Freediving the Lobster Farm in Amed, Indonesia

Built in 2022

Five minutes north of our base, a working lobster farm sits anchored off the coast. The structures were placed on open sand in 2022, over a bottom that held almost nothing. Four years later, the site supports a surprising amount of fish and marine life. It is a wonderful example of how, if you put some surface area in the ocean, life will find it.

The Bathymetry

The current ranges from mild to moderate and usually runs to the east. Visibility varies more here than at any other site we run, ranging anywhere from 5 to 25 metres. It is clearest early in the day and after a settled spell. Heavy rain puts runoff into the water and drops visibility quickly, so this is a site worth checking before committing a morning to it.

The underwater landscape is very simple and resembles most dive sites in this area. A gentle slope descends northwards from the shore. The steepest section starts at around 12 metres and descends to roughly 18 metres. This section of the drop-off is where the lobster crates are anchored.

At around 5 metres depth, closer to shore, there are several groupings of artificial coral structures. The most notable is a large concrete sea turtle that often tricks people. There is also a secret sunken local boat (jukung) in a deeper section to the east of the site.

The Life

Structure in open sand does one thing very reliably: it concentrates everything. Fusiliers gather in large groups at the top and middle of the water column. Large schools of surgeonfish graze the growth on the lines. Soldierfish and squirrelfish hold in between the lobster frames.

Longnose emperor prowl the deeper sections farther out from the lobster crates. When the current gets stronger, trevally come through the outside of the farm, hunting the baitfish that shelter within it. There have even been reports of small dogtooth tuna and Spanish mackerel in the blue here. On a good day, the whole structure is busy from the surface to the seabed.

Rules of the Farm

Suitable for all divers. It is shallow, the current is forgiving, and there is enough happening in the first ten metres that you do not need much depth to get a good dive out of it. That makes it one of the better sites we run for photography and for divers who are still building confidence.

The one thing that matters here is respect. This is somebody’s livelihood, not a dive site that happens to have lobster in it. Do not touch the lines, do not take anything, and stay out of the way of anyone working. There is light boat traffic, so it is recommended to freedive with a visible float.

Fun Fact: The lobsters farmed here are spiny lobsters. Unlike the large clawed lobsters familiar to many North American visitors, spiny lobsters do not have oversized front claws.