Amed

Amed is a string of coastal villages in eastern Bali, with Jemeluk, Lipah and Banyuning offering different bases along the same shoreline. Fishing boats, volcanic beaches and the pleasure of a slow lunch between outings are part of its appeal. It is a place to settle in for a few nights, with diving and snorkelling close at hand, rather than a single beach to tick off during a long drive.

The original guide celebrated fresh fish dinners, sunsets and the relaxed rhythm of the coast. Those are useful reasons to come; its older description of a tiny, almost undeveloped village is no longer a reliable way to choose accommodation. The exact bay and the distance from a chosen dive centre matter more than an address that simply says “Amed”.

In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to Amed:

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.

A stay near the centre organising your dives keeps early starts pleasantly simple. Jemeluk makes sense for its bay and nearby reef; Lipah offers another coastal base, while accommodation farther along the road may involve more transfers for meals and activities. A waterfront address does not automatically mean an easy swimming entry.

Useful booking details include the actual walking route, steps between the room and shore, air-conditioning, equipment drying space and pickup coverage. Bintang Divers, for example, includes local collection only within its stated three-kilometre radius in its published dive prices. That is an operator-specific boundary, not an Amed-wide service.

Room rates vary by property, date and cancellation terms; no current hotel quote has been verified for this guide. Older named-property recommendations have therefore not been carried forward as a current shortlist.

Local pickup conditions, checked 9 November 2026

Activities and excursions in Amed

Between dives, Amed suits an unhurried coastal day: a café overlooking the water, a walk within the local bay or a separately booked snorkelling outing. Beach access, swimming ability and conditions determine what is suitable; a reef close to shore is not automatically safe for every swimmer.

For companions who do not dive

Bintang Divers lists snorkel equipment at IDR 100,000 per person per day, returned by 17:00. Daytime boat transport for Pyramids/Jemeluk is IDR 380,000 for one to four people; Japanese Wreck/Lipah is IDR 550,000 for the same group size. A guide adds IDR 300,000 for up to four people. Equipment and transport are separately priced.

For two people on the daytime Pyramids/Jemeluk outing, those published components total IDR 880,000 with two rental sets and one guide, or IDR 440,000 each, subject to the operator confirming availability and the booking’s final inclusions. This is an illustrative calculation checked 9 November 2026, not a live offer. A non-diver place on a scuba boat is a separate arrangement, with no free companion fare assumed.

Local outing options

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.

Show all routes Reset to local boat outing

Excursion options remain available in the table.

A look beneath the Amed coast

Play Amed reef film

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.

Best time to visit Amed

Amed welcomes divers throughout the year. PADI’s local overview gives April–November as a broad clearer-water window, while rain, wind and swell can still change the day’s plan. A stay with a little flexibility gives more room for a sheltered bay, a shore day or a different outing when conditions turn.

For water activities, its typical 26–29°C (79–84°F) range is a useful starting point for equipment planning, not a guarantee at every depth. Rare-animal sightings are not tied to a dependable holiday calendar.

Local seasonal reference, reviewed 9 November 2026

Health and Safety

Swimming supervision, shore entry, boat traffic and the day’s conditions matter even for a short snorkel. A guide and a suitable flotation aid can be useful parts of a booking, but do not make every location suitable for every swimmer. Diving insurance needs to cover the planned activity and location, including the relevant assistance and evacuation arrangements.

A flight or a drive to altitude after diving needs an appropriate interval for the actual dive profile. This matters for inland mountain excursions as well as the airport journey. DAN explains the factors affecting post-dive flying. Personal vaccination and health advice belongs with a travel-health professional rather than a blanket “no vaccinations needed” statement.

Indonesia travel-health guidance

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.

Where is Amed located in the world?

Amed lies on Bali’s eastern coast. Jemeluk is one bay within the wider area; Tulamben and its Liberty wreck are a separate neighbouring destination. A precise hotel pin helps avoid arriving at the right coastline but the wrong end of it.

Coastal references for planning a stay

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 get to Amed?

For an arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport or a hotel in southern Bali, a pre-arranged road transfer is a practical option, especially with dive luggage. The journey takes a substantial part of the day, with traffic, pickup location and stops affecting the timing. A fixed four-hour promise or an old taxi price would give more certainty than the evidence supports.

A transfer quotation is most useful when it names the final hotel, passenger and luggage allowance, waiting arrangements for a delayed flight, and any stops. Arrival day is better treated as a transfer day than as a tightly timed connection to a dive boat. Ferry or fast-boat connections belong to a separate booking: this guide has not verified a direct Amed sailing schedule.

Do I need a visa for Amed?

Amed uses the same Indonesian entry requirements as the rest of Bali. Eligibility depends on nationality and travel purpose. For eligible travellers, the visitor visa-on-arrival/e-VOA fee is IDR 500,000 for an initial 30-day stay; the passport requirement is at least six months’ validity on arrival. Bali’s IDR 150,000 foreign-tourist levy is a separate charge, with exemptions governed by the official rules.

The All Indonesia arrival declaration is free and can be completed within three days before arrival. These are separate processes, so a paid third-party arrival-form offer is not the official declaration fee.

Indonesian embassy visa guidance · Official All Indonesia notice · Bali levy and entry information. Checked 9 November 2026; eligibility and exemptions require a fresh check for the traveller.

Getting Around

The bays are linked by a coastal road, so staying close to the activities you want can save repeated drives. Walking works for short local trips where the route is comfortable; longer outings can use a driver or the operator’s agreed pickup. A hotel map gives distance, but not necessarily a shaded pavement or a step-free shoreline.

A scooter is not an essential part of an Amed holiday. For anyone considering one, a valid licence for the vehicle, a helmet, experience and the rental and insurance terms need checking before booking. A quoted rental price alone says little about whether that option suits the trip.

Amed travel questions

Is Amed one village?

The name is commonly used for a coastal area with several villages and bays. The precise accommodation location is more useful than the destination name alone.

Is this a good base for a mixed diving and non-diving couple?

It can be: local snorkelling, coastal cafés and shore time can fit alongside diving. Separate transport, supervision and prices for the non-diver need agreeing with the operator.

Can I rely on a fixed airport transfer time?

No. Pickup location, traffic and stops affect the journey. A confirmed road transfer and a flexible arrival day are more useful than a tight same-day dive connection.

Is the Liberty wreck in Amed?

It is in neighbouring Tulamben. It can be part of an Amed-based holiday, but is a separate outing.

Can I visit the mountains immediately after diving?

An ascent to altitude needs the same careful planning as other post-dive altitude exposure. The interval depends on the diving and the planned ascent; relevant guidance and professional advice are appropriate.

Original guide by Julien; refreshed 9 November 2026. Reader experiences remain in their original dated context.

Amed Photos

Scuba diving

You will find all information about sea life, best time to visit, top dive spots, etc. in our review: Amed Diving