Amed Bali Dive Sites

Amed Bali Dive Sites 

 

Amed has remained a small village in the northeast coastal region of Bali, with dry volcanic rock ridges along its coastline. It is about 10 km south of Tulamben Bay, at Culik regency; there is Cemeluk Bay with black volcanic sandy beach offers two diving sites, Uyah Reef and Cemeluk Reef. Beyond this bay further east some more diving points Bunutan Reef and Lipah Reef, Bali’s eastern most point.
Uyah Reef
ghost-pipe-fishIt takes 15 minutes on a small local outrigger fishing boat, with maximum capacity of 5 persons on board to reach these reefs. The reef in the shallows is not worth to dive, rubble outcrop was seriously damaged by the El-Nino in 1988, but at the steep slope and the deep jagged wall is still in excellent condition, from 15 meters to over 50 meters is charming colourful reef wall. A variety of reef fish from small to large pelagic, White Tip Reef Sharks, graceful Banner Fish, Black Snappers, Humpback Snappers and a lot more are commonly seen. Some divers have reported schools of Bumphead Parrotfish swimming across the shallow reef flats. The current is average to mild running toward the bay and water temperature is always warm.

Cemeluk Reef.
red-nudiThe small outrigger fishing boat powered by outboard engine will take 6 minutes to this reef. Before the El-Nino 1988 bleached the reef in bay, it was the glory time, colourful soft corals, bushy Gorgonians and Staghorn Acropora are spreading all over the reef, and was as the best place for snorkelers. Out from the reef in the bay is a stretch of gorgeous jagged reef wall where schools of Blue Fin Trevally, Black and Humpback Snappers, large pelagic also visits this reef, Shark, Napoleon Wrasse and swarm others reef fish. The edge of reef wall begins at 15 meters, sheer reef wall over 45 meters deep and some bommies spur into bay are interesting with macro critters, Scorpion fish, Nudibranch and a like. The current flows mainly mild with good water clarity and water temperature is always warm 28 to 29 degrees C.
Bunutan Reef
lion-fishFrom Cemeluk Bay it takes 30 minutes on outrigger local fishing boat to the jetty cliff at Bunutan village, off shore is a huge flat white sand bottom at the depth of 10 meters, gradually descending to 18 meters. Large numbers of graceful Garden Eels jutting out from the sand, with good clarity and sunlight they look absolutely breathtaking. The extending reef ridges are the outmost tips of Bali; spreading out from Garden Eels on the steep slope to the maximum depth of 35 meters is gorgeous and healthy reef with variety of macro sea life and large pelagic fish. Huge barrel sponges and Gorgonians dominated this reef; in a single sponge you can find sheltering a number of Lionfish, Shrimps, Worms, Nudibranch and other varieties of macro sea life. Due to the reef depths a close eye needs to be kept on your dive computer. The current from the Lombok strait can sometimes affect planned dives here. Water temperature is normally around 28 degrees C but the up currents can drop the water temperature.
Lipah Bay
pigmyThis bay is situated at the eastern tip of Bali, to dive in this bay is more convenient from a small outrigger boat provided by local fishermen, the reef ridges spurs out into the bay and the current from Lombok strait can pick up making it difficult swimming back to the bay.  In the bay lies a small Japanese freighter ship, 12 meters long sits at 6 to 12 meters water. The history behind this ship was unknown. Black corals, colourful soft corals and Gorgonians have grown well on this ship and attract variety of reef fishes to its shelter. Bommies at 10 meters on the reef slopes are covered with gorgeous bushy Gorgonians and soft corals, good numbers of reef fishes, then the reef runs away down the slope out of the bay over 30 meters deep. Schools of Jack and Blue Fin Trevally are often encountered in this site. In the bay at slope sandy bottom is good place to see unusual animals, like Shrimps, Ghost pipefish, Dragonet fish, Sand Diver fish, Gobies, Devil scorpion and others. Water temperature is roughly 29 degrees C. It can be lower if up currents affect the dive site. When strong wind blows from southeast the wave will swirl the sandy bottom and cause the visibility to blur, mostly the clarity is good.

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