Coral Garden is in the middle of Tulamben Bay, between the Liberty wreck and the Drop Off. It is a shallow reef along the beach, with table corals, anemones, sponges, and a few statues underwater.
The coral garden is about 3–18 m, and the busiest part is often only down to 8–12 m. The sand slope outside the garden continues deeper, toward the Drop Off. Enter from the pebble beach. Current is usually light, but there can be surf at the edge.
This site is used for an easy dive, snorkelling, and night dives. By day, the anemones and ribbon eels are the easiest landmarks. At night, Spanish dancers and other small animals come out onto the coral.
- Map coordinate
- −8.27664, 115.59613
- Dive type
- Reef
- Entry
- Shore
- Depth
- About 3–18 m. The sand slope continues deeper.
- Water
- Salt water
Marine life
Clownfish
Clownfish colonies live in the anemone fields that mark this garden. They stay by the anemone, so they are easy to watch without crowding them.
Ribbon eel
Blue ribbon eels, and the black juveniles, often rise from holes in the sand between the corals.
Bumphead parrotfish
The school that also passes the Liberty sometimes comes into this garden. They are large and move fast.
Turtle
Sometimes pass over the coral or along the sand slope.
Reef shark
A blacktip or whitetip sometimes patrols along the garden. Not on every dive.
Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish often swim among the table corals. Octopus more often hide in a crack.
Octopus
Cuttlefish often swim among the table corals. Octopus more often hide in a crack.
Macro life
This garden is shallow and close to shore, so there is a long time to look for small animals. A night dive brings out Spanish dancers and shrimps. For macro photos, use a macro lens and a focus light.
Nudibranch
Plenty on the sponges and coral. On a night dive, the large Spanish dancer often comes out.
Shrimp
Includes mantis shrimp in the sand and small shrimp on anemones or coral. Do not stir the sand.
Frogfish
Both are camouflaged. Frogfish sit still on coral or sponge. Ghost pipefish are often near feather stars.
Ghost pipefish
Both are camouflaged. Frogfish sit still on coral or sponge. Ghost pipefish are often near feather stars.
Leaf scorpionfish
Camouflaged among the soft coral. Easier to see if you move slowly. Do not put a hand on the coral.
An animal on this list is not guaranteed on every dive.