In addition to being the best place on the island to view (or even ride in) a traditional fishing vessel, Amed offers some of best beach snorkeling on the island. The reef, which lies just 75 feet offshore, features corals in mostly muted shades of beige and brown, punctuated by the occasional perfectly circular disc of bright lime green or royal purple. Though Amed’s reef is not spectacular, the variety and number of fish found amongst its corals is astounding. Beneath me, huge rainbow Parrot Fish drifted lazily alongside giant Red Snapper and elegant Queen Angelfish, while silvery needle-nose Trumpet Fish swam by at eye level. At one point I was surrounded by thousands of the minuscule fish: purple and yellow striped Zerbra Fish, iridescent blue Neon Fish, and an intriguing species with yellow and white horizontal stripes and a pink underbelly. They darted and zipped around, curiously investigating without ever touching me. At the outer edge of the reef I could still see the bottom through 50 feet of transparent water, and I drifted along listening to the snap, crackle, pop sounds of the fish feeding on the coral. Thoroughly relaxed, I pulled myself from the water and spent the rest of the afternoon lying on the glistening black sand in blissful sunshine.