Dive Site: Alamanda

About Alamanda

The Alam Anda House Reef is situated in the northeast of Bali, away from the more heavily trafficked tourist zones. This site boasts an excellent house reef directly accessible from the shore, stretching across the entire frontage of the Alam Anda hotel complex. It is an officially protected nature reserve in Indonesia, prohibiting spearfishing and net fishing by local professional fishermen, which contributes to its pristine condition. The underwater landscape features a large variety of gorgonians, sponges, and extensive hard and soft corals, creating a vibrant habitat. The reef's topography includes a gentle sandy slope mixed with coral gardens, making it an easy and comfortable dive. Depths range significantly, catering to various skill levels. The marine environment is teeming with diverse life, making it a prime location for macro enthusiasts and underwater photographers. Common sightings include various reef fish, eels, and turtles, with excellent opportunities to observe small, camouflaged creatures among the corals. The site offers generally calm conditions with limited current, ensuring a relaxed diving experience. Its excellent state of preservation, combined with easy shore access and good visibility, makes the Alam Anda Reef suitable for both day and night diving, as well as snorkeling. It's an ideal spot for certified divers, beginners, and even those looking for relaxed fun dives.

Dive site facts: Alamanda

Depth

5–50 m

Current

Limited

Visibility

20–40 m (average 25 m)

Water temperature

27°C

Entry

Shore dive

Level

All levels

Dive type

House reef, macro, coral garden

Night dive

Possible

Region / port

Northeast Bali

Coordinates

8.2698° S, 115.5909° E

Conditions & Currents

The Alam Anda House Reef is characterized by limited currents, contributing to its calm conditions and making it suitable for divers of all levels. While specific tide dependency is not detailed, the minimal current noted suggests a generally placid environment. Entry is a straightforward shore dive directly in front of the dive center, simplifying access. Visibility at the site is consistently excellent, often ranging between 20 to 40 meters, with an average of 25 meters, providing clear views of the extensive marine life. Water temperatures are typically warm, averaging around 27°C, ensuring comfortable dives. These stable conditions mean divers can focus on buoyancy and marine life observation without significant concerns about strong water movement or challenging entries.

Marine life & sighting chances

Turtle

occasional

Eel

common

Moray eel

common

Butterflyfish

common

Angelfish

common

Clownfish

common

Parrotfish

common

Octopus

night · occasional

Cuttlefish

night · occasional

Squid

night · occasional

Pufferfish

occasional

Stingray

occasional

Ghost pipefish

occasional

Nudibranch

common

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Diving at Alam Anda House Reef begins with an easy shore entry directly from the beach in front of the dive center. The site features a gentle sandy slope that gradually descends, interspersed with vibrant coral gardens. Divers typically explore the extensive reef system, moving along the width of the hotel's frontage, focusing on the abundant hard and soft corals and the diverse macro life residing within them. The dive can extend to a maximum depth of 50 meters, though most dives will stay within shallower ranges to maximize bottom time and enjoy the rich ecosystem. Turnaround is usually dictated by air consumption or bottom time, allowing for a leisurely return along the same reef structure. Safety stops can be conducted in the shallow, protected areas closer to shore, offering further opportunities for marine observation in excellent visibility.

Underwater photography

Alam Anda House Reef is an exceptional location for underwater photography, particularly for macro subjects due to its rich critter diversity and good visibility. For macro photography, a dedicated macro lens (e.g., 60mm or 100/105mm) is highly recommended to capture the intricate details of nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, seahorses, and various crustaceans that hide among the corals and sandy patches. External strobes are essential to bring out the true colors of the reef and its inhabitants, combating the natural blue light absorption underwater. When photographing, maintain excellent buoyancy control to avoid disturbing the fragile corals and sand, as many critters are camouflaged. Approach subjects slowly and observe proper etiquette to minimize stress to marine life, especially when focusing on cryptic species. Wide-angle photography can also be rewarding for capturing the expansive coral gardens and resident reef fish in clear conditions.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• USAT Liberty Wreck

  Iconic WWII wreck dive, 125m long, 5-30m deep.

• Coral Garden

  Shallow site with expansive soft and hard corals, 2-16m deep.

• Seraya Secrets

  Renowned muck diving site for macro critters like ghost pipefish and frogfish.

• Jemeluk Bay

  Home to Jemeluk Wall and various coral structures, good for macro.

• Japanese Wreck

  Accessible wreck site popular for macro life.

Getting there & logistics

Diving at Alam Anda House Reef is typically facilitated through the onsite dive center, offering immediate shore access. The nearest major international airport is Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar, Bali. From there, transfer to the northeast coast, where Alam Anda is located, usually takes several hours by road. Trips to Alam Anda are generally land-based, allowing divers to stay at the hotel and conduct multiple dives on the house reef, often combined with trips to other sites in the Tulamben and Amed regions. There are no specific permits or fees mentioned for diving the house reef itself beyond standard dive package costs. Liveaboards rarely visit this specific shore-based site, making it more suited for resort-based dive holidays focusing on the northeast's rich marine offerings.

Safety & environment

For divers at Alam Anda, insurance covering diving accidents and medical evacuation is strongly recommended, as the nearest recompression chamber would be in Denpasar, which is a considerable distance away. Evacuation to a medical facility could involve significant travel time. While the site is generally calm with limited currents, divers should always monitor their air consumption and bottom time, especially when exploring deeper sections of the reef or during longer dives. Adherence to responsible diving practices, including maintaining excellent buoyancy to protect the marine environment, is crucial. It is important to dive within one's certification limits and to be mindful of any local guidelines regarding protected areas. The dive center on site provides immediate support and guidance for divers.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Alamanda FAQ

Liveaboards diving Alamanda

These liveaboards may visit Alamanda on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Naga Biru

Indonesia

12 guests40 m

$273/day

Ilike

Indonesia

16 guests40 m

$298/day

Mermaid I

Alor

15 guests28 m

$371/day

Sunshine Liveaboard

Indonesia

10 guests31 m

$191/day

Tiare Cruise

Indonesia

12 guests36.5 m

$419/day