Amed village, Jemeluk Bay or Lipah: the diving coast on Bali's dry north-east, who it suits, and where to book.
Quick answer
Jemeluk Bay for the widest choice of stays and the easiest shore diving. Amed village, at the southern end, for a slightly more local feel and the salt pans. Lipah and beyond if you want the quietest possible stretch, further from everything.
| Area | Best for | Feel | To the beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amed village | A local, unhurried base | Fishing village | Along the coast road |
| Jemeluk Bay | Diving and snorkelling | The main hub | On the bay |
| Lipah and beyond | The quietest stretch | Sparse, remote | Along the coast road |
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The original village that gave the whole coast its name, with black sand, traditional jukung fishing boats pulled up on the beach, and the salt pans that are still worked by hand nearby. Fewer dive shops than Jemeluk, and a quieter evening.
Skip it if: you want the widest choice of restaurants and dive operators.
The busiest bay along the strip, and the reason most people come: a shallow reef a few strokes from shore, the highest concentration of dive shops, and the most guesthouses and warungs of any single point on this coast.
Skip it if: you came for solitude.
North of Jemeluk, the coast road threads past smaller bays with a handful of stays each, thinning out the further you go towards Selang and Bunutan. You will need your own transport for almost everything.
Skip it if: you do not want to rely on a scooter or a driver for meals.
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Dive centre in Amed run by a French and international team: fun dives on the local sites, SSI courses from first dive to professional level, and snorkelling trips. Their site reads in French and in English.
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Yes, more so than most of Bali's coast. The reef in Jemeluk Bay is shallow and close to shore, which is why it is a common first stop for people learning to dive.
Usually two to two and a half hours by car, one of the longer transfers on the island, which is part of why it stays quiet.
Amed has more places to stay, eat and dive from. Tulamben, a short drive further north, exists mainly for one dive: the USAT Liberty wreck. Many visitors base themselves in Amed and drive up for it.
Not really: the sand is black volcanic grit rather than the white sand of the south, and the appeal is the reef and the quiet rather than sunbathing.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
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