Looking for something special in Amed

[Luko]

The only thing missing in Tulamben is a decent coffee shop and a concrete jetty near the wreck to access the ocean for old farts like me!

There was some years ago one coffee shop in Tulamben "Swiss bakery and coffee shop" producing decent cakes, located nearby the pizza restaurant. It's now closed. I believe a consequence of the lack of clients/demand, since any french/swiss bakery is usually doing great with that kind of diver customership (think PhiPhi, Moalboal, Alona, etc.) .

On my side, I don't regret the lack of jetty since it would destroy the shore, also the dive shops out of Tulamben use boats to dive any spot around (Seraya dive resort, Villa Markisa, etc.). Personnally I like the intervals in between dives in Tulamben, Seraya or Kuanji, where you can order a bowl of Bakso.

I'd definitely stay in Amed area rather than Tulamben.

I don't like much being asked twice the price in Amed for a banana, neither the herds of backpacker on scooters.

Neither do I like some of the dive centers in Amed who don't care much for their customers : five years ago when I complained that my EAN32 tank fill I paid 8USD extra was only 180bar and less than 30%oxy, that dutch manager seemed not to understand "is there a problem with that?" he asked me.... yeah, price, mix and fill, Wanker.

I find the people in Tulamben much more relaxed and respectful. A banana is the usual price and a 180bar tank would go back home.

 

[RobinC.]

The experience you had may not be the general rules.
I've been living in amed a couple of years and did not notice any overpricing over Tulamben and the fill thing is pretty general anyway, there is two companies that provide the tanks for 90% of the 50 ish dive center spread accross amed and tulamben.
Anyway we will agree on saying that either Tulamben or Amed are nice place for easy dives and relaxed holidays

 

[Luko]

The experience you had may not be the general rules.
I've been living in amed a couple of years and did not notice any overpricing over Tulamben and the fill thing is pretty general anyway, there is two companies that provide the tanks for 90% of the 50 ish dive center spread accross amed and tulamben.

FYI this is NOT my first time in Amed nor in Tulamben, I have dived the places since 1999 and every year at least once for Tulamben for the last 10 years .
If you say there are only 2 companies that provide EANX for Amed only (ther are more from Tulamben) then you'll guess who I am thinking of, even the dive center I was diving with (the one in front of the Japanese wreck) were shocked with that filling station reaction.
That's a very different thing I can state for Tulamben, I never ever dived with a tank filled less than 195b in Tulamben and when it occasionally happened I had my tank less than 190b my free lance guide happily calls the company he fills from (Noble) to get a correctly filled EAN tank.
I completely disagree with your statement saying it's a general case.

As for the price difference, I'll send you my non diving wife who shops for the sundries, I'm sure you'll change your advice afterwards.

While we'll agree that Tulamben is a nice place with nice people, I have a completely different opinion with Amed, that's why I stopped staying/diving there anymore.

 

[Luko]

I will say that I do macro mostly and have not enjoyed much diving outside of that on Bali. Was very dissapointed with the manta's on Lombok swimming in plastic and poor viz.

I guess you're speaking of Nusa Penida for the mantas, not Lombok right?
If you haven't done it yet, you should try the Jetty and Deep Jepun in Padang Bai. Even though last year they were gone AWOL on a good year you'd have plenty of chance to spot a rhinopias or 2 (or even 4 in a single dive like I had it once)

 

[InDaWata]

Anyway we will agree on saying that either Tulamben or Amed are nice place for easy dives and relaxed holidays

That sounds about the best conclusion to me. Besides, this is a thread about Amed.
I'd be happy to hear more if you have any tips on how to organize myself!

 

[RobinC.]

Noble is not one of the two majors filling stations so i reckon they must be spot on whin it comes to Nitrox fills.
For the others, let's say 185 to 200 is an acceptable range on indonesian standard ^^

 

[Luko]

Noble is not one of the two majors filling stations so i reckon they must be spot on whin it comes to Nitrox fills.
For the others, let's say 185 to 200 is an acceptable range on indonesian standard ^^

Noble IS one of the major filling stations likewise LDC for Tulamben area dive centers, which obviously you do not know as well as Amed.
Still when I was diving with LDC my tanks were more like 205 than 190.

 

[Searcaigh]

The only thing missing in Tulamben is a decent coffee shop and a concrete jetty near the wreck to access the ocean for old farts like me!

Plus one on that, and one of the reasons I'm carrying my own portable espresso machine with me on my upcoming trip.

These boulders around the Liberty are a PITA.

 

[Luko]

I'm carrying my own portable espresso machine with me on my upcoming trip.

Chops and Hops bake a very good german style apple cake. I didn't taste their espresso but noticed they had a decent machine.
Tauch Tulamben grind & brew their expresso from a Jura machine, similar as the one I have home (Nespresso type Coffee caps are not real coffee to me) plus they serve correct brownies and german cheescake.

 

[Searcaigh]

I'm staying at Villa Alba, they had an agreement with a coffee shop on the main stretch but it's a hell of a long way to walk for that first coffee of the morning.