B24 Liberator - Sulawesi

The B24 Liberator in Sulawesi isn't just another wreck; it's a profound swim through history, and frankly, we love it for that. This isn't one of those wrecks picked clean or broken into a million pieces. Here, the sheer scale of the aircraft, lying largely intact on the seabed, is what hits you first. You can trace the outline of its wings, see the gaping bomb bay, and peer into the cockpit – it’s genuinely eerie and incredibly cool. We’d suggest going early, before other boats, to really soak in the quiet magnitude of the place. As you descend, the fuselage slowly materialises from the blue, often shrouded in schooling fusiliers so dense they momentarily obscure the wreck itself. Inside, you’ll find small reef sharks often resting, and the tail section has become a condo for lionfish. It’s a photographer’s dream, particularly for those who appreciate the somber beauty of a war grave transformed into a living reef. This dive suits experienced wreck divers who understand the reverence and respect required for such a site, and for anyone who wants a tangible connection to the past beneath the waves.

Location
Sulawesi, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
-0.430094, 122.008580
Type
wreck

Wreck History - B24 Liberator

Year Sunk
1945
Vessel Type
aircraft
Cause
unknown

This US Navy PB4Y-1 Liberator, the naval version of the famed B-24 bomber, met its fate on May 26, 1945, during the final months of World War II. While on a bombing mission against a Japanese seaplane base near Peleng Island in the Banggai Archipelago, the aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire. The plane crashed into the sea, tragically killing ten of the eleven crew members. The wreck lay undiscovered for over 50 years until it was found by local fishermen in 2000.

Diving this historic war grave is a poignant experience. The aircraft lies in several large sections on a sloping sandy bottom at depths between 14 and 22 meters. Divers can explore the remarkably intact wings, complete with massive engines and propellers partially buried in the sand. The cockpit section, machine guns, and ammunition belts are scattered nearby, offering a direct connection to the aircraft's final moments. Over the years, the wreckage has been colonized by a stunning array of soft and hard corals, attracting schools of fish and making it a beautiful, albeit solemn, memorial to its crew.

Marine Protected Area: Kepulauan Togean

Best Time to Dive in Sulawesi

The warmest water temperatures in Sulawesi occur in November, averaging 30.4°C. The coolest conditions are in September at 28.7°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 29.5°C
  • February: 29.4°C
  • March: 29.8°C
  • April: 30.3°C
  • May: 30.3°C
  • June: 29.7°C
  • July: 29.1°C
  • August: 28.8°C
  • September: 28.7°C
  • October: 29.5°C
  • November: 30.4°C
  • December: 30.2°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Sulawesi

Nearest Dive Centres to B24 Liberator

Marine Life in Sulawesi

Home to 252 recorded species including 162 reef fish, 53 hard corals, 9 seagrass & algae, 9 sea snails & nudibranchs, 6 clams & mussels, 4 sea cucumbers.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for B24 Liberator

Based on average water temperature of 29.7°C, currents 4 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