Bulakan

Known as Ghost Bay — one of Amed’s best muck dive sites, where garden eels, flying gurnard, and frogfish inhabit the black volcanic sand.

Overview

Bulakan (also known as Ghost Bay) is regarded as one of the finest muck dive sites in the Amed area, situated on the black volcanic sand coastline of northeast Bali. Unlike the classic Amed coral reef sites, Bulakan is characterised by an open sandy bay where the substrate is alive with small burrows, scattered rubble, and sparse coral patches. Garden eels extend from the sand in large colonies, retracting as divers approach. Flying gurnard — a striking fish that spreads its wing-like pectoral fins when disturbed — are a highlight. Blue-spotted stingrays, frogfish, mantis shrimp, and an exceptional diversity of nudibranchs make this a must-visit for underwater photographers.

Site Information

• Location: Amed area, northeast Bali
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Muck dive
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 25 meters
• Typical Visibility: 10–20 m
• Current: Generally mild
• Best Time: April to November

Marine Life

Garden eels in large sandy colonies. Flying gurnard — spread their elaborate pectoral fins when approached. Blue-spotted stingrays partially buried in the sand. Frogfish in various colour forms. Mantis shrimp at burrow entrances. Diverse nudibranchs throughout the rubble zone. Cuttlefish hunt over the sand, and ghost pipefish are found among sparse algae growth.

Dive Profile

Descend to the sandy bottom at 8–25 m and move slowly across the substrate. Approach garden eel colonies gradually to get close before they retract. When a flying gurnard is located, circle slowly to encourage it to spread its fins for photography. Cover the site systematically in a back-and-forth pattern with the guide, who will point out located critters.

Entry and Exit

Boat dive from Amed. Short transit, typically 5–10 minutes. Entry via back roll or giant stride. Currents are minimal. Communicate with the boat crew for pickup location after the drift dive if current is running.

Tips and Recommendations

• Approach garden eel colonies very slowly at eye level for the best viewing distance
• Specifically ask your guide to locate a flying gurnard — it is the iconic species here
• Carry a small torch even during the day to illuminate crevices and burrows
• Combining with the Pyramids site in the morning creates an ideal Amed diving day
• Dusk and dawn dives produce the most active critter behaviour on the sand

Safety Considerations

Camouflaged scorpionfish and stonefish on muck sites are a real hazard — never place hands on the substrate. Maintain positive buoyancy at all times. Stirring the black sand by finning reduces visibility to near zero rapidly. Stingrays on the sand can sting if accidentally contacted — maintain clear distance.

Photography

Flying gurnard and garden eels are the headline subjects. Wide-angle with close focus captures the gurnard’s wing-like fins spread against the dark sand. Garden eels require a long lens or careful approach — shoot from a distance with a telephoto macro setup. Nudibranchs reward a 100mm macro lens with diopter.

Sources: Bali AQua - Amed Diving, Amed Dive Explorer - Dive Sites, Dive Concepts - Ghost Bay Macro. Last updated 2026-07-17.