Amed
For the last 6 months I've been staying in Amed freediving. Here are some of my recomendations, but I've been coming here for 5 years.
Amed is a small fishing village, with world class freediving (scuba too), great food, super affordable and some of the best freediving schools in the world.
Before you arrive
Get cash out at the airpot can be cheaper then amed. The blue machine before immigration has a withdrawal fee of 75k (Amed is 150k). I got out 2.5m, but not sure the upper limit.
Taxi from airport should be about 600k and take 3 hours.
Call Dana for a taxi, he gives good rates and is friendly / trust worthy: +62 838-3881-6642
Simcards: Telkomcel, ~10 up / 5 down
Buy a sim-card with minimum data and top-up on the app. Its way more economical if youre staying a month or longer.
If you're staying for a while, it might be worth buying a helmet in Denpasar.
You pass Bali Dive Shop on the way. Its the best place in Bali to get dive gear. (If you know anyone in Amed, maybe ask them if they need you to pick something up)
Coming from Aus? Bring sunscreen / zink. Aus has best quality, and its expensive here in Amed.
Indo coms runs on WhatsApp. This allows you to message local businesses directly rather then booking through websites. Also great for connecting with communities and people.
Co-Working & Food
Oneway Espresso
Has AC
Most reliable internet
25up 25down. (Working 95% of the time)
Has good reception for teathering when its not.
Good Food
Ramen
Japanese curry
Sushi Taco
Kombutcha - T
4 tables with power
Huge window with lovely view of the mountains.
My Vegan friends like this place
Good Stuff
Has AC
Great food. Really I just come here for the food.
I love the meat options, my vegan friends love it here too.
Pork Belly, Ribs, Steak, Steak Burger are all incredible!
Sweet potate fries are my fav side.
Coocnut and juices
Great ambiance
Internet isn't most reliable, and reception isnt best. But its workable.
4 tables with power
My Vegan friends like this place
Blue Earth
No AC
Incredible views
Has decided coworking space
Good food, but a little more pricey
Rimba
No AC
Some of the best food
Beef Burger & Vegan Wrap are amazing
Smoothie bowls
Desserts
Homemade Snickers Bar
Carmel Cookie
Ice Cream
Usually busy
Social Center of Amed, very likely youll run into people you know here
My Vegan friends like this place
Melon Cafe
Has AC
Decent food
Cold coconuts!
Intenet
Power at most tables
St Bernard
Has AC
Good food
Kinda echoy
Dive Schools
- Apnea Bali
Apnea Bali has a reputation for being one the best dive schools in the world. World class coaching, and one of the most affordable places to get started.
Their masters program is one of the best things I've done in my life. I did it three times.
About 20min scooter out of Amed
Book ahead, they are world famous.
Women run, some of the most inspiring people Ive ever met.
Super professional, inclusive and welcoming. Best freediving community I've been a part of.
They do coaching, masters, courses but no training.
2. Fusion
Fusion is the oldest freedive school in bali, and my favourite place to train in Amed. They do freediving and spearfishing.
Boat training here is some of the best and most beautiful water to train. Its also one of the most affordable places to train.
Speahfishing with Fusion is a LOT of fun. They take you out to some incredible locations and we caught a LOT of fish.
Social Fish Dinners - Fusion run Fresh speared fish, you just pay for the fish to be cooked (like $6aud). Great community and a lot of fun.
3. Apnestia
The community center for freediving in Amed. Most affordable training, and closest to the shore in Jemaluk.
Training in the Bay is super accessible, but can get a bit trashy.
The community and cafe is super lovely.
They do some good workshops, I did one with Alexey once! It was awesome.
Places to Dive
US Liberty Shipwreck
#1 dive attraction in amed for me.
100m long
20m off shore
3m shallow, 30m deep
Crazy swim throughs.
This is actually in Tulumben, 20min outside of Amed. But I recommend staying in Amed for better food, and more social life. You can rent a scooter very affordably ($5-10aud a day).
Dive schools can also taxi you to the wreck if you book ith them.
Small fishing boat,
15m off shore,
1-7m deep
10m long
Pyramids
Reef near it is beautiful,
full of live,
good for turtles
Current drifts you along the reef parallel to beach at a good speed. Then walk back along beach
Places to Stay
I stay at Coral Bay the most. I find it very affordable
The staff have fantastic vibes,
Its really beautiful,
Beachfront with views,
Mid-range priced for Amed, but great value.
Has pool, and warung (local resturant) attached.
Visa
I've been on the Visa On Arrival. So I obivously have never done a single day of work in my life here because that would be illegal. Be careful what you put online! I just recommend where I see would be good to work, in theory.
Visa on arrival is 1 month + you can extend for 1 more month. But after 2 months, you must leave. In the last 6 months I made two visa runs.
I went to Sigapore to visit a friend for 2 days.
I went to Sri Lanka to help open a free dive school for 3 weeks.