BEST SURF SPOTS IN MALDIVES

BEST SURF SPOTS IN MALDIVES

Maldives has 1192 islands and endless surf breaks!

This country has some of the best waves in the world.

Maldives' waves can't be considered super powerful, as the swell normally reaches shoulder-to-head high, but it offers big chances of barrels and long fun waves. 

It's the perfect trip for intermediate and advanced surfers.

The surfing season in the Maldives depends on the Atolls, but most of the archipelago is good for surfing from April till October, 

yet March and November are also good and have the best weather.

Swell is amazingly consistent in this part of the planet, but even on flat days there's always something exciting to do in the Maldives, like snorkeling or fishing.

The entire archipelago can be divided into three different surf areas: 

1. Male Atolls
2. Central Atolls 
3. South Atolls

The main differences between them are about swell size, consistency and most of all in crowd.

There are some great surfing spots in the country, but just a few are easily accessible from resorts. 

The best breaks are on the outer reefs on the southeast sides of the atolls.

Most of the spots are very close to each other, so finding good surf is easy. 

The best way to reach them is, no doubt, by boat...

Some of them are nameless and yet to be found especially in Central and South Atolls.

The best thing about the boat trip in the Maldives is the feeling of discovery, surfing perfect waves with no crowd in the water...just you and your friends! 

Please note that you can only have this experience in Central and South Atolls! Male Atolls can be quite crowded, especially between May and August.

THE MALE ATOLL

The Malé Atolls have been popular with surfers for quite some time 
thanks to a variety of spots that stay fairly consistent, especially in the prime summer months, when south swells are abundant. 
This occurs between April and October.
March and November can be considered transition months, but sometimes it's very surprisingly good. 

Winds blowing from west or southwest may be common at this time of year, 
but many of the surf breaks in this island reef chain are well protected and will remain clean, while others will be offshore.
Crowding can sometimes be an issue because of the relatively easy access of the breaks, courtesy of the many boats in this rich wave zone and due to the resorts that shuttle surfers out to the breaks. 

The best surf spot in the Malé Atolls of the Maldives are:

CHICKENS

Long & fast left.
Best on higher tide, Chickens has very fast sections and can get hollow on a south swell. 

Locals are super friendly and the only day you will meet them will be on friday.

It’s an amazing ride and seldom crowded.

Characteristics:
Type: Hollow barreling
Direction: Left hand reef break
Suitable for: Expert
Crowds: Minimal
Localism: Not Found
Tide: All
Location: Villingilimathi Huraa (Kuda Villingili), an uninhabited Island on the eastern reef of North Male Atoll


COKES

A right hand reef break breaking over coral.

Located in Easten Reef of Thulusdhu the capital island of Male’ Atoll.
A short but intense ride. A big wave tube spot.
A steep barreling takeoff, then a very shallow inside section that opens up even more than the takeoff.
Best on mid to high tide, however, can be surfed at low tide if the swell is big enough.

Ideal on a straight south swell and winds NW however,
can be surfed in winds from any direction W – N.

Named after the Coca-Cola factory on the island, beautiful view of palm.

Characteristics:
Type: Hollow Barreling
Direction: right hand
Suitable for: Intermediates
Lenght of ride: 50-100 meters long
Crowds: A normal crowd localism not found hereBest wind direction: North
Tide: Mid
Hazards: Coral Reef Bottom
Location: Thulusdhoo
Nearest city: Male'30 mins speed boat
Nearest airport: Male' International Airport - 30 min speed boat


GURU'S

Left that works well with a big south swell and a north wind
A couple of shifting peaks, popular with locals, riding surfboards and boogie boards.

The reef picks up plenty of swell.

Best in W winds.

Accessible from the shore.

Characteristics:
Type: Long Left
Direction: Left hand reef break
Suitable for: All type
Crowds: Medium
Localism: Not Found
Location: Southern tip of North Malé Atoll


HONKY'S

This wave is the left of the same reef as Sultans (right).
The wave has two sections which usually link up, the outside and… the inside.

The beach (and the entire atoll) are government property.

When the swell gets up and its of a certain direction there is a lot of current running off the point.

A really quality wave, suffering from the beginnings of being crowded – due to the ease of access from Male and various resorts.

Characteristics:
Type: Ordinary
Direction: Left hand
Suitable for: Beginners / Intermediates
Crowds: A normal crowd on average
Localism: None
Best wind direction: All directions
Tide: High
Hazards: Coral Reef Bottom
Location: Thamburudhoo (Unhabited Island) Eastern Reef of North Male' Atoll
Nearest city: Male'
Nearest airport: Male' International Airport


JAILBREAKS

A right hand reef break breaking over coral.

Long right that is brilliant.

The fastest wave in the Maldives with long walls and three tube sections.

Characteristics:
Type: Hollow barreling
Direction: Right hand
Suitable for: Experts
Lenght of ride: Long
Crowds: Average crowd
Localism: Not found here
Tide: High
Hazards: The coral
Location: K.Himmafushi
Nearest city: Male’
Nearest airport: Male’ International Airport


KATE'S

Small short left.

Best in winds NW to N.

Characteristics:
Type: Short and Slow
Direction: Left hand
Suitable for: Beginners
Crowds: No crowd
Localism: Not Found


LOHI'S

Good and hollow left-hander with two sections.

Need big SE swells and high tides to work well.

Best during NW-NE offshore winds.

Named after the island resort Lohifushi.

Characteristics:
Type: Hollow barreling
Direction: Left hand
Suitable for: Experts
Lenght of ride: Long
Crowds: Medium
Localism: Not found here
Tide: High Hazards: The coral
Location: Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi
Resort Access: For surfers who stay at the resort


NATIVES

Righthander with easy outside section but fun fast barrels on the inside.

Best SW winds.

The South Male atolls are working with the same conditions as The North Male Atolls, although a bit smaller as North Male, here you will surf alone most of the time.

As most surfers travel to the North Male atolls and most surfari boats stay up there as well, the South Male atolls are more or less forgotten but make no mistake, waves are good here with plenty of options to choose from.

Characteristics
Type: Small and Easy
Direction: Right hand
Suitable for: Beginners
Crowds: No Crowd
Localism: Not Found


PASTA POINT

Perhaps the most famous wave in the Maldives,
this is where Tony Hussein-Hinde set up Atoll Adventures in the early ’90s.

Its name comes from the fact that the island used to be an Italian resort — and after surfing the perfect lefts all day your arms will most certainly be noodled.

Pasta Point is indeed probably the best left out here, as it picks up the most swell, is the least affected by wind, and offers a 100-yard-long tubing wall
for your pulling-in enjoyment.

The fast takeoff section leads straight into the so-called “Macaroni Bowl”
tube section and then mellows for a couple top turns before the inside shallow racetrack, called Lockjaws.


PIDDLIES (NINJA'S)

Ninja is a good right.

Located just next to Hudhuranfushi (Lohis point) on the eastern reef
of the North Male Atoll. 
It's just behind Club Med.

Its main highlights are its moderate swell and a good long board wave. Long ride and occasional turtle.


SULTANS

Photo: http://www.surfertoday.com/travel/7753-the-best-surf-spots-in-the-maldives

This wave is the Right off the same reef as Honky's (left).

Sultans is a popular destination for surfers in the North Male’ Atoll’s eastern reef because it provides consistent waves which never close out.

You can only access the spot by boat.

Small boats or ‘dhonis’ are used to load the surfboards onto and position offshore at the rear of the breaks.

Characteristics:
Type: Hollow barreling
Direction: Right hand
Suitable for: Intermediates
Length of ride: Long
Crowds: A normal crowd
Hazards: Coral reef bottom
Location: Thamburudhoo (Uninhabited Island), Eastern Reef of North Male’ Atoll
Nearest city: Male’
Nearest airport: Male' International Airport


TOMBSTONES

A right hand reef break. Swell needs to be big so the wave breaks above waist high. Really long and hollow next to Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort.


TOWNS (RAALHUGANDU)

Towns is the locals surf spot, located in Male’ city, it is commonly known as “Raalhugandu” among the locals which means “surf spot” in Dhivehi.

This  reef break has two main sections,
the “2nd Reef” (right) & “Padang” (left).

Towns is where most of the local surfers surf on a regular basis and it can get get crowded at times, usually when everyone gets off work around 4:30pm.

Characteristics:
Type: Mix
Direction: Right (2nd reef) & lefts (padang)
Suitable for: All
Crowds: fewer crowds on mornings
Localism: High
Tide: All

CENTRAL ATOLLS

It's not hard to guess that conditions in Central Atolls are something in between Male Atolls and South Atolls. 
This means that surf season can be extended from March till November. 
Prime season is still northern hemisphere summer (from June till September). This is when bigger swell arrives to shore and winds are blowing continually offshore.
These breaks are far less popular and it will be hard to find someone else surfing with you. 

If you find a reef sucking barrel that looks rather intimidating, you'll likely find a more welcoming and forgiving wave just around the corner or on the next reef pass.
Numerous world class breaks have been discovered in the Central Atolls, 
mostly in the form of right-handers. 
You will find spots protected from all wind directions except a rare straight easterly breeze. 

The best surf spot in theCentral Atolls of the Maldives are:

MULI

Muli breaks in two ways: Inside (F1) or Outside (Mushrooms). 
Muli Inside/F1is a very fast barreling righthander with long walls and hollow. Can be shallow, but still with a safe ending. Very well protected from southerly winds, needs bigger swells to work. 
Muli Outside/Mushrooms usually picks up more swell, good in SW winds, right hander with long walls and easy exit on the corner.

MULHAKU RIGHTS/LEFTS
 
This is another two ways wave. The right can hold bigger swells, easy to ride even when it is big. Good for intermediates and even beginners.
The left is faster, very shallow and works only in certain types of conditions.

VEYVAH
 
Perfect left hander with long wall. Easy take off with several options with long rides. Not too heavy - great fun.

ADONIS 
This right hander needs bigger swells and northerly winds to present its nice barrels. Can have fast, hollow and shallow sections. However it can be a very long wave with the right conditions.

FINNIMAS
 
Finnimas is a shallow fast lefthander with some great barrels that needs NE, N or light NW winds to break perfectly.

MALIK'S
 
When the wind is blowing from the southeast and the swell is large from the southwest we head to the island of Hirilandhoo. This left hand can produce some great barrels on long and speedy walls. Not much consistency as most of the swell comes from South-east…

MIKADO
 
The most consistent wave in Thaa but less protected from winds. It's a very powerful right hand wave with fast, hollow walls that can produce some great barrels. Outside Mikado works best with high tide and when pumping, it gives you the surf of your lifetime!

BEDHUGE
 
Bedhuge is a remote, perfect right that breaks on big SE swells and any W wind. Although, it's worth to try if other breaks seem very heavy.

ISDHOO
 
On the northeast tip of the atoll is Isdhoo or Langon Bank, a rarely surfed right hand that comes alive in big S-SE swells and very well protected from southerly winds.. This spot is rarely surfed due to a lack of anchorage.

MADA'S
 
Another wave to consider if the swell is big and the wind blowing from the NW, it may be worth heading inside the pass to Mada's, a short and shallow left.

MAHIBADHOO
 
This is pure perfection in big swell conditions! Unfortunately this wave is always small and currents can get very heavy to make this impossible to surf. It has three sections: the outside, the corner and the inside. All three parts are connecting when the swell is right and make the wave tons of fun.
The reef is pretty straight and shallow here but you can pull into the barrel just after take-off. You have to get some speed to get to the corner and to performance turns in mellower wave. Stay on from there to the inside and you will get another long and heavy barrel section.

TSUNAMI'S
 
This left hand picks up probably the most swell of all east facing spots in the Laamu atoll. It's an excellent wave with the right swell angle but since the reef is quite straight it tends to close out though. It is well protected from westerly to northerly winds. Offering three super fun sections starting with a sweet barrel on the takeoff, then a fun wall for some turns and another barrel at the end section.

YIN YANG
 
Yin Yang is the most consistent wave in Laamu, working best under strong SE swell when thick barrels and a powerful inside section can be punishing. The wave starts out quite friendly with a nice wall before it backs offs for a while and then becomes aggressive, offering a long inside section that can produce some amazing hollow barrels. Outside is a mellow wall with safe rides in deep water.

THE SOUTH ATOLLS

While most of the atolls in the entire Maldives have their prime season between April till September, South Atolls have a more extended season from February till November. 

Some say that the best conditions occur between February to April just before the southwest monsoon begins and also from September to November when it ends. From May to August there can be wind issues on the south facing spots but that's when you motor to the east facing part of the atoll where there is more protection. The east facing breaks will still have plenty of size as this is the peak swell time.

South Atolls still remain the last frontier on surf trips. This is one of the most remote areas on the planet where charter boats are the only form of access, making this an exclusive and relatively expensive surf trip.
Due to political reasons, a special government permit is required for boats to travel here. 
The first surf boat charters only began in 1993, but most of the surf spots still remain secret and yet to be found.
Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll (also known as the Huvadhoo Atoll) is generally known to have the best conditions for surfing in the Maldives because it picks up more swell than any other atoll in the Maldives and from every direction! 
The best surf spot in the South Atolls of the Maldives are:

BEACONS

Beacons, in Huvadhoo Atoll, is an exposed reef break that has reasonably consistent surf.

The best wind direction is from the north northeast.

Clean groundswells prevail and the best swell direction is from the southwest. 
A right hand reef break.

Sometimes crowded.

Take care of coral and rips.

Characteritics:
Type: Hollow barreling
Direction: Right hand reef break
Suitable for: Experts
Crowds: Average Localism
Average Tide: All

ANTIQUES

If you don't want to surf the lefts in Tiger Stripes, then you head up to Antique's rights. This is considered to be a second choice wave which is always a couple of feet smaller and way more forgiving than the lefts.

VOODOOS or BLUE BOWLS

A very long right-hander, very exciting especially at 4 to 6 feet and protected from SW-W winds. This wave is surf able all the time, all swells, all tides and all sizes. It is a good length for an easy ride and nice sections for some moves.

CASTAWAYS
 
Is a soft right-hander that can be surfed on all tides but better surfable in high tide when the swell is bigger than 4 feet due to its shallow reef. Just like Beacons, it gets good with N wind. Surfing here is the idyllic setting of the Maldives with plenty of marine life around and an isolated island just in front of the line-up.

FIVE ISLANDS or GANI POINT
 
Another right-hander, protected from the south-south west winds. A hollow wave that that breaks hard on shallow inside reef and so it's better surfed at mid-high tide. This is maybe the wave that handles the biggest swells at all tides.

LOVE CHARMS
 
Right next to Two Ways, there's this very consistent left hander, working on any swell size. This wave can be surfed at every tide and handles different wind directions but best conditions occur when it's small size, low tide and E winds. Beautiful long wave with two sections: take-off on hollow wall and some little nice tubes at the inside section.

TIGER STRIPES or ROCKETS
 
A fun left-hander, not very hollow but with long workable walls and a complicated take off into a long speedy wall before presenting an inside tube section that gets smooth and breaks out easily in the channel. Very consistent and can be surfed at all-tides. Best conditions with west-north west winds. This is a simple and neglected wave when small but can be really challenging in strong swell.

TWO WAYS or TWIN PEAKS
 
This is a right and left-hander but the rights tend to be better, funnier and longer. It's not hollow and it needs a big swell to reach perfection. So, this is one of favorite waves within intermediates. Fun, peeling, long walls with a bit of depth to the water.

GAUKENDI BRIDGE 
A left hand located on the south side of the bay that may be the right choice on those days of small swell. You can expect short but fun rides.
Madihera. This could be considered a spoiled wave as it picks up a lot of swell but it needs a very specific set of conditions to be surfed. In the right wind directions it offers a fun lefthander with 2 sections and several take off points.
The waves start breaking in deep water and provide some heavy barrels on certain spots of the reef. The bottom of the reef is a bit rough which makes the wave funny and changes from heavy to soft in just a few meters.

SHANGRI-LA
A new resort built in Viligili island named this wave. On small clean westerly swells, you can find a funny right hand reef-break wrapping along the east coast of the island.

Surf'inn Surf Camps can guide you through the best surf spots of the Maldives.


The source: 
http://www.surfinmaldives.com/
http://www.surfertoday.com/travel/7753-the-best-surf-spots-in-the-maldives