Agung is large by any measure. Its volcanic heights reach upwards of 3000 meters. The mountain’s spiritual significance is paramount to the Balinese with the Mother Temple Besahik located on its flank. Agung towers majestic over the small fishing villages of Amed in the northeast corner of Bali. Amed is composed of a number of villages that run south from the actual village of Amed. Each has a crescent beach of black sand that is lined with Jukung boats, small double outrigger sailing canoes that are used as fishing boats and by the tourists as diving and snorkeling platforms. Just off of each beach is a lovely coral shelf and wall.

Melody and I have spent the last few day snorkeling and diving in Amed and generally taking in the ultra-chill of this sleepy little corner of Bali. Anyone who has been on Bali a while will be immediately taken with how mellow Amed is. The place is slow on an island known to take it slow. The local people are friendly and not pushy in that Ubud, “transport boss, transport?” sort of way. Amed is the kind of place where it is perfectly possible to while away days on the beach and in the sea in a peaceful bliss.

And that is what we did. A period of strong wind was forecast for the Bukit. Our plan was to take trips and take in the sea when this happened. So, we found ourselves in Amed. We snorkeled every day along the coral shelves and walls at Amed, Jemeluk and Lipah bays. The snorkeling was good with sightings of cuttlefish, unicorn fish and a good size school of jacks among the many colorful reef fish and hard and soft corals. Melody went diving one day and almost literally swam into a 2 meter shark (but that’s a story I’m sure she’ll tell). Every evening we ate fresh fish, mahi mahi, barracuda and tuna. The arak flowed as well so we really had no choice but to bathe in that stream.

Amed was awesome. A vacation within a vacation. The reef and snorkeling and diving were good. Not quite the caliber of some of the areas in eastern Indonesia but hey, it’s a tough scene here in Indo. Overall Amed is a must-visit spot on Bali!