kubu village.
Gear Recommendations
Standard setup. Camera with versatile lens for the mixed reef/muck opportunities. Torch for crevice hunting. Easy, minimal-gear diving.
Recommended Dive Operators
Some small operations are based in Kubu itself, or any Tulamben/Amed operator will run trips here on request. Safety Stop Tulamben and Liberty Dive Resort include Kubu in their site options.
Liveaboard Options
Not a liveaboard destination.
