Best Scuba Diving Sites in Amed

Amed is incredibly rich in dive centers, with approximately four dozen of them in the area. And it's not by chance. This region boasts several dive sites that will appeal to divers of all levels.

Here are the sites listed in order from northwest to southeast:

This is one of the favorite sites for macro photography enthusiasts and divers who appreciate small marine life. Harlequin shrimps, frogfish, tiger shrimps, and eels are commonly found here. You can also spot various species of nudibranchs, octopuses, and sea snakes foraging in the sand.

Depth: 4-30 meters

Visibility: 10-25 meters

Currents: From calm to very weak

Type: Shore dive

Difficulty: Suitable for beginners

The site is located at the beginning of Amed, where Ketut Natih Street turns right and follows the coastline.

This site is perfect for macro photography on the sandy bottom. There are very few rocks and corals here. Small creatures hide in the sand, anemones, old ropes, and bushes. There is a small artificial reef at a depth of 5-7 meters on the sandy plateau, where you can find stone fish, ghost pipefish, lionfish, and scorpionfish. Deeper on the plateau, among the anemones, you can discover shrimp.

Access is from the shore.

There are numerous species of ghost pipefish, large stone fish, octopuses, many shrimps, crabs, and anemones. You can also encounter flying gurnards and sea moths.

The site features black sand and an artificial reef, with numerous types of anemones teeming with shrimp.

The depth ranges from 5 to 25 meters, with a plateau that is 150 meters wide and runs parallel to the shore at a depth of 4 to 7 meters, followed by a slope down to 20 meters.

This site is ideal for macro dives on the sandy bottom and artificial reef. Typically, the currents are very weak. However, if the current is strong, ghost fish tend to hide, so it's important to choose the right time for the dive.

This site is suitable for divers of all levels. Beginners will be more interested in the reef's marine life, while more experienced divers and photographers will search for underwater creatures in the sand.

The sandy reef slope is located opposite the Garam Cafe. Here, on the sandy bottom, you can discover underwater statues, a small sunken wooden boat, and even a motorcycle covered with algae and corals.

You can encounter moray eels, lionfish, pipefish, and stonefish, which hide among the structures while waiting for prey. On the black sand, camouflaged flounders can be found.

Depth: 4-30 meters

Visibility: 10-25 meters

Currents: From calm to very weak

Type: Shore dive

Difficulty: Suitable for beginners

This site features an interesting coral reef with pyramid-like structures made of concrete cubes that were submerged over 20 years ago. There are approximately 20 pyramids at different depths. The very first pyramid, at a depth of about 7 meters, is accessible to beginner freedivers.

The height of the pyramids is 2.5-3 meters.

These structures are used for reef regeneration, and this process is clearly successful. Schools of young coral fish swim around them. Frogfish and glass fish like to hide inside the new reef. Moray eels, lionfish, leaf scorpion fish, and shrimps also seek shelter within the pyramids.

On the surrounding slopes, you can find a rich marine life, from large fish like ghost pipefish and frogfish to sharks and turtles. You can reach the site by boat, and it's only a couple of minutes from the shore.

In addition to the pyramids, the site features a wall that descends to a depth of 18-24 meters and is densely covered with corals.

Among the polyps, you can find seahorses, pipefish, and scorpionfish. Green turtles often come by. The place is excellent for night diving, where you can see bioluminescent organisms and fish.

Typically, the current moves eastward. You can start the dive from the point opposite the "Pyramids" café and drift about 250 - 300 meters to the east before coming ashore around Kem Bali Reef.

Depth: 4-20 meters

Visibility: 10-25 meters

Currents: From calm to very weak

Type: Boat dive or shore dive (shore diving is entirely possible)

Difficulty: Suitable for beginners

In Jemeluk, there are two dive sites, and these are the most popular dive sites in Amed among divers of all levels.

On the right, there is the Drop-off.

Diving starts with a gentle reef that leads to a very impressive wall, descending from 10 meters to a depth of over 40 meters. On the ledges of the wall, you can find moray eels, pipefish, nudibranchs, and shrimp. Reef sharks, large groupers, and rays may also pass by. Among the corals, there are huge pink sea fans and marine sponges.

Many gorgonians, a rich coral reef. Here you can also encounter turtles, Napoleon wrasses, and parrotfish.

Depth: 4-40 meters

Visibility: 10-25 meters

Currents: From calm to very weak

Type: Boat dive from Jemeluk Beach or shore dive (but it's quite far from the shore)

Difficulty: Suitable for beginners

Rich in nudibranchs, leaf scorpion fish, and leopard moray eels. This site is also home to the very rare wasp fish. With depths ranging from 10 to 25 meters, it's ideal for a second dive or for diving courses.

Located in the village of Bunutan, this site starts at a depth of 10 meters and descends to 18 meters.

The site begins with sandy bottoms with corals, polyps, and gardens of eels.

At a depth of 18 meters, there is a coral reef that goes down to 35 meters. Among the polyps and corals, you can find reef fish, shrimp, and schools of tuna, mackerel, barracudas, lionfish, triggerfish, barracudas, groupers, blacktip reef sharks, trevally, turtles, and pufferfish.

You can see barrel sponges, gorgonians, and coral gardens here. In the lower part of the reef, there can sometimes be strong currents that run parallel to the shore. Their temperature can drop to 23-24°C.

Deep diving requires the appropriate certification and experience in drift diving.

To reach the site, you typically take a boat, and the journey takes about 2 minutes.

Do not confuse Lipah Bay (with the Japanese shipwreck) with Lipah Beach, which is located to the northeast of it.

The dive starts on the slope to the left of the sunken Japanese ship. Here, you can see many reef fish, shrimp, porcelain crabs, and scorpionfish.

Access is from the shore, approximately a 15-minute drive from Amed to the southeast along the coast. The location of the wreck can be easily found by two large spherical buoys approximately 20 meters from the shore.

From the flora, you can find gorgonians, sponges, and black corals on the slope and on the coral field at the western point of the bay.

The wreck is located at a depth of 3 to 10 meters. The most interesting part of the slope is between 15 and 25 meters. The coral field, over 150 meters long and 100 meters wide, is at a depth of only 5-10 meters.

Suitable for divers of all levels. You can dive here even during low tide. Be cautious of possible currents.

This is a shallow wreck located just a few meters from the shore in Lipah Bay. It's suitable for a daytime dive. The site is teeming with marine life, including various fish and corals. You'll find plenty of moray eels, sweetlips, pufferfish, porcupine fish, and octopuses here.

The exact date of the accident and the identity of the ship are unknown. The ship is resting at an angle, with its upper part at a depth of 6 meters and its lower part at 12 meters. The steel hull, approximately 20 meters in length, has been well-preserved and is now covered with corals and sponges, inhabited by coral fish, shrimps, and crabs.

The site is excellent for underwater photography and suitable for beginner freedivers.

Depth: 3-30 meters

Visibility: 10-25 meters

Currents: From calm to very weak

Type: Shore dive

Difficulty: Suitable for beginners

The site consists of a small bay, with Gili Selang Island closing it off, forming the easternmost point of Bali. The density of coral and reef fish here is simply incredible.

Gili Selang is abundant in beautiful corals and sponges. There is a high chance of encountering blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, barracudas, and large schools of fish here. Cold currents from the depths occasionally bring hammerhead sharks. The currents at the site can sometimes be quite unpredictable, so this site is recommended for experienced divers only and must be accompanied by a dive guide. Especially strong currents are observed around the Gili Selang Island itself.

The walls of the reef are covered with corals, some of which can be enormous. Sea snakes can be seen here, and occasionally gray reef, whale, and even tiger sharks venture in. Near Gili Selang Island, you can also spot manta rays, dolphins, turtles, large schools of tuna, and mackerel. The flora and fauna here resemble more the underwater world of Amed and Tulamben, rather than Nusa Penida.

Strong currents are frequent here. Divers with more than 25 dives are allowed to visit the site. It is recommended only for experienced divers. It is also very important to choose an experienced guide and dive center.

Depth: 5-30 meters

Visibility: 15-25 meters

Currents: Strong and unpredictable

Type: Boat dive

Difficulty: AOWD with 50+ dives