Surfing in Maldives

Considered to be one of the wonders of the world by the travellers, the Maldives are nestled south-west of India in the Indian Ocean and are formed by about 1200 coral islands. This tropical paradise is well-known for its absolutely pristine clear waters, beautiful overwater bungalows and bright blue skies, all-year sunshine and fantastic diving and snorkelling in lagoons the temperature of bath water. This tropical archipelago is the ultimate holiday destination for sun, sand and beach lovers, couples on a honeymoon, families, scuba divers and all those who wish to indulge themselves with the best possible holidays. And did we mention the world-class surf conditions?

There is something for everyone in Maldives – you can stay in a paradise-like land resort and your non-surfing partner will have absolutely no complaints about the fantastic food and plenty of activities to choose from. And if you both surf, or are a larger party of friends/family and want to get the most of your surfing trip in non-crowded conditions and explore some excellent waves, get yourself on a surf boat charter and enjoy the top surfing holiday of your life!

The Maldives boast several superlatives: the smallest Asian country in terms of population and area; the smallest predominately Muslim country in the world; and the lowest country in the world – with an average ground level of only 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level – the country’s high point is only 2.3 metres!

Temperature is consistent the whole year round: 29-32’C during the day and 25-26’C during the night.  The Maldives climate can be divided into two periods, characterised by two monsoons:

• The South-West Monsoon, from May to November, is humid and with persistent rainfalls. In this period the sea is heavy and winds are strong.
• The North-East Monsoon, from December to April, has very little rainfall and lower humidity.

A great variety of reef breaks exist, ranging in intensity from quite mellow and enjoyable shreddable walls to gnarlier hollow sucking dry pits. There is something for everyone when you surf the Maldives, and although occasionally crowded, it is possible to get away from it all and enjoy some of the warmest most pristine water you will ever experience.

The same swells hitting Indonesia deliver the goods to the Maldives except that the latitude is higher and the south-east exposure is less convenient. There are three main surfing areas;

• The North and South Male Atoll: during the South-West Monsoon season, from May to December. The waves are strongest from May to August.
• Central Atolls: standard waves are long clean rights with size varying between 3 and 6 ft. During austral winter (April-October), it's never flat.
• Southern Atolls in the South from February to April and from September to November.

The tides and currents place a very important role in defining the surfing conditions in the Maldives. All the breaks occur near the tight channels of the atolls. The currents through these channels can become very strong. During the south-west monsoon, currents go towards the external reef of the atolls, creating the best conditions for surfing. The swelling lines are usually perfect and the waves keep the same shape with all the tides.

The surf throughout the Maldives generally ranges in size from 4-8 feet, however bigger days have been experienced. The best waves in North Male can be experienced from May to October, with the biggest swells likely to occur in June/July/August. The best waves in South Male usually come  between July and October. The most famous breaks are in North Male’ Atolls. These points offer rights and lefts, whether for beginners or for professional surfers, with waves from 1 to 3 meters with long break points.

Surf spots can be accessed in two ways; by charter boats rented by groups of surfers, and by dhoni transferring surfers from the resorts – although not all the spots can be accessed from the resorts. Usually, surfers prefer the surf boat charters to reach the different points in North and South Male’ Atolls, as they have no constraints and can choose among the most famous breaks. Don't leave without surfing Jailbreaks (Himmafushi), Honkys and Sultans!

The Perfect Wave offers the best of available land-based resorts and boat surf charters. Our most popular land-based resort is Kandooma in South Male - loved by couples, families and honeymooners. Cola's Surf Camp in North Male Atolls, loved by surfers on budget, is our exclusive operator. For those looking for a change from the popular North & South Male breaks, Medhufushi Island Resort in the Central Atolls is a great escape offering 5* quality and proximity to uncrowded waves.

For those fantastic and uncrowded breaks that cannot be accessed directly from the land resorts, we definitely recommend to jump on a boat charter! We have personally hand-picked the best of what is available in the country and regularly visit our operators to assure consistent product quality: Haira, Hamathi and Carpe Vita in North & South Male atolls and Cobia, Anloran and Atoll Challenger in Central abd Southern Atolls are all great boats with fantastic surf guides and offer you packages in all price ranges. But make sure your dates don't get booked!

To enquire about your next surf holiday in Maldives, please call us on 1300 00WAVE to speak with one of our friendly consultants or click here to send us an e-mail.