The Amed Diving Guide: A Review of My Top 3 Sites

Imagine you could fly. But not just fly—imagine drifting effortlessly over a vibrant, swirling rainbow, with colossal barrel sponges like ancient sentinels and the silhouetted shadows of sharks patrolling the deep blue just below your fins. That isn’t a dream. That is Bunutan Reef on a perfect day.

Welcome to the world of Amed, Bali—a quiet fishing village that has stealthily ascended the ranks to become one of Indonesia’s premier scuba destinations. If you are planning a trip, or even if you are starting to research the absolute best diving in the Coral Triangle, Amed needs to be on your radar.

Is “the best” subjective? Absolutely. But after years of exploring this coastline, I’ve curated my top three absolute must-dive sites. These are the locations where the visibility seems more apparent, the marine life more abundant, and the “magic moment” count hits the roof.

I’m so convinced these are the spots you have to see that I’ve dedicated my entire latest YouTube video to showing you exactly why. Before you read my breakdown below, click the link to see Amed in full, high-definition glory.

My Top 3 Amed Dive Site Reviews

Here is my subjective, but highly educated, list of the three dive sites in Amed you cannot afford to miss.

1. Bunutan Reef (The Drift Dive)

Description: Bunutan is where you go when you want to feel the exhilarating “speed” of diving. This is a dynamic sloping reef where a reliable, gentle-to-moderate current carries you effortlessly along. It’s the closest you’ll get to underwater flight.

The reef itself is astonishing, dominated by massive, ancient barrel sponges and flourishing sea fans that create a stunning, fractal-like landscape. However, the real thrill lies in Bunutan’s location on the corner of the current flow. This is where you keep a keen eye out into the deeper blue, as it is the most consistent spot in Amed to encounter larger marine life.

Best For: Drift Diving, Advanced Divers, Pelagic Spotting, Vibrant Corals.

2. The Pyramids & Amed Wall (The Artificial and Natural Wonder)

Description: This site, also known as Jemeluk, offers a spectacular blend of human-made artistry and natural wonder. “The Pyramids” are unique, cone-shaped artificial reef structures designed to give life a helping hand. They have been a massive success, serving as a vibrant home for some of Amed’s best macro life. You could easily spend an entire dive just cataloguing Nudibranchs, Cuttlefish, and Moray Eels around the base.

The beauty of this site is that it often seamlessly transitions into the adjacent Amed Wall (Jemeluk Wall), an impressive vertical drop-off covered in colossal gorgonian sea fans. The wall boasts fantastic visibility and, perhaps most famously, is a reliable hotspot for spotting Green and Hawksbill Turtles gliding elegantly along the slope.

Best For: All Diver Levels, Macro Photography, Turtle Spotting, Artificial Reefs.

3. The Japanese Wreck (The Shallow History)

Description: A spectacular shore-entry wreck dive that is accessible and fascinating for everyone—beginners, dedicated snorkelers, and macro enthusiasts alike! This small, approximately 20-meter-long, WWII-era patrol boat rests in incredibly shallow water (from just 2 meters down to 12 meters), making for extraordinarily long bottom times and the beautiful, soft natural light that photographers crave.

While the story of how it ended up here is lost to time, the wreck itself is now a living historical artefact. It is completely encrusted with colourful soft and hard corals, sponges, and sea fans, making it one of the most picturesque wrecks in Bali. For macro lovers, this is a treasure trove; the beams shelter elusive tiny critters like Ghost Pipefish.

Best For: Beginners, Snorkelling, Wreck Diving, Macro Critters, Easy Shore Entry.

What I love about Amed is this incredible spectrum of experiences. Within just a few miles, you can go from a historical wreck you can access in flip-flops to a dynamic, high-current blue water dive where you are hunting for shadows of reef sharks. These three sites perfectly encapsulate the variety that makes this region so special.

Creating the video for these locations was a passion project. We wanted to capture the contrast—the petite, slow beauty of a Nudibranch on the Pyramids and the adrenaline of flying over Bunutan. We hope it gives you a taste of the magic we get to experience.

Conclusion

Amed is the quintessential Bali diving experience, balancing relaxed, easy accessibility with the potential for world-class encounters. Bunutan, the Pyramids/Amed Wall, and the Japanese Wreck are the core three sites that every visitor must check off.

Don’t just take my word for it. Dive into the visual experience. If you want to see giant barrel sponges, the tiny wonders of the Pyramids, or my team “flying” over Bunutan, click below to watch the full video on our channel.

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