"We woke up at 5.45 am, because we have to leave at 6 am with the fishing boat. We board a small jukung (a traditional Balinese canoe) to witness the beautiful sunrise at sea. In the beginning there are only us at sea, my family and I. I am quiet with surprise and stare at the beautiful colors of the sky. We are on our way to a group of other jukungs, who are clearly also looking for dolphins. And very quickly we are surrounded by about 30 dolphins !!"
Charming Amed at the coast of East Bali, consists of a coastal strip with black and small fishing villages, each sheltered in its own bay full of colorful jekung. Each village connects together over a 15 km coast, each with a laid-back atmosphere. It is the place for the true diving enthusiast and for those who want to fully enjoy dolphins at sea and the beach life of Bali.
Just like nearby Lovina, Amed's beach is black with volcanic sand and it is a diving paradise! Here the dolphins swim close to the beach. There are local fishermen who offer tours with their boat to the open seas to explore dolphins. During such a tour you can expect dolphins from bottlenose dolphins who playfully poke their nose at curious spectators. Dolphins are such a regular sight in the sea at Amed that you will certainly see dozens of them swimming from your beach villa.
Yoga lovers will also find peace here. Dolphins come regularly noses near the beach Those who are lucky see the dolphins in the morning when they wake up from their own beach villa.
Top 12 Facts about Dolphins that you must know:
1.
Dolphins are mammals. As all mammals, dolphins nurse their young from mammary glands.
2.
Dolphins can swim up to 260 m. below the surface of the ocean. However they are mainly shallow divers as they need to reach the surface to breathe.
3.
Dolphins can stay up to 15 minutes under water. They only do this some times as they usually stay only a few minutes diving before reaching the surface for air.
4.
Dolphins use a technique called echolocation. This technique uses the same principles of a radar, and it is used to find food and navigate.
5.
Dolphins are social beings. Dolphins live in groups and cooperate among each other for activities like getting food and calf rising.
6.
Dolphins are Cetacenas. There are 32 species of ocean dolphins and 5 species of river dolphins.
7.
The largest dolphin is the Orca, also known as “killer whale”. Orcas grow up to 6.1 meters long and they are named as whales because their size, but they really belong to the toothed cetacean family just like dolphins do.
8.
The most popular dolphin is the “bottlenose dolphin”. Bottlenose dolphins are the ones we have seen in tv series, movies and aquatic shows. Bottlenose dolphins can grow up to 2.5-2.8 meters.
9.
Dolphins are warm-blooded. As mammals, dolphins are warm blooded and their internal temperature is around 36 degrees. To conserve this temperature they are surrounded by a thick layer of fat called “blubber” just below the skin.
10.
The botllenose dolphin brain weighs 1500-1600 grams. While average human brain weighs 1200-1300 grs. This is not a conclusive evidence of dolphin intelligence as many other factors might be the cause of intelligence according to scientists.
11.
Dolphins communicate efficiently. Dolphins can make a unique signature whistle that may help individual dolphins recognize each other, collaborate and perform several other kinds of communication.
12.
Dolphins can swim 5 to 12 kilometers per hour.
Most people come to Amed as a getaway, including the expats living in other parts of the island. It is a favorite honeymoon destination for tourists and is very popular with divers and snorkelers.
The traditional outrigger boats are lying on the beach ready to sail on the sea. This normally means that they will sail out in the morning to catch fish: mackerel. Women from the local villages are always ready on the beach to give you an invigorating massage, specially on the beach at Lipah Beach. Enjoy nature and go with the wind on a traditional sailing boat for diving, fishing, dolphin watching, snorkelling or just for swimming or relaxing.
Tradisi Beach Front Villas
Nestled in the heart of Amed, Tradisi Beach Front Villas is an ideal spot from which to discover Bali. From here, guests can enjoy easy access to all that the lively city has to offer. Also within easy reach are Amed Beach.
At Tradisi Beach Front Villas, the excellent service and superior facilities make for an unforgettable stay. A selection of top-class facilities such as free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, Wi-Fi in public areas, car park can be enjoyed at the hotel.
Tradisi Beach Front Villas is home to 7 bedrooms. All are tastefully furnished and many even provide such comforts as private pool, internet access – wireless (complimentary), air conditioning, desk, mini bar. The hotel's recreational facilities, which include private beach, massage, pool (kids), garden, water sports (motorized) are designed for escape and relaxation. Enjoy unparalleled services and a truly prestigious address at the Tradisi Beach Front Villas.
Our destination was Bunutan, a neighbourhood in Amed filled with warungs (Balinese restaurants), and warm, welcoming homestays that provide modest bungalows near Bali’s best dive sites. If you’re a diving novice, Bunutan has a number of dive schools where you can take a class. Allowing myself to become comfortable in the deep blue, I learned to free-dive to 16 meters in the Bali Sea after a beginner’s course and guided practice. We continued west along the beach to the USAT Liberty Shipwreck to explore the site amongst sea creatures, snorkellers, and scuba divers. East of Bunutan is the Japanese Shipwreck, another popular snorkel site. Swimming only 20 meters from the beach, the shipwreck becomes visible quite suddenly. The fish and coral here are lively and vivid. For dining, we visited Warung Enak (highly rated by our dive instructors) multiple times. What are the ways of the Balinese? The staff at Enak not only provided delicious seafood and great service, but also noticed and helped us replace the flat we got on our car.
