Which Amed Snorkel Tour Is Right for You?
| Tour | Duration | Group size | Best for | Rating | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Point + underwater temple | Half day | Small | Turtles and the statues | 4.8★ | $36 | Check → |
| Private 4-reef snorkel | Half day | Private | A private, flexible trip | 4.8★ | $46 | Check → |
| Blue Lagoon & Tanjung Jepun | Half day | Group | Calm sheltered bays | 4.7★ | $40 | Check → |
| 3-spot jukung + shipwreck | Half day | Small | Cheapest, sunset sail | 4.5★ | $27 | Check → |
Sea Turtle Species & Best Months in Bali
| Species | January–March | April–June | July–September | October–December | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Sea Turtle | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular | At Turtle Point |
| Hawksbill Turtle | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | On the reef |
The turtles around Amed are green sea turtles, which feed and rest on the reefs at Turtle Point and Jemeluk Bay, and the occasional hawksbill on the coral. This is reef snorkeling, so turtles are a regular sight rather than a certainty. For turtles grazing off the beach on nearly every snorkel, the <a href="/swim-with-turtles-gili-islands/">Gili Islands</a> next door are the surer bet. Sea turtles are protected in Indonesia, so keep your distance and never touch them.
What to Expect on the Day
1
Meet on the beach
Amed tours launch from the black-sand beaches at Jemeluk or Amed, often on a traditional wooden jukung boat, or with hotel pickup from South Bali.
Go early. Amed's north-east coast is calmest and clearest in the morning.2
Snorkel Turtle Point
Slip in over the reef at Turtle Point and Jemeluk Bay to snorkel with green turtles and reef fish.
3
See the statues and shipwreck
Snorkel the underwater temple of coral-covered statues and the sunken Japanese shipwreck offshore.
4
Sail back
Relax on the boat back along the coast, with a sunset sail on some trips.
No turtle sighted? Amed's Turtle Point has resident green turtles, so sightings are common on a snorkel trip, though this is reef snorkeling rather than a dedicated turtle swim. For turtles on almost every outing, book a trip in the <a href="/swim-with-turtles-gili-islands/">Gili Islands</a> a short boat ride away.
Sea Turtle Behaviors to Watch For
Feeding at Turtle Point
Green turtles graze the algae and coral flats at Amed's Turtle Point, off Jemeluk Bay, where snorkelers most reliably find them.
On the reef
Resting on the Coral
Turtles settle on the coral and sand to rest between feeds. Watch a resting turtle from a distance and never wake or follow it.
Midday
Surfacing to Breathe
Turtles rise for air every few minutes to about an hour. Give them a clear path to the surface and never crowd the space above one.
On every snorkel
What to Bring (and What to Leave at Home)
✓ Bring
- Reef-safe (oxybenzone-free) sunscreen
- Swimsuit worn under your clothes
- Towel and a change of clothes
- Waterproof phone case or GoPro
- Water shoes for the pebbly beach entry
- Cash in rupiah for the boat and tips
- Your booking voucher (printed or phone)
✗ Leave at home
- Regular sunscreen (harmful to the coral)
- Anything you would touch a turtle or the coral with
- Single-use plastics
- Valuables you can't afford to get wet
Seasickness tip: Amed's bays are calm and the boat rides short, so seasickness is rarely an issue. On a longer sunset sail, take a tablet the night before if you are prone.
Where Tours Depart From
| Port / Area | Details | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Amed (Jemeluk Bay) | Black-sand beaches with jukung boats and shore reefs, the main base for turtle snorkeling. | Turtle Point and reef trips |
| Padangbai | A port town to the south with the sheltered Blue Lagoon and Tanjung Jepun bays. | Blue Lagoon snorkels |
| South Bali hotels | Many tours offer pickup from Sanur, Ubud and the south, about 2 to 3 hours away. | Day trips from South Bali |
Amed sits on Bali's north-east coast, about a 2.5 to 3-hour drive from the south (Sanur, Ubud or Kuta). Many tours include hotel pickup. Staying a night or two in Amed lets you snorkel the reefs first thing, when the water is calmest.
How to Choose an Ethical Tour
What ethical operators do
- Brief a strict no-touch, no-chase policy
- Keep a respectful distance from turtles
- Never block a turtle’s path to the surface
- Require reef-safe sunscreen from all guests
- Cap group sizes for calmer encounters
- Support reef and sea-turtle conservation
Red flags to avoid
- Let guests touch, ride, or chase turtles
- Feed turtles to lure them in
- Crowd or corner a turtle in the water
- Stand on coral or trample seagrass
- Oversized groups with no guide in the water
- Any “hold a turtle” photo op
