Amed divesites

JEMELUK BAY/ WALL

Jemeluk bay is a diving hotspot for both entry-level divers and experienced ones. It is very close from our PADI Dive Resort and we use it regularly for training & teaching purposes and fun diving as well.

The topography of Jemeluk bay allows you to encounter on both edges a vertical wall full of marine life and abundant coral and a protected bay with the absence of currents and very clear waters. On the west side, the wall connects with Pyramids while the drop-off on the east side will bring you direction to Bunutan village.

The bay itself features a sandy bottom plateau at around 3-5m where it is possible to already spot seahorses, devil & leaf scorpionfish, harlequin crabs, stonefish and many more interesting and rare aquatic life species. Then following the contour of the gentle sandy bottom slope you will discover for instance an artificial reef covered by concrete structures and Balinese statues, huge sea fans or even red fluorescent sea anemones at depth.

While you can dive Jemeluk shallow fulfilling Open Water certification depth limits you may also want to explore deeper on the wall sides. Usually the drop off begins from around 18 m and goes well below 40 m.

This dive site is similar to USAT Liberty Wreck an ideal place to conduct night dives. Plenty of bioluminescent phytoplankton, snowflake moray eels, huge variety of rare nudibranchs, decorator crabs, Spanish dancers are common species to be spotted here.

Access from shore
Current: none to mild
Multi-level dive
Harlequin crabs, nudibranchs, ghost & banded pipe fish, frogfish, devil scorpionfish, indian walkman, reef octopus, decorator crab, leaf scorpion fish, snowflake moray eel,
Ideal for entry level experience, novice, intermediate and experienced divers. Why not?
PADI Advanced Diver, PADI Fish-ID, Underwater Photography, Deep, Sidemount Diver Specialties as well

PYRAMIDS

This dive site tends to be a lovely drift dive where the underwater landscape features a natural coral reef on the slope with pyramids structures on the sandy plateau at around 18 meters. The artificial reef was created by fishermens during the mid 90’s and is located very less than five minutes away from our PADI Dive Resort. When diving the Pyramids you can either choose to do it from shore or using the fishermen boats called “Jukung” what allows more flexibility on the exit point.

Pyramids is because of several reasons one of the main diving attractions in Amed. With over more than 20 pyramids, the depth of this dive site allows Open Water certified divers to enjoy the magic of the place as well. It is also ideal to introduce novice divers into drift diving or even for experienced divers to encounter wonderful critters such as the pygmy seahorse, leaf scorpion or frogfishes.

Immerse yourself in the Pyramids and you will discover a great variety of marine life both in the artificial and natural reef but as well in the midwater as the current brings along a high amount of plankton. Starting the dive spotting a huge valley of garden eels, the Kuhls Stingrays and blue-spotted ones will accompany you during the dive. While usually green or hawksbill turtles, big pufferfishes such as the Mappa like to find shelter along the slope, the schools of fusiliers or even giant trevally prefer to swim on the midwater. Reef sharks can be a highlight on this dive site as the like to visit Pyramids and swim around the sandy plateau.

Access from shore & boat
Current: moderate to strong
Multi-level Dive
Garden eels, kuhl’s & blue-spotted stingray, schools of fusiliers, jacks and giant trevally, black & white-tip reef sharks, mappa pufferfish, hawksbill turtle, leaf scorpionfish, pygmy seahorse, frogfish, barracuda
Ideal for intermediate or experienced diver. Why not?
PADI Advanced Diver, PADI Fish-ID, Drift, Underwater Photography Specialties as well

BUNUTAN

This dive site accounts together with Pyramids to the most famous and well known drift dives of Amed. While in Pyramids you may choose to start from shore, in Bunutan it is required to use the fishermen boats called “Jukung”. This site can be also more challenging than Pyramids in terms of current directions as sometimes can be unpredictable and may change easily.

Bunutan is one of the prettiest dive sites in Amed and as well covers a huge area as you may drift along almost 500 m reef. You will start the dive shallow and follow the sandy bottom slope while observing and enjoying a vast area full of garden eels. Huge barrel sponges arise in the depth providing a perfect shelter for giant and honeycomb moray eels. The biggest barrel sponges in Amed are found here at Bunutan and the magnificent current flow increase the chances to encounter schools of giant trevally, mackerel and fusiliers. As well, the chances are above the average to meet the wonderful spotted eagle rays in the midwater and of course usually close to the sandy bottom and in between barrel sponges the white and black-tip reef sharks.

As a novice diver, we do not recommend this dive site, as you first need to acquire further knowledge on drift diving and mastering of buoyancy. Of course do not hesitate to consult us and together with your logbook and level of experience we will be happy to advice you. Furthermore as an intermediate-level or experienced diver Bunutan is a must do dive on any Amed diving holidays.

Access from boat
Current: moderate to strong
Multi-level dive
Huge barrel sponges, infinite field of garden eels, reef octopus, giant & honeycomb moray eel, schools of giant trevally, fusiliers and mackerel, black & white-tip reef sharks, spotted eagle rays, barracuda
Ideal for intermediate or experienced divers. Why not?
PADI Advanced Diver, PADI Fish-ID, Drift and Deep Diver Specialties as well

LIPAH SLOPE

This dive site is less popular in terms that dive centers & resorts do not dive here as often as in other places. However, Lipah features an amazing landscape, especially on the deep part of the slope between 20-40 m.

You can start the dive both from shore and as well using the fishermen boats “Jukung”. It can be an easy and relaxing dive ideal for entry-level and novice divers. The bay offers relatively calm and crystal clear waters, sandy bottom makes it easier for inexperienced divers to manage their buoyancy. You can spot a large variety of nudibranches around the shallow area.

Though if you are an intermediate-level or experienced diver you definitely should explore the deep side on the west corner direction to Japanese Wreck. You will encounter abundant coral fans and big schools of fusiliers and jacks. Regular residence as well for some big white-tip reef sharks and as well brilliant to spot the juvenile’s ones hiding and finding shelter in between hard coral and overhangs. Giant reef octopuses, big puffer & porcupine fishes will accompany you during the dive.

Take into account that currents in Lipah -deep part- can be tricky and challenging as they may change and vary during the dive. The flow direction will not be always unidirectional but you may experience up & downwards currents as well.

Access from shore & boat
Current: moderate to strong
Multi-level dive
Abundant coral colonies & coral fans, reef octopus, big porcupine fishes, schools of giant trevally, fusiliers and mackerel, black & white-tip reef sharks, giant moray eels, peacock mantis shrimp, subbranch
Ideal for intermediate or experienced divers. Why not?
PADI Advanced Diver, PADI Fish-ID, Drift and Deep Diver Specialties as well

JAPANESE WRECK

After the Boga and the USAT Liberty Wreck, this the third shipwreck you can dive close or in Amed -both from shore and using fishermen boats “Jukung”-. It is located in the village of Banyuning around 7 km from our PADI Dive Resort and there are some curious “urban legends” regarding the name of this dive site.

While some stories point out that originally the ship was a Javanese fishing boat –thus Japanese being derived from- others prefer to say that the wreck was actually a Japanese patrol ship sunken during the WWII –similar to the USAT Liberty-. The last group base their assumption on the presence of Japanese style toilets on site.

The shipwreck itself is relatively small and compared to the Boga or USAT Liberty less impressive. It is lying after Lipah Bay on shallow -5m to 10m- sandy bottom very close from shore. Actually, the site is a wonderful place for snorkeling as well.

For divers the secret relies not only on the shipwreck but on the surrounding area. The reef next to it features some of the best and more colorful soft corals of all Amed. The landscape is encrusted with gorgonians, sponges and black coral bushes. The slope down away from the wreck is rich and healthy and offers abundant marine life. Ideal place to encounter some big travelers such as the napoleon wrasse or even whale sharks. Get ready to spend time looking for critters such as the pygmy seahorse, leaf scorpionfish and the warty frogfish. Plenty of nudibranchs and of course when given current keep an eye on the midwater for schools of trevallies, fusiliers or sometimes even great barracudas.

Access from shore or boat
Current: none to strong
Multi-level Dive
Abundant fish & coral colonies, napoleon wrasse, leaf scorpion fish, nudibranchs, schools of fuisliers and jacks, huge and colorful gorgonians, pygmy seahorse
Ideal for novice, intermediate and experienced divers. Why not?
PADI Advanced Diver, PADI Deep, Wreck, Sidemount Diver Specialties as well

GILI SELANG

This spectacular dive site -only reachable by boat- receives its name after the small island of Gili Selang that is actually the most oriental point of Bali and the last diving spot our PADI Dive Resort can offer. The fact of being so close to deep water channels makes this place exceptional and challenging. Unfortunately, not every adventurous diver is welcome to join us; we do only take experienced divers to Gili Selang.

The marine life here is very different from the one you find around Amed and Tulamben but similar to the one you encounter around Nusa Penida. Accordingly, the sometimes-unpredictable currents attract giant trevally, big reef sharks and deep water pelagic such as hammerhead sharks or even mola-mola -giant oceanic sunfish-. Often schools of jacks are present during daylight while barracudas seek hunting.

As you descend and follow the reef slope, you will love the exceptional underwater landscape as it hosts large colonies of gorgonian fans, leather and brain corals. Usually the shallow area is protected from strong currents going south, the clear and virgin waters here allow for excellent natural lighting. When diving the north part -so called “the express”- of the island it is important to keep an eye on the flow direction, as it is not rare to encounter up and downwards currents. The edge between the north and the east part drops sharply beyond recreational diving limits and the drift speed may increase rapidly.

Access from boat
Current: moderate to strong
Multi-level Dive
ea fans, brain and leather corals, schools of jacks, giant trevally, big reef sharks, barracudas, napoleon wrasse, humphead parrotfish, mola-mola
Only experienced divers. Why not?
PADI Deep, Fish-ID, Drift Diver Specialties as well.

DEEP BLUE

You do not need to have a deep diver specialty to join this incredible dive site though you have to be an experienced diver with previous practical contact diving in strong currents. Whereas experienced open water divers still enjoy in Deep Blue giant barrel sponges, whip corals, white sandy bottom patches decorated with some huge coral boulders at a maximum depth of 18 m., divers showing proof of an advanced certification will love drifting in a range between 18 meters and 27 meters. When currents are strong, sometimes the drifting distance can be close to 1 km. or even slightly more. It is the ideal way to cover a large dive site without needing to use a Diver Propulsion Vehicle.

Same as in Bunutan, the size and number of barrel sponges in this site are tremendous. Whip Corals, loads of sea anemones and plenty of both soft and hard coral gives color and life to the slope of Deep Blue. If you are seeking to deal with some “tricky” currents and increase your chances to spot abundant marine life activity in the midwater, then the east corner of Amed is the place to go and Deep Blue one of your first choices before encountering even stronger currents when closer to Gili Selang. Definitely, you will be rewarded with a significant fish activity, common sightings of reef sharks, turtles, napoleon wrasses, giant trevallies, giant moray eels, etc. Even whale sharks, hammerheads and mola-mola have seen here before.

Access from boat
Current: medium to strong
Multi-level dive/ Deep Dive
Impressive schooling of fusiliers, moorish idols and red tooth triggerfishes. Giant porcupine-fishes, clown triggerfishes, turtles (olive ridley, green, hawksbill and even leatherback), reef sharks (black, grey and white tip), giant trevallies, honeycomb moray eels, etc.
Only for very experienced divers. Why not?
PADI Drift Diver, Deep or even Sidemount Diver Specialties as well

GOLDEN ROCK

A golden stupa standing on the final east edge of the bay after the Japanese Wreck marks our entry point into this challenging dive site. Similar to Deep Blue, Kusambi and Gili Selang, this site offers great chances to meet some of the most spectacular “big” marine creatures such as the oceanic white shark, reef sharks, Mola-Mola or even Coral Fans with a large number of bargibanti pygmy seahorses inhabiting on them.

Abundant whip coral decorates the gradual slope of Golden Rock as a natural underwater sign for usually strong currents. Impressive fish activity on the midwater with regular schooling of midnight snappers, fusiliers, trevallies and plenty of wonderful clown triggerfishes. Same as in the other sites mentioned above, Golden Rock may be a continuous drift or easily water movement conditions may change during the dive. Adaptation to the environment and current experience is required and that is why we only offer this site to experienced divers.

Deep-water channels due to the Lombok Strait will bring some upwelling currents creating thermoclines whereas then the visibility is crystal-clear and thus spectacular. As well, the more current the better the chances to spot the “big guys”.

Access from boat
Current: medium to strong
Multi-level dive/ Deep Dive
Impressive schooling of midnight snappers, red tooth triggerfishes, giant procupinefishes, clown triggerfishes, bargibanti pygmy seahorse, turtles (olive ridley, green, hawksbill and even leatherback), reef sharks (oceanic white, black, grey and white tip), giant trevallies, etc.
Only for very experienced divers. Why not?
PADI Drift Diver, Deep or even Sidemount Diver Specialties as well

KUSAMBI

The name of this astonishing dive site comes from the hindu temple lying on top of the hill and observing the clear waters that surround the proximity of Gili Selang’s island. We only offer this site to experienced divers as currents can be quite unpredictable and challenging.

The fact of Kusambi dive site being aligned into the Lombok Strait creates significant thermoclines and is responsible for a huge amount of nutrients fluctuation. Both along the shallow water and on the deep side -following the gradual wall contour- you will encounter magnificent and healthy coral, fully covered by red anthias and in the midwater massive schooling of red tooth triggerfishes, blue neon and yellow-back fusiliers, Moorish idols, etc. Big chances that turtles will provide you companionship during your dive as well as Napoleon Wrasses, Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays and even the world famous Mola-Mola and hammerheads have been spotted here before.

Whereas you dive Kusambi shallow or deep, account for some unforeseeable currents. While it can be a continuosly drift dive along the wall, it may as well feature some upwards/ downwards or even against currents. As a tendency, the stronger currents, the greater the probability to meet pelagics and enjoy higher marine life activity.

Access from boat
Current: medium to strong
Multi-level dive/ Deep Dive
Massive schooling of fusiliers, red tooth triggerfishes, Moorish idols, napoleon wrasses, turtles (olive ridley, green, hawksbill and even leatherback), reef sharks (white, black and grey tip), giant trevallies, brown marbled groupers, lobsters, giant moray eels, etc.
Only for very experienced divers. Why not?
PADI Drift Diver, Deep or even Sidemount Diver Specialties as well