If you have dived in Amed before, please share your experiences: Dive spots you would recommend, which Dive Center you used, Fishes & Diving, Visibility, Currents, etc. Please post your comments in the section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next trip
Amed is an east-Bali base for shore dives, short boat trips and small creatures on volcanic sand. The name covers a stretch of coast and several villages, rather than one single bay. Sheltered reef dives can suit a first diving holiday, while nearby drift sites offer something quite different.
Amed is a very good diving spot for Macro and Muck Diving fans. There are plenty of wonderfully strange small creatures to look for. Moreover Amed is a practical diving location and makes a useful base to go diving by the famous USAT Liberty Ship Wreck in Tulamben.
The original guide compared the shallow reef colour to Finding Nemo. That sense of discovery is still a good reason to linger, while the day’s entry conditions, current and boat traffic determine where swimming or snorkelling is appropriate.
In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Amed.
Table of contents
Best Dive Review
Most Amed outings start from the shore or a short trip in a traditional Balinese jukung. That close-to-the-water rhythm is part of the appeal: a reef garden one morning, a wall or a patient search across the sand the next. The black volcanic background makes colourful subjects stand out beautifully in photographs.
Different sites, different days
| Site or outing | What distinguishes it | Useful limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Jemeluk Bay | Shallow coral and artificial structures with macro life. | The sheltered shallows and the deeper wall are different profiles. |
| Jemeluk Wall | Sponges and sea fans on a drop-off beyond the reef. | The wall continues beyond ordinary recreational training limits; a maximum terrain depth is not a recommended dive depth. |
| Pyramids | Artificial structures and reef often visited by jukung. | Current can make it a drift rather than a stationary photography session. |
| Bunutan and the outer coast | Sandy slopes, reef and bigger water movement. | Some sites are explicitly aimed at experienced drift divers. |
| Japanese Wreck | A small coral-covered wreck with surrounding reef. | Access and current vary. The often-repeated wartime origin is not established here. |
| Ghost Bay | A slower macro-focused option. | Small-animal sightings vary; no rare species is a guaranteed resident. |
Site character checked 9 November 2026 against Bali Reef Divers’ Amed descriptions and Amed Jepun Divers’ local site guide.
Amed sites and the nearby Liberty wreck
Approximate site references for planning, not entry instructions or a guide for use underwater. Jemeluk reef and wall references lie close together; the Liberty wreck is in neighbouring Tulamben.
- Jemeluk reef reference (-8.33751, 115.65961): Reef and macro-life reference within the Amed coast. Location reference.
- Jemeluk Wall (-8.33771, 115.66067): A deeper wall beyond the bay’s shallow reef. Location reference.
- Pyramids (-8.33338, 115.65299): Artificial reef structures; current affects the dive. Location reference.
- Lipah Bay (-8.35021, 115.68417): Shallow coral and a deeper slope; shore access varies. Location reference.
- Japanese Wreck (-8.36410, 115.70035): Small wreck and surrounding reef at Banyuning. Location reference.
- USAT Liberty, Tulamben (-8.27396, 115.59307): Neighbouring Tulamben excursion, outside the Amed bays. Location reference.
Checked 9 November 2026.
How to dive Amed?
Amed’s strength is a stay on land with local guided outings. Several nights near the chosen centre leave time for different reefs without repeating the long transfer from southern Bali. Tulamben is a separate neighbouring dive area that can fit into the same holiday; a cruise departing Bali towards Komodo is a different travel model.
What does a dive day cost?
Bintang Divers lists IDR 1,300,000 per person for two guided dives in a day, including standard equipment, lunch, mineral water and local pickup within its stated three-kilometre radius. Some boat sites and transport to Kubu cost extra; early-morning or night entries add IDR 250,000 per dive. These are one operator’s prices checked on 9 November 2026, not an Amed-wide tariff.
Bintang Divers prices and inclusions. Equipment fit, group size, the chosen sites and support for the day are useful parts of the comparison alongside price.
Local excursions, rather than a cruise circuit
The layers illustrate Bintang Divers’ published snorkelling options. The first two pair sites on a local-boat outing; the third is a road excursion to Tulamben. Numbers follow the source listing for reference, not a guaranteed visit order. Pickup points vary; the Amed marker is a coastal reference, not a jetty. Lines are schematic and are neither road navigation nor underwater tracks.
| Option | Listed stops | Transport context |
|---|---|---|
| Pyramids / Jemeluk | Pyramids → Jemeluk | Local boat; sunrise, daytime and sunset variants share the site grouping. |
| Japanese Wreck / Lipah | Japanese Wreck → Lipah | Local boat along the Amed coast. |
| Tulamben | Amed pickup → Liberty wreck, Tulamben | Road transfer; exact hotel pickup and shoreline access agreed with the operator. |
Published options, reviewed 9 November 2026. Actual order and water access depend on the outing and conditions.
Excursion options remain available in the table.
Where to stay?
I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Amed as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.
Best time to dive in Amed
Amed can be dived throughout the year. April–November is a useful broad window for clearer-water conditions in PADI’s local overview, while rain and swell can alter individual days in any month. Macro life is an attraction beyond a narrow wildlife season; a particular ghost pipefish or seahorse is a lucky find rather than a timetable.
Seasonal reference, checked 9 November 2026.
Top liveaboards in Amed according to divers reviews
Dive courses
Selected sheltered sites make Amed a practical place for an introductory experience, a first certification or a refresher. The right course leaves room for theory, confined-water skills and a comfortable progression to open water. A bay’s reputation for easy diving does not replace the instructor’s assessment on the day.
A published local example is Bali Reef Divers’ introductory day trip to Amed or Tulamben: IDR 2,100,000 per person, minimum two people, including a pool session, two sea dives, equipment, transport, lunch and tax. The operator lists a minimum age of ten and swimming/water-comfort requirements. This is an introduction, not the price of a full Open Water certification.
Operator’s 2026 day-trip conditions.
Scuba Diving conditions
Amed is not uniformly current-free. Local operators distinguish the sheltered Jemeluk shallows from drift dives at Pyramids, Bunutan and the outer coast. Swell, current, entry conditions and the diver’s recent experience determine the sensible site choice. A beach entry still involves carrying equipment and negotiating the shoreline.
PADI’s Amed overview gives a typical water-temperature range of 26–29°C (79–84°F). That is a planning range rather than a promise for every depth. Visibility changes with rain, waves and sediment; slow, well-trimmed movement helps preserve it on a macro dive.
PADI Amed conditions; local differences between sites.
Snorkelling in Amed
Travelling with a non-diver?
Amed has rewarding shore snorkelling and bookable local-boat outings; companions do not need to sit through a full scuba programme. A suitable entry, swimming ability, boat traffic and supervision still matter, especially with children.
Bintang Divers publishes a snorkel set at IDR 100,000 per day, returned by 17:00, with mask, snorkel, booties, fins and life jacket. Its daytime Pyramids/Jemeluk boat transport is IDR 380,000 for one to four people; Japanese Wreck/Lipah transport is IDR 550,000 for the same group size. A snorkelling guide is an additional IDR 300,000 for up to four people. Equipment rental and transport are listed separately. Prices were checked on 9 November 2026; the specific booking determines availability and the final total.
Snorkelling hire, transport and guide conditions. Acceptance on an ordinary scuba boat is a separate question; it is not implied by these dedicated snorkelling options.
Fishes and Coral
Amed’s pleasure is often in the small details: camouflage on volcanic sand, an animal sheltering in an anemone, or movement among artificial reef structures. The ghost-pipefish image comes from the original Amed guide; the other credited Bali photographs illustrate marine-life types, not guaranteed sightings or verified Amed capture locations.
Ghost pipefish
Original Amed photograph: a good reminder of how much can hide among the reef’s detail.
Photo: Steve Childs
Frogfish
Camouflaged hunters reward an unhurried macro dive.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Anemonefish
A reef resident whose behaviour can be as absorbing as a rare find.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Nudibranch
Small colourful animals for observant divers and macro photographers.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Reef crab
A crustacean portrait illustrating the smaller reef life worth looking for.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Sea snake
A Bali marine-reptile portrait; quiet observation leaves an animal room to move.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Original Amed image: Steve Childs on Flickr.
A filmed journey through Amed reefs
Diver’s Lens, Coral Reefs of Amed (2024 footage), shared by the filmmaker in February 2025. Filmmaker’s description and credit. Historical footage shows one visit, not a current reef-condition guarantee.
Diving Safety
If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Amed, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Amed diving questions
Is every Amed dive easy?
No. Sheltered shallows and more demanding drift sites sit within the same coastal region. The specific site, conditions and recent experience matter more than a general destination label.
Is the Liberty wreck in Amed?
The USAT Liberty is in neighbouring Tulamben. It is a practical excursion from an Amed stay, but the two locations are distinct.
Can I learn to dive here?
Yes, local centres offer introductory experiences and certification courses using suitable sites. A course quotation should explain the training schedule, group size and what happens if conditions change.
Are night dives available?
Local operators list night diving, with surcharges in some price lists. The outing still needs to match training, experience and conditions; darkness is not a reason to treat it as a bravery test.
Does a non-diving companion travel free?
No general free-passenger policy is established. Dedicated snorkelling outings have their own transport, equipment and guide charges; ordinary scuba-boat acceptance must be confirmed for the outing.
Diving insurance should match the planned activity and location. Emergency oxygen, communications and evacuation arrangements belong in the booking conversation. The return flight or an inland mountain excursion must also allow an appropriate post-dive interval.
DAN guidance on flying after diving.
Original guide by Julien; reviewed 9 November 2026. Original reader experiences retained. Main Amed image credit: original photograph on Flickr.
Photos Amed
Travel Guide
Now that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our Amed Travel Review for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.
Really laid back place. Very good for muck diving, snorkelling and relaxing.
Me and my boyfriend have been here many times (I live in Bali) as it’s my favourite spot. We often stay at Amed Cafe which is right on the beach (and the lady in the dive centre/internet cafe is super friendly as are all staff). I love it here!!! Diving, snorkelling, relaxing…. bliss.
I really like Amed too! Peaceful place… and good place for easy snorkelling too.
We went here too, but we stayed in Jemeluk. Honestly you can spend entire days lazing around on deck chairs outside the cafes or hotels on the beach. Then at night, you can order a fresh fish meal (normally caught that day) and watch the sunset with a beer.
When you get in the water, it is like Finding Nemo straight away! No need to walk out very far. All you need is to hire a snorkel and tuba from a local stand and you are set for a great week!
And it’s not too touristy either and not overdeveloped. Although the ladys on the beach will ask you day and night if you want a massage (if you so wish).
We will come back here again for sure! It is a truly relaxing beach holiday.
Amed relaxing place
Amed really good for dive and snorkeling.
Divers cafe good place you can start to dive or snorkeling.
The staff is friendly ,is will give you information or you can rental
Snorkel and dive gear here.
Here also you can rent bungalows.
Dive center is well .
Relaxing dives with nice mix of underwater life. Our local dive guide confirmed that the pigmy seahorse disappeared from the bay at the end of 2016. Still, there is plenty to see!
No Fear Diving ist eine deutsche PADI Tauchschule in Amed Bali unter der Leitung
des Ergotherapeuten Oliver Radosav.
Fun Diving, PADI Discover Scuba Diving, PADI Open Water curses for everybody. Specialized for children & clients with anxiety & special needs. Teaching in English, German, Dutch, Serbian & Croatian language
More Information under nofeardiving or bila-dive-resort Amed.
Ich bin in Amed mit PADI No Fear Diving getauch. Super Tauchschule die viele abgelegene Tauchplätze kennt. Super Service und Betreuung und super Tachen in Amed