Tucked into a series of small bays at the far eastern edge of Bali, Amed is a long village set between the mountains and the sea. “There are two things to do here,” said my resort host, “snorkel and dive.” We’ll start with those and then look at other ways to spend time in the area.
Dive
Amed is chock-a-block full of dive centers, and for good reason: the waters here are calm and have minimal currents, there are two shipwrecks, the fish are plentiful, and you can do a number of dives right from shore. I chose Amed specifically as a place to get dive certified, and it was an easy place to learn. I would highly recommend going out with Wayan from Amed Zen Divers. He and his colleague, Tubuh, took me out to see all sorts of amazing things — turtles, sharks, nudibranchs, eels, orangutan crabs, and more.
The USS Liberty shipwreck was the highlight of my dive experience, but I don’t have photographs because my underwater camera has a twelve-foot depth limit. Here’s my second-favorite spot: an anemone forest just down the way:
A quick note on diving: if you want to see small stuff like nudibranchs, the best months to go are September through November, when the seas are calmest.
Snorkel
I loved diving in Amed, but there’s good snorkeling there as well. My favorite spot was Jemeluk Bay, where I found the best corals and most interesting creatures.
I also had some luck at Pyramids, though the corals aren’t great. You can snorkel at the USS Liberty, but it’s best to go at low tide — at high tide, you’ll get a glimpse of the ship, but your views will be limited.
Eat
There’s really great food in Amed! I was a big fan of the smoothie bowls at Rimba Cafe (their white bowl is above). I would also highly recommend the fish of the day or the fish satay at Warung Mewali.
I spent many fond evenings looking out over the water from this small restaurant.
Walk the Beach
Amed boasts fourteen kilometers of black sand beach, all courtesy of the local volcano, Mount Agung:
It’s fun to walk along and see the fishing boats. A few tips on this: (1) go very early in the morning, before 7:00, if you want to avoid the heat and see the fishermen at work; and (2) bring shoes, because the soft sand turns into uncomfortable small rocks as you get towards Jemeluk.
Take a Boat Ride
Amed is a fishing village, so there are boats everywhere, and it’s easy to find one for hire. You can just stay in the Amed area, as I did, or you can travel all the way to places like the Gili Islands.
Visit Sunset Point
Want to watch the sun set over Mount Agung from an infinity pool with an overpriced drink in your hand? If so, the place to go in Amed is Sunset Point. The whole place is kind of a racket, but the views are exceptional.
Walk Toward the Hills
People come to Amed for the beach, but it’s worth exploring the roads that lead back toward the mountains if you’re interested in village life.
Get a Massage
I’m not sure which spa to recommend, because I only tried one: Swasti Dewi (and while I had a truly excellent massage there, the place itself is pretty run down). But I would say that a massage is a must while in Bali — they have some of the best massage techniques in the world.
Go for a Drive
In a perfect world, you’ll have access to a scooter or a car while you’re in Amed. If you don’t (I did not), you’re going to spend a lot of time walking up and down either the beach or the single long (and highly trafficked) road that winds just inland from the shore. If you can get out on the roads, a car or scooter will allow you to see the stunning rice paddies just behind the town.
Shop
I don’t think people choose Amed as a shopping destination, but there are a variety of stores along the road. If you want a boutique with pretty things, look for Pure Bali; if you want locally-made silver, go to Wahyu Amed Silver. Also, if you wake up very early (before 7:00), you can visit a small local market at the main intersection.
Sit by the Pool
If you can tear yourself away from the beach, a hotel pool is a great place to unwind. I loved the pool at Kubu Kangin Resort!
