Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee. Resort nearby
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Last updated on August 28, 2023
North of Bali there are excellent snorkeling spots in succession all along Amed coast, freely accessible from the shore, such as Lipah Beach. In front of this black sand beach, there is a coral reef brimming with life, around which gravitate thousands of tropical fish.
Lipah Beach is in famous Amed region, on the eastern tip of Bali. The easiest way to reach the beach is from the little path to Pohoda Bar and Restaurant. Several hotels on the coast (especially Vienna Beach Resort and Coral View Villas) have direct access to the spot.
Other two very good snorkeling spots are located close to Lipah Beach: Amed Pyramids (4.5 km to the north) and, above all, Jemeluk Beach (3.5 km to the north).
It is easier to get into the water at high tide, when the water has a certain height above the reef. At low tide, the reef is exposed to the surface of the water. In this case, follow the small sign on the beach, close to Vienna Beach Resort, which indicates a channel for entering the water, by avoiding as much as possible the rocks and corals.
The recommended snorkeling area is located on the reef which stretches in front of Lipah Beach. You are advised above all to go to the part of the reef located east of the beach (on your right when facing the sea, at the height of Vienna Beach Resort), which has the most interesting marine life and is best protected from waves. On the contrary, avoid the area west of the beach where the sea can be restless and dangerous.
When setting off from the beach, first of all you swim over a pretty deteriorated reef flat, where a large part of corals have bleached (↕2-6ft/0.5-2m). Even if these seabeds are rich in fish (you will come across mainly blackbelly triggerfish, damsels and parrotfish in high number), move even further away from the shore in order to fully enjoy marine life.
At about 100-150m from the beach, the reef forms a small irregular reef wall (↕10-25ft/3-8m), where you will discover beautiful blocks of massive and digitate corals, interrupted by stretches of black sand.
The Moorish idol, hundreds of bigeye trevally and surgeonfish swirl around the reef. Many species of butterflyfish can also be seen at Lipah Beach. With a little luck, you might come across a juvenile harlequin sweetlips, whose swimming gives the impression that they “dance” upside down.
The underwater visibility depends on tides, current and the weather. In rainy season, the seabed tends to be stirred up and visibility might be impaired.
On the main road you can find several warungs and hotels, such as Coral View Villas, Bintang Beach Villas or Vienna Beach Resort, among others.
Jump into Lipah Beach underwater world in this video 👇 shot by Maima.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
