Dive into discovering the best snorkeling in Amed Bali, the top location on the Island of the Gods for underwater exploration!!
Amed, Bali is a less-traveled pocket at the eastern point of Bali where divers and locals come together in their connection to the ocean. While local fishermen take to the open water with boats filling the horizon by the hundreds, the explorers and researchers are deep under the surface observing nature or working to revive it.
If you’re stopping by Amed during your 2-week Bali trip, then you don’t want to miss Amed’s best feature; the vibrant coral reefs and aquatic landscape. There are 6 top locations to dive into, like my 2 favorites, Lipah Beach and Japanese Shipwreck, but you can also find coral along much of the coast!
Snorkeling and diving are some of the best eco-friendly activities in Bali, allowing you to be in awe of the inspiring beauty it offers. Don’t miss the life waiting for you under the waves, and yes, you’ll probably see turtles!
Table of Contents
Best Spots for Snorkeling in Amed Bali
1. Lipah Beach
Lipah Beach is my favorite beach in Amed, for both the incredible snorkeling and since it is one of the few places with soft sand you can lay back on. Much of Bali’s eastern coast (especially near the lava flows of Mount Agung), is rocky!
Lipah Beach has so much to see, shallow coral abundant with life. The depth drops off a bit making it fun for depth divers. If you know who to ask, you may find your way to a shelf of coral that is the home to at least 2 white-tip reef sharks!
Although this area is common, you barely see people out in the water! There are 3 different snorkel gear rentals along the beach, where you can get a mask, snorkel, and fins for ~150k IDR. The one in the middle of the beach goes by Mowgli, and he can take you to the sharks 🙂
I prefer to park along the southern part of the beach at Warung Asri to steer clear of the resort areas. There is street-level parking for free with stairs straight to the water!
What you'll See at Lipah Beach
- Coral Propagation Projects, a lot of trash on some days 🙁
- Sea Turtles, White-Tip Reef Sharks
- Barricudas, Triggerfish, Parrotfish, common reef fishes
2. Japanese Shipwreck
You can’t go snorkeling in Amed Bali without seeing the Japanese Shipwreck. Although it is the furthest out of town, it’s worth it! Transportation in Bali is pretty easy with motorbike rentals, there isn’t Grab or Gojek in Amed!
When you enter the water, the vibrant coral opens to a sunken wreck that has been reclaimed by life. This wreck was a Japanese patrol boat during WWII and one of the best shallow wrecks in Bali.
It varies in depth between 6m to 12m at its deepest point, making it fun for divers of all levels! The beach is a bit rocky, but water access is easy and the ship is close to the shore.
In 2024, beach access costs 30k IDR and includes fruit juice. Support local!
What you'll See at Japanese Shipwreck
- Shipwreck!
- Bigger schools of oceanic fish
- Common reef fish
3. Jemeluk Beach (Underwater Temple)
Jemeluk Beach is the most crowded area in Amed for water sports. The bay is usually filled with Jakungs (local Balinese fishing boats), catamarans, cruisers for dive trips, and plenty of people in the water!
The bay is relatively sheltered from winds and the current that can get decently strong off-shore, making it a great place for beginners and families. However, be aware that we saw a TON of jellyfish in the bay after a big rainstorm, which is common and most profound in this bay.
Along the southern edge of the bay, there is an underwater temple that was placed there some years ago, growing coral and creating a perfect setting for underwater photos!
What you'll See at Jemeluk Beach
- Underwater Temple (3m deep), Coral Garden
- Sea Turtles, Jellyfish, People
- Parrot Fish, Triggerfish, Stone Fish (!), common reef fish
4. Amed Beach (Pyramids)
The coastline along the main straight beach in Amed offers amazing sights under the water. Bright blue starfish stand out along the seabed, which is considerably seep (10-15m) once you swim a bit offshore!
There is another attraction placed underwater, at the pyramids! This is a common SCUBA dive location, but it is accessible by snorkeling as well! This area is often called Turtle Point, and the name rings true since we saw 3 turtles out here swimming!
This area experiences a decent current sometimes, so be aware of the water conditions before you enter. In this location, I saw a lot of jellyfish and a stonefish, so be aware of your surroundings whenever you’re in the water!
What you'll See at Amed Beach
- Underwater Pyramids (5m deep)
- A lot of Sea Turtles, Jellyfish
- Parrot Fish, Triggerfish, Stone Fish (!), common reef fish
5. Selang Beach
Selang Beach is. a personal favorite away from the crowds of tourists at the other locations. Located slightly south of town, this beach has free access to a black sand oasis. The ocean is just as beautiful as the beach, with plenty of life to see!
There is a little current, however, on a calm day, this current is perfect for a drift dive. Start your adventure heading upstream of the current, and catch the flow as you float back to your starting point.
What you'll See at Selang Beach
- No Other Tourists 🙂
- Black-tip Reef Sharks, Spotted Ray, Schools of Oceanic fishes
- Parrot Fish, Triggerfish, Stone Fish (!), common reef fish
6. USS Liberty Shipwreck
The title of this article says “5 best spots for snorkeling in Amed Bali”, but surprise, you get a bonus 6th location! While it isn’t in Amed directly, Tulumben is only a 40-minute drive by motorbike, and hosts one of the best dive sites in all of Bali.
The Liberty Shipwreck is a must-see for any water-active traveler.
Although this site is often enjoyed by SCUBA divers and free divers due to the depth that ranges from 5m up to 30m, there is plenty you can see from the surface! For snorkeling, I would say this is best for more moderate or advanced water explorers who can dive deeper with longer breath holds!
This American cargo ship was bombed during WWII. The ship used to be beached on land, but the Mount Agung eruption of 1963 washed the ship back into the sea. Its final and rightful resting place has been taken over by coral and aquatic life, a beautiful symbol of nature reclaiming the destruction the ship once stood for.
What you'll See at Liberty Shipwreck
- Massive Shipwreck
- Black-tip Reef Sharks, Spotted Ray, Sea Turtles, other divers
- Parrot Fish, Clown Fish, Nudibranchs, Triggerfish, Stonefish (!), common reef fish
Book A Snorkeling Tour
One of the best and easiest ways to see all of the best sites in Amed is with a snorkeling tour guide! Typically, that is a local fisherman who will take you out on their boat (jakung) to explore underwater.
Sari Snorkeling & Sunset Tours
We went with Sari Snorkeling located next to the Japanese Shipwreck. Wayan – the captain and owner of Sari Snorkeling was so fun to explore with! As a local who has been in this ocean his whole life, he knew the best spots and times of day to see turtles, go fishing, and avoid crowds.
Compared to other snorkeling guides, Sari Snorkeling has the best prices and hits all of the top snorkeling spots. Plus, he was happy to stay out way longer than we booked since we were having so much fun.
He showed us local techniques of hand fishing, and we even caught a mackerel!
Safety for Snorkeling in Amed Bali
Dangerous Aquatic Life
Stonefish: During my month in Amed, I saw 2 stonefish (one at Amed beach, and one right next to the underwater temple). These are the most venomous fish in the world. The worst part is, as their name suggests, they blend in almost completely with the coral and seabed. I’m sure there was a lot that we didn’t see!
Jellyfish: We found especially after a rainstorm, the coast tends to get quite a lot of jellies! Some are bigger than others (like an iHop pancake), while others are a bit smaller (like a walnut) with suspiciously long tentacles. Either way, keep your distance! My boyfriend got stung and received a good amount of pain with badass sting marks.
Triggerfish: These common reef inhabitants are uniquely colored, and have notable massive buck teeth. Triggerfish are known to be very territorial around their nest, so never follow a Triggerfish or get too close… the aggressive bites they leave can be pretty damaging.
Sharks & Rays: Although you’re probably more harmful to sharks and rays than they are to you, it is important to reiterate that no matter how small something it, teeth, barbs, spines, and tentacles are made to protect, so keep your distance!
Currents & Water Conditions
The ocean is a force, somedays more stronger than others. There is a current that runs from northwest to southeast along the coast, and it can lead to a dangerous situation. My best advice is to talk to the locals, they know the oceans better than we can!
Snorkeling in Amed Bali can be dangerous, even if the waves don’t look too intense. The steep drop-off in depth allows for dynamic currents and tides to play into the water conditions.
Boats
Amed is a fishing village, and the Jukung boats are a key part of the area’s charm and aquatic connection. When you’re in the water, be aware of the boats around you or cruising by. You can hear them underwater, but make sure they can see you!
Ethical Snorkeling & Diving Practices
1. DON'T FEED THE FISH
Feeding the fish habituates them to artificial food sources, making them more reliant on handouts of bread (which aren’t even nutritious for them), and less reliant on their instincts of survival.
Not disrupting wildlife is one of the best ways to be more eco-friendly in Bali!
2. Don't Touch Aquatic Life
Not just for your safety (although that is a huge part), but also for the health of the animals! Often, marine species have a unique skin protectant necessary in an aquatic environment. Touching animals like a shark, ray, or sea turtle can throw off their balance of immunity.
3. Don't Step on Coral
This goes without saying, but coral is the foundation of coastal aquatic life. Reefs are fragile and take decades to grow, so control your flippers and respect the nature that you’re out there looking at! No reefs mean no reef fishes, meaning no bigger fishes or animals, so we would all miss out on this beautiful paradise.
4. Don't Litter
Littering your trash on land has a direct negative impact on the marine environment. Especially in a place like Bali where waste management practices are among the worst. When it rains, that waste all goes straight into the ocean!
But wait, if there isn’t a good waste management system, isn’t it all going in the ocean?
It definitely might be, if it isn’t burned instead.. so better yet, cut down your plastic use entirely! Or, do your part and support a trash clean-up with Trash Hero. Interested in learning more about the problem in Bali? Check out the amazing work that is being done at Keep Bali Beautiful!
Bali has a pretty bad trash problem. Support your local ocean by picking up trash, and using less plastic to begin with!
Summary - Best Spots for Snorkeling in Amed Bali
You can’t really go wrong snorkeling anywhere along Amed’s rugged coastline. The intense biodiversity of corals and fishes is unmatched. Not to mention the low-key diver lifestyle on land that still feels a bit untouched (especially compared to other regions in Bali).
The best spots for snorkeling in Amed Bali are plentiful, but my favorite is Lipah Beach (I will say it’s 85% due to the reef sharks, which I could always find under their coral home). The Liberty Shipwreck is great for its uniqueness, wreck diving is always impressive to see the way nature reclaims everything.
No matter where you snorkel, swim, dive, or anything, protect and respect the ocean. In Balinese it is called ‘Lord Baruna’, the god of the sea. It provides so much nourishment and enjoyment, so always give back what you take from it.
Explore the other destinations waiting for you in Asia!
