Amed Pyramids: Snorkeling for Turtles on Congkang Reef, Amed

The concrete pyramids at Amed Pyramids sit on a sandy bottom 6-12 metres down, so snorkellers usually see them only as faint shapes from the surface. What people really come for is the 2-4 metre fringing reef off the Amed beach in Purwakerti village, less than 1 km from Jemeluk Bay, where hawksbill turtles turn up fairly often. Several 2026 guides call the spot "Turtle Point", and locally it is known as Congkang Reef.

Don't mix it up with the Japanese wreck

Amed has several shore spots whose names get muddled. The small World War II wreck lies at Banyuning, further east, and we cover it in our Japanese Shipwreck Amed guide. The Pyramids are an artificial reef: concrete structures sunk by Balinese dive associations in 1995 according to a local dive centre (other guides say the early 2000s). Most sources count around 20-30 of them.

Before you go

Enter from the black-sand beach between the "Water Sports" spot (signposted on the road) and Warung Pyramids. The closest entry is right in front of Warung Pyramids. The slope is gentle, with no stairs.
The pyramids are well offshore. One 2026 guide puts the swim at 120-150 metres. If you're not used to open water, stick to the fringing reef.
Jukung boats can be hired, with quoted rates around IDR 350-450k per person for two hours. That's negotiable, so agree on time and spot before you get in.
Gear hire at warungs or dive shops runs about IDR 50-100k a day for a snorkel set, reef shoes IDR 30-50k.
Go in the morning at high tide, roughly 08:00-11:00. Visibility tends to drop and wind picks up later.
There are no lifeguards. Swim with a buddy and wear a float if you need one.

Who it doesn't suit

If you want to see the pyramids up close, snorkelling won't cut it. You'll need to freedive or go with a dive centre, because the shrimp, moray eels, lionfish and the odd pygmy seahorse live down at that depth. Parts of the fringing reef are damaged and have turned to sand. The beach is lined with guesthouses and restaurants, so don't expect an empty bay. For something quieter try Lipah Beach, while beginners who want the most sheltered water are better off at Jemeluk Bay.

To be in the water before 8am, staying a night in Amed makes far more sense than a day trip, and an AccessiaPass hotel voucher can take some of the sting out of the room rate.

Location, costs and contacts

Location: See Amed Pyramids on Google Maps
Entry: no beach ticket. Park at the warung or guesthouse you're using, and ask the owner first.
Booking: not needed for snorkelling. To dive the pyramids, book with an Amed dive centre the day before.
Instagram: search recent Amed Pyramids photos
Prices checked September 2026 from snorkelling guides and local dive centres.

Don't stand on or touch the coral at low tide, and give turtles a few metres of space. They keep coming back when nobody chases them.