Japanese Shipwreck Amed Dive Site
Bali, Indonesia · Near Amed
Overview
A small Japanese patrol boat wreck sitting in 5-15 metres of water off the coast of Amed's Lipah Bay. The wreck is compact — roughly 20 metres long — and sits upright on a sandy bottom with the bow at about 6 metres and the stern at 12 metres.
This isn't a world-class wreck dive by any stretch. It's not going to compete with the USAT Liberty for scale or marine life density. What it offers is a quiet, uncrowded wreck in easy conditions, covered in coral and surrounded by reef fish. It's a pleasant dive that works well as a second or third dive of the day, or as an introduction to wreck diving for newer divers.
The wreck is almost certainly World War II era, though exact identification and provenance are debated. The hull structure is intact and the coral encrustation is decades old, giving it a photogenic quality despite its small size.
Marine Life at Japanese Shipwreck Amed
The wreck is well colonised with both hard and soft corals. Lionfish hang around the superstructure, morays hide in the hull openings, and schools of sweetlips shelter near the stern. The sandy surroundings have garden eels and the occasional blue-spotted stingray.
Macro critters include leaf scorpionfish on the hull, nudibranchs on the coral, and anemones with clownfish on the deck structure. Larger visitors are uncommon but hawksbill turtles occasionally rest on the wreck.
Dive Conditions
Shore entry from Lipah Bay beach. Easy walk into shallow water. The wreck is a short surface swim from the entry point. No significant current. Conditions are sheltered and calm most of the time.
Visibility is typically 10-15 metres, occasionally 20 metres on good days. The shallow depth means the wreck is well-lit by natural light, making it photogenic without artificial lighting for ambient shots.
⚓ Divemaster Notes
This is a filler dive, not a destination dive. It works well as the third dive of a Tulamben/Amed day when you want something easy and shallow. The wreck itself takes about 20 minutes to explore thoroughly, so combine it with a reef exploration of the surrounding area.
Good for beginners practising wreck diving basics — navigating around a structure, maintaining buoyancy near solid objects. The size makes it non-intimidating and the depth keeps it safe.
Photographers should visit early morning when the light angles through the shallow water onto the wreck. The combination of coral colour and hull structure makes for good compositions.
How to Get to Japanese Shipwreck Amed
Lipah Bay is about 2 kilometres south of the main Amed/Jemeluk area. A short drive or walk along the coast road. Some operators combine it with the Amed Wall as a two-dive trip.
Gear Recommendations
Nothing special. Camera for the photogenic coral-on-wreck compositions. Torch for looking inside hull openings. Easy, low-gear-requirement dive.
Recommended Dive Operators
Same as Amed Wall operators. Usually offered as part of a multi-dive package with other Amed sites.
Liveaboard Options
Not a liveaboard site.
