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Still a working fishing boat
A jukung may still be used for fishing, carrying nets, lines and equipment out to sea.
Amed Maritime Heritage
The Story of the Jukung
Before Amed became known for snorkeling and diving, local fishermen were already travelling these waters in narrow traditional boats called jukung. This is the story of the boat, the people who use it, and how its role continues to evolve.
Before Tourism
More than a boat. A way of life by the sea.
For generations, fishermen in Amed have used jukung to go out to sea, set nets, and fish by hand for species such as tongkol.
The jukung was not originally created for tourism. It was a working fishing boat: small, narrow, light enough to move efficiently, and carefully balanced for life on the water.
Long before engines became common, fishermen relied on paddles and wind. A traditional sail, locally known as a bidak, caught the wind and helped move the jukung farther from shore.
Knowledge of the sea came from experience: reading the wind, currents, waves,
clouds and changing conditions around the Amed coast.
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Suggested image: traditional fisherman with jukung before or during a fishing trip.
Suggested image: traditional fisherman with jukung before or during a fishing trip.
Traditional Design
How a narrow jukung stays balanced
The body of an Amed jukung can be only around 80 cm wide. Its stability comes from the outrigger system on both sides.
A real Amed jukung showing the main local boat parts: Bidak, Body, Jetik and Kantir.
Jukung body
The narrow central hull where the fisherman, passengers and equipment sit.
Jetik
The arms extending from the hull and connecting the boat to its outriggers.
Kantir
Two outriggers, one on each side, helping stabilise the narrow boat.
Bidak
The traditional sail once relied upon to catch the wind before engines were common.
Fishing for Tongkol
Simple fishing methods, deep local knowledge
Jukung have long been used by fishermen to catch fish with nets and handlines.
A fisherman could spend hours at sea searching for the right conditions and the right area. There was no need for a large boat. What mattered was knowing the water and having a boat that was efficient, balanced and practical for the coast.
Tongkol has traditionally been among the fish targeted by local fishermen, together with other seasonal catches depending on conditions.
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Changing With Time
From paddles and wind to engines and fibreglass
The form of the jukung remains recognisable, but the way it is built and operated has changed.
1
Hand-built wood
Traditional jukung were made from large pieces of wood and assembled manually.
2
Paddles
Fishermen depended on their own strength when leaving shore and manoeuvring.
3
Bidak sail
The wind became an important source of power for travelling farther at sea.
4
Small engines
Engines made daily fishing trips more practical and less dependent on wind.
5
Fibreglass
Modern materials made many boats easier to maintain for frequent use.
6
Snorkeling trips
Tourism created a second role for the same local fishing boat.
Jukung Today
Fishing and tourism now share the same boat
As tourism developed in Amed, fishermen found another way to use the boats they already knew so well: taking visitors along the coast to discover Amed's underwater world.
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A new source of income
With fuel and operating costs rising, snorkeling trips can provide important additional income for local fishermen and their families.
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Sharing Amed's underwater world
Instead of only travelling to fishing grounds, jukung can now bring visitors to coral reefs and snorkeling sites along the Amed coastline.
Why It Matters
Tourism can support a living tradition
For local families, the sea has always been a source of livelihood. Fishing income is not always predictable, while fuel and maintenance continue to cost money. Taking guests snorkeling gives boat owners another way to earn from the same skills, coastline and maritime knowledge.
The Experience
You are not simply hiring a boat
A snorkeling trip by jukung allows you to experience Amed from the sea aboard the same style of boat local fishermen have relied on for generations. The journey between snorkeling spots becomes part of the story itself.
Experience Amed by Sea
Step aboard a local jukung and discover the reefs of Amed.
Travel along the coast with a local captain, explore the coral reefs below the surface, and experience one of Amed's most recognisable traditional boats.