Kapal Budak - Bali

Kapal Budak, or ‘Slave Ship,’ isn’t just another pile of submerged metal. This wreck, a wooden cargo vessel sunk long ago, feels like a piece of history frozen in time. What we love about it is the sheer, evocative sense of age. Sunlight filters down through the water, dappling the barnacled timbers, and you can almost hear the creak of the old ship as it settled. The structure itself is quite broken up, scattered across the seafloor, but that’s part of its charm. It creates this fantastic habitat for all sorts of reef dwellers. We've often found schooling batfish hanging out in the more intact sections, and the crevices are always good for a moray eel or a curious lionfish. It’s not a massive penetration dive, but exploring the nooks and crannies, imagining the ship's past, that’s where the real magic lies. This site is perfect for photographers who appreciate character over intact form, and for anyone who loves a good story with their dive. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light is usually best then, and the currents tend to be gentler.

Location
Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
-8.091049, 114.502106
Type
wreck

Marine Protected Area: Bali Barat

Best Time to Dive in Bali

The warmest water temperatures in Bali occur in December, averaging 30.9°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 29.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 30.1°C
  • February: 29.7°C
  • March: 30.1°C
  • April: 30.7°C
  • May: 30.6°C
  • June: 30.2°C
  • July: 29.4°C
  • August: 29.1°C
  • September: 29.3°C
  • October: 30.1°C
  • November: 30.9°C
  • December: 30.9°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Bali

Nearest Dive Centres to Kapal Budak

Marine Life in Bali

Home to 528 recorded species including 359 reef fish, 73 hard corals, 42 sharks & rays, 12 other, 12 sea snails & nudibranchs, 11 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Kapal Budak

Based on average water temperature of 30.1°C, currents 3 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories