Amed is the string of black-sand fishing villages along Bali's quiet north-east coast — and the island's best place to put on a mask and swim straight out to coral and a sunken shipwreck. Add the famous Liberty wreck a short drive north, freediving schools, and sunrise over the sea with Mt Agung at your back, and you have Bali's underwater capital at a village pace.
Amed's signature is shore snorkelling: you walk in from the beach and within a few fin-kicks you're over healthy coral. Jemeluk Bay is the classic spot — a gentle bay with coral on both sides, reef fish, and an underwater temple / statue garden just offshore that's become Amed's postcard shot. The water is calm and clear most mornings, which makes it ideal for first-time and nervous snorkellers. Bring or rent a mask (gear is cheap everywhere) and go early before the afternoon breeze picks up.
A small WWII-era Japanese patrol-boat wreck lies in shallow water off Banyuning, close enough to reach by snorkel from the beach. It's encrusted in coral and circled by fish — a genuine wreck experience without needing to dive. Go with a local guide or at slack water; the shallow depth makes it one of the most photogenic easy snorkels on the island.
A 20–30 minute drive north brings you to Tulamben and Bali's most famous dive site: the USAT Liberty, a 120-metre WWII cargo ship lying on a sand slope just metres off the beach. It starts shallow enough to snorkel the upper sections and runs deep enough for multi-level scuba dives. It's one of the world's great shore-accessible wrecks — no boat required — and it's the single best reason many divers come to east Bali.
Based elsewhere? Reach the east coast easily
Compare transport & boats →Amed is a relaxed, affordable place to learn to dive or log fun dives — calm shore entries, lots of small dive schools, and sites from coral walls to the wrecks. It's also one of Asia's top freediving hubs: several schools run courses in the deep, clear water of Jemeluk. Whether you want a PADI Open Water course or a two-day intro freedive, Amed does it at a fraction of resort-town prices.
Amed faces east, so unlike most of Bali you get the sunrise over the sea — set one early alarm and watch the fishing boats head out as the sky turns. For sunset, drive up to the Jemeluk Bay viewpoint, a cliffside warung-lined spot looking back over the curve of the bay with Mt Agung in the distance. It's the most photographed view in Amed.
Amed is still a working fishing coast. Rows of brightly painted jukung (traditional outrigger boats) line the black-sand beaches, and the area is known for traditional sea-salt farming — you can watch salt being raked and dried the old way. The pace is slow, the warungs are cheap and friendly, and a scooter ride along the coast road past each little bay is a highlight in itself.
Two of east Bali's biggest sights are an easy half-day trip from Amed:
Both pair naturally with the drive in or out of Amed. See our Amed destination guide for how it fits a wider route.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Snorkel gear rental (day) | €3–6 |
| Guided snorkel trip | €10–20 |
| Fun dive (2 tanks) | €45–70 |
| PADI Open Water course | €300–380 |
| Freediving intro course | €120–180 |
| Scooter rental (day) | €4–6 |
| Warung meal | €2–4 |
Indicative 2026 prices; diving varies by school and certification.
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