Capture your best macro shots in Amed
#Indonesia
In the northeast of Bali, you’ll find a small fishing village that has grown into a popular destination for macro diving enthusiasts. Welcome to Amed! This coastal town is known for its volcano, Mount Agung, creating the distinctive black sand beaches. The dark sand provides a unique background for underwater photography, making tiny creatures like nudibranchs, shrimps or seahorses stand out beautifully.
What makes Amed so unique for diving?
With a volcano in the background and black sand under your feet, Amed is famous for its easy shore diving and is often called a paradise for macro photographers. Don’t be surprised to see divers with huge cameras hovering over the sand for ages: they’re likely photographing a tiny critter.
Although many divers come for macro, Amed offers something for everyone. Certified divers with their own gear often enjoy affordable, independent shore dives: it’s common to have tanks delivered straight to the beach and explore without a guide. At popular sites, you’ll even find simple facilities like tables and outdoor showers. That said, I strongly recommend diving with a guide, even if you have your own equipment. Local guides have an incredible eye for spotting marine life you might easily miss.
For beginners, the USAT Liberty Wreck is easily accessible and perfect for a first discovery dive. It’s full of marine life, and the shallow top can even be seen while snorkeling. Many dive centers organise discovery and training dives around the wreck.
When is the best season to dive in Amed?
You can technically dive in Amed all year round, but the best conditions are usually during the dry season from May to September. During these months, you can expect warm water (27–29°C), great visibility (15–20 meters), and generally calm seas, perfect for easy shore diving.
Keep in mind that July and August are peak holiday months, so you’ll see more divers around. Popular sites like the USAT Liberty Wreck can feel a bit crowded during this period.
What are the top 3 dive sites in Amed?
Amed and Tulamben sit side by side along Bali’s east coast. Tulamben is sometimes better known, but dive centers in both Amed and Tulamben visit the same dive sites.
My personal favorites are:
- Sidem Macro Point for macro photography
- USAT Liberty Wreck for an unforgettable wreck dive
- Pantai Melasti, Amed for (hopefully!) spotting the famous Shaun the Sheep nudibranch
What marine life can you expect to see underwater?
Amed is a paradise for macro lovers, with a variety of small critters, including nudibranchs (yes, even Shaun the Sheep!), flatworms, shrimps, crabs, seahorses, frogfish, ghost pipefish, and peacock mantis shrimp. You can also encounter larger marine life such as turtles, sea snakes, and octopus. Expect to see plenty of reef fish too, such as sweetlips, lionfish, and triggerfish.
