Bali, the island of the gods, offers a wide range of excellent and diverse diving and snorkeling spots. Here snorkelers and divers of all experience levels can find fun and adventure. Photographers come from all over the world to take pictures of the rare species that are here in Bali. Certainly snorkeling and diving in Bali is a great experience.
Our dive shop, the Amed Dive Center is right in the center of the best diving and snorkeling spots that we can reach in a short time either by car or by boat. Other excellent diving spots are to dive Candidasa and Nusa Penida. However, Candidasa & Nusa Penida dive sites are relatively far from our dive center in Amed and we have to drive by car first and then change to a boat or speed boat on site. Excellent dive spots are waiting to be explored
The Blue Lagoon is at Padang Bai, the harbor serving ferries traveling between Bali and Lombok. The blue lagoon is an easy dive and an excellent site for snorkeling, too. The southern part of the reef drops vertically to 20 m and is covered by stone- and soft coral. The landscape is dominated by up to 4 m high growing soft coral where large spiny lobsters feel at home. Large schools of batfish are usually hanging around and accompany the divers. On the northern side we have the option to dive an interesting slope that drops to 30m offering the sight of plenty ‘fan’ worms and feather stars, or we dive the sandy area while drifting between beautiful soft coral piles.
At a short distance a large stag horn coral field stretches 8m of depth, providing a colorful home to oriental sweet lips, bassets and schools of glass fish. At the end the sandy area changes to a stone coral field. Due to an increased current at the outer reef border, white tip reef sharks are frequently observed hunting.
Certified divers should visit the shark point at the huge rock Gili Tepekong. At the open seaside of this rock, a slope drops to a depth of several hundred meters. The slope is covered with beautiful stone- and soft coral, which remain small but sturdy because of the permanently present current. Because of the rock’s exposed position facing the open sea it offers a fair chance for big fish encounters including gray- white-and black tip reef sharks which sometimes can be observed while asleep in a cave. The rock side facing the beach slopes in 45 degrees to a depth of 60 m. Here you may find nurse sharks and black-banded sea snakes. Your adrenaline level may quite well increase by being surrounded by 20 or more sharks of various sizes – but it is a fantastic adventure and a very memorable experience. Both dives are drift dives with an attentive boat crew following the divers. Because of its exposed position in the open sea and occasionally strong currents, Tepekong is an outstanding dive site for experienced divers only
Experienced divers should visit Gili Biaha, a large rock located about half an hour east of Candidasa. A very deep wall drops 60+ meters into the sea and offers an incredible diversity of marine life. In a depth of about 15m is a cave that is inhabited by sharks. To explore this cave special care is required since it has an opening to the rock and the swell can be pretty strong at times. Divers usually experience rather strong currents at Gili Biaha and the water may be pretty cold!
Around Nusa Penida & Nusa Lembongan are excellent dive sides due to their unharmed environment. Nusa Penida and Lembongan islands are located more or less in between Bali and Lombok and are populated by a few inhabitants only. The major “industry” on these islands is based on the collection of sea grass (to be exported to Japan) and a growing tourism. Still there is hardly any pollution and this fact keeps the marine life in an exceptional condition. Therefore, this is a beautiful spot for divers but kind of expensive due to its location and the required boat trip. The reef characteristics are the same for both islands with the exception that Penida’s reef drops steeper than the Lembongan reef.
The visibility is usually excellent and reaches 20 meters or more. Thermo-clines may cause sudden drops in water temperature. Large schools of bassets circle the reef and quite often you will find the wonderful egg cowries as well as high whip coral. Big fish, like manta rays, eagle rays, sharks, giant turtles and sunfish mola mola are common visitors in this area. Look around and enjoy the magnificent creation of Mother Nature. These islands are a must for the experienced, demanding and solvent diver. Currents may become very strong and may change direction – these dives are not suitable for beginners but a perfect spot for divers with advanced experience.
Amed Dive Center
SSI Dive Instructors
SSI Dive Center 741052
Jl. I Ketut Natih, Pantai Timur No 801,
Amed – Karangasem – Bali – Indonesia 80852
Phone/Fax: +62 (363) 23462 ameddivecenter.com
Hotel Uyah Amed & Spa Resort
Jl. I Ketut Natih, Pantai Timur No 801,
Amed – Karangasem – Bali – Indonesia 80852
Phone/Fax: +62 (363) 23462
hoteluyah.com