DIVE AROUND AMED & TULAMBEN
Besides the famous Liberty USAT Wreck, Amed/Tulamben is a paradise for macro lovers . Diving over black sand makes it all the more special and creates a contrasting, interesting backdrop for photographers.
Most of Dive centers in Tulamben won’t come to dive at Amed, but we cover all dive sites both in Amed and Tulamben. Below are some of the most well-known dive sites in both areas, but our expert local dive guides know much more secret dive sites for expert underwater photographers, make your menus of creatures that you want to see, our guide can find for you!
US Liberty Wreck
Depth: 3-30m
Difficulty: Easy
A historic artifact revitalized into one of the richest marine environments in the world. Only 25 meters from the shore, the Liberty is one of the most accessible wreck dives and Bali’s most famous scuba diving and snorkeling site.
The wreck is 120m long and it sunk off the coast of Tulamben in 1963. This is an easy dive site accessible by shore, but at the same time very interesting and home to amazing creatures. Anemones, soft and hard corals are grown all over the wreck.
Coral Garden
Drop Off
Depth: 3-30m
Difficulty: All level
The Coral Garden, located between the Liberty Wreck and Drop-Off dive sites, is a shallow reef abounding with colorful corals and rare marine life. This easily accessible reef stretches for about 150 meters along the shore of Tulamben Bay.
One of the unique features of this site are the sunken Balinese statues that are scattered around the area, including figures of Buddha and various Hindu gods. These artistic structures serve as an artificial reef, attracting a variety of marine life.
Kubu
Boga Wreck
Depth: 18-40m
Difficulty: Advanced
Bali’s newest shipwreck remains nearly fully intact as it transforms into a haven for marine life. The site also features a submerged VW car and other interesting pieces.
The Boga Wreck is located just off the coast of Kubu, a village just north of Tulamben. Due to its location, you may also hear this dive site referred to as the “Kubu Wreck.”
Seraya Secret
Depth: 3-35m
Difficulty: Advanced
A paradise for macro lovers and underwater photographers, this “muck diving” site is teeming with fascinating and rare little critters, including countless Nudibranch and the elusive Harlequin shrimp.
At first glance, it may appear that there is not much to see on this stretch of black sandy sea floor aside from a few small pebbles, rocks, and pieces of coral – but look closely and you’ll be in for a treat! Seraya Secrets is one of the best “muck diving” sites in Bali and an excellent spot for macro photography. True to its name, this dive site is chock full of marine secrets and the sandy slope is teeming with many tiny, yet rare, critters. Just make sure not to forget your camera!
Alamanda
Batu Kelebit
Depth: 8-30m
Difficulty: Intermediate
Two dive sites that will be done with jukung boats out of the bay where we follow a rocky slope with many species of reef fish.
Batu Kelebit are two large underwater rocks. The dive site consists of three steep ridges which are completely covered with hard corals, beautiful fire corals and sponges. Among these ridges is, in difference to the Tulamben area, white sand. The water temperatures are colder compared to Tulamben and the diving goes a bit deeper. The current sometimes can be strong but the ridges offer protection.
Emerald
Palung Palung
Depth: 3-30m
Difficulty: Intermediate
Two dive sites that will be done with jukung boats out of the bay, both remains mostly untouched.
Emerald, located just past Batu Kelebit,is a sloping reef canvassed with corals, gorgonians, and sponges. You’ll begin your dive at around 12 meters deep and can continue down alongside the slope until 30 meters or so, depending on your experience level. You’ll head back along the top of the reef in the shallower water. While the water is calm at first, be aware that there can sometimes be a stronger current that kicks in and turns the dive into a drift dive.
Jemeluk Bay
Depth 5-30m
Difficulty: All levels
Jemeluk bay is our ‘house reef’, easily accessed from the beach or by ‘Jukung’. Leaving from a sandy bay, the reef soon turns into a dramatic, sheer wall leading to about 40 metres which is covered in beautiful hard and soft corals. There is an abundance of marine life on this site, including many different kinds of nudibranch and leaf scorpion fish. You can often find sea horses in the shallow, sandy parts of the bay, watch trevallies hunt or simply enjoy the wall of corals as the current takes you back to your entry point.
Pyramids
Depth: 5-30m
Difficulty: All levels
Pyramids, located right cross the road from the dive centre, is easily accessed from the beach. The Pyramids are artificially created reef structures, located in approximately 20+ metres of water, which have become home to a large variety of marine life.
This is the place to see pygmy seahorses hide in gorgonian fans, discover frogfish sitting on hard coral or simply enjoy a fast drift taking you along the reef. You may also spot hawksbill turtles here and the wall makes for a fantastic night dive.
Bunutan
Amed wall
Depth: 5-40m
Difficulty: Intermediate
The jukung boat brings us to the starting point. Bunutan is a fantastic fast drift dive along a rich coral reef. Setting out from a large eel garden (sneaking up to these eels requires a bit of stealth and skill), you will pass big barrel sponges and giant gorgonian fans, before spending the rest of your dive exploring the beautiful coral garden here.An extraordinary dive for which some experience is needed.
Amed Wall is an impressive vertical wall with a maximum depth of 40meters. The wall is covered with beautiful hard and soft corals as well as sponges and sea fans. The underwater world is rich with lionfish, pufferfish, angelfish, triggerfish and many, many more.
Youfinish your dive over a shallow plateau bathed in soft sunlight. From overhead, the shadow of the jukung awaits your bubbles…already, it’s time to surface.
Japanese Shipwreck
Depth 5-30m
Difficulty: Intermediate
We do 2 dives here, one on the right and one on the left. Shore dive where you can admire the unspoiled hard and soft corals, the many colors and the small wreck itself which is a breeding ground for fish. The Japanese shipwreck lies in shallow water (6 m). Behind the wreck the “real” dive starts and brings you along a slope with barrel sponges, hard corals, hiding moray eels and many other species. This is a photographer’s paradise with fantastic macro opportunities, pygmy seahorse, leaf fish, frog fish, nudibranch, you name them…. Be careful: The wall reaches approximately 35 metres and you may find strong currents on this site, and sometimes water temperature can drop to 24-25 degree in some part of the dive.
Gili Selang
Depth: 5-35m
Difficulty: Advanced
Gili Selang is the most easterly point of Bali and sits on the very edge of the Lombok Strait. The more exposed areas can have up, down and swirling currents. We recommend being certified in drift diving for this dive site with loads of experience in varying currents. Considerable care needs to be exercised in the area. That’s why this site should be restricted to only very experienced divers. Please stay close to your dive master who understands the environment and currents best.
Melasti Amed
Depth: 3-35m
Difficulty: Advanced
Melasti Amed is a relative new dive site, it’s almost the Amed version of Seraya secret, another paradise for macro lovers and underwater photographers, this “muck diving” site is teeming with fascinating and rare little critters, including countless Nudibranch and the elusive Harlequin shrimp.