Amed Bali Guide: Diving, Snorkeling & Village Life

Why Visit Amed

Amed is a string of small fishing villages on Bali’s east coast — black sand beaches, excellent diving and snorkeling, and a genuinely local atmosphere that south Bali lost years ago. It’s a 2-hour drive from Ubud but feels like a different island.

Diving & Snorkeling

Amed is one of the best diving areas in Bali — the famous USS Liberty shipwreck at nearby Tulamben is one of Indonesia’s most accessible wreck dives. The wreck lies just 30 metres offshore in 5–30 metres of water, covered in coral and surrounded by fish. You can snorkel the shallow sections or dive the full wreck.

House reef snorkeling: Walk straight off Amed’s beach into good coral gardens. Rent mask and fins IDR 30,000–50,000/day.
Scuba diving: IDR 450,000–700,000 per dive including equipment and boat. PADI courses available IDR 4,000,000–6,000,000 for Open Water.
USS Liberty wreck: 10 minutes by car, dive from the beach, 30 metres offshore.

Beaches

Amed’s beaches are black volcanic sand — not the white sand of Uluwatu or Nusa Penida, but beautiful in a different way. The clearest water and best snorkeling is at Jemeluk Bay — calm, protected, excellent coral.

Atmosphere

Amed still functions as a real fishing community — watch jukung outriggers go out at dawn, buy fresh fish from morning market, eat at family warungs serving the day’s catch. Restaurants and guesthouses have improved significantly but the local character remains.

Getting There

About 2 hours from Ubud, 2.5 hours from Kuta/Seminyak. Best with a private driver (IDR 400,000–500,000) or rented scooter for flexibility. No good public transport. — book via Kiwi.com for the best deal.

Where to Stay

Simple beachside guesthouses: IDR 150,000–350,000/night. Mid-range bungalows with sea views: IDR 350,000–700,000. A few boutique hotels: IDR 700,000–1,500,000.

Combine With

Amed + Tulamben (USS Liberty wreck) + Tirta Gangga water palace = excellent 2-day east Bali itinerary.