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
It 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.
The 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
From 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
This 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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