Maldives Surf Travel Guide
GalleryThe Male’ Atolls of the Maldives is a perfect destination for a surf adventure or family holiday. Be it beautiful resorts with a wave out front, or a surf charter with a group of friends, these Atolls offer an experience for both surfers and non-surfers that is unrivaled. Experienced surfers love to come here to score quality waves in the peak season, while intermediate short board and long board surfers will find long, fun, peeling rights and lefts. North Male has some of the best Maldivian surf breaks including Chicken’s, Cokes and Lohis. While in South Male, Kandooma Right and Foxeys are just two of the world class waves in this magical part of the Indian Ocean. The Central Atolls of Meemu, Dhaalu, Thaa and Laamu offer the chance to spread out and find uncrowded perfection. The Southern Atoll of Gaaf Dhaalu enjoys widest swell window, picking up all the swells from SW around to South East.
What we love
Huge variety of amazing resort and boat options, from excellent value budget to unbeatable luxury
South Male Atoll is great for beginners and learners, as much as it is suitable for experienced surfers.
Southern Maldives is remote and uncrowded, with great waves for intermediate and advanced surfers, including heavy Beacons
Stunning, luxurious resorts situated perfectly to access loads of nearby surf breaks, including many with a wave directly out front
Male Atolls Surfing
The Male’ Atolls of the Maldives is a perfect destination for a surf adventure or family holiday. Be it beautiful resorts with a wave out front, or a surf charter with a group of friends, these Atolls offer an experience for both surfers and non-surfers that is unrivaled. Experienced surfers love to come here to score quality waves in the peak season, while intermediate short board and long board surfers will find long, fun, peeling rights and lefts. North Male has some of the best Maldivian surf breaks including Chicken’s, Cokes and Lohis. While in South Male, Kandooma Right and Foxeys are just two of the world class waves in this magical part of the Indian Ocean.
Kandooma Right
South Male
Quarters
South Male
Natives / Foxys
South Male
Tucky Joes / Boatyards
South Male
Riptides
South Male
Cokes
North Male
Chickens
North Male
Ninjas
North Male
Jails
North Male
Sultans
North Male
Honkeys
North Male
One of the most consistent waves of North Male Atoll off the island of Thanburudhoo which is uninhabited. This is an excellent, long, world-class left-hander. Its mirror, Sultans, breaks on the other side of the island.
Lohis
North Male
Southern Maldives Surfing
A large concentration of breaks within a short distance has meant that the best way to surf this region is by boat charter. Beacons is probably the best-known wave and features Indonesian style power and perfection. Other quality waves like Five Islands, Blue Bowls and Love Charms are more user-friendly. There are also other secret spots that make this an exciting surf frontier great for surfers willing to test their limits.
Beacons
Blue Bowls or Voodoos
Love Charms
Antiques
Tiger Stripes
Five Islands
Five Islands is another righthander that breaks hard and hollow on the shallow reef inside. The outside section encourages deep takeoffs into racy walls and handles the biggest swells at all tides.
Central Maldives Surfing
The Central Atolls of the Maldives may not be as well-known or as frequented as the North or South Male Atolls, but the region has been increasing in popularity as surfers look to escape the northern crowds. Although the central atolls don’t get the same kind of size as the Male Atolls, the area continues the Maldivian tradition of providing consistent surf and pristine barrels. Meemu, Thaa, Dhaalu and Laamu Atolls lie 140kms south of Male and are littered with medium-sized reef breaks with Ying Yangs, a world class right hander, one of the biggest drawcards. There are excellent surf charter boat and amazing resort options to explore the Central Atolls.
Ying Yang
Laamu
One of the most consistent spots in the Area that has a long inside section and can produces some incredibly hollow barrels.
Machines
Mauroofs of Kasabu
Dhaalu
A break outside Kudahuvadhoo island is a right-hander works best on light north/northwest winds and a good southwest swell.
Muli Inside / F1
Meemu
A very fast right, with long walls, hollow, barreling, can be shallow, but still with a safe ending.
Inside Mikados / Farms
Thaa
One of the Maldives more playful waves and considered one of Maldive’s best waves. Protected from south & south-west winds you can hide from bad weather behind Kanimeedhoo Island.
Veyvah
Meemu
Perfect left hander with a long wall for turns. Has an easy take off so great for low intermediates. Not too heavy and super fun and even has a barrel with the right conditions.
Finnimas
Thaa
Speedy, shallow left that can produce some firing waves. When it is on it can provide some greenroom time.
Northern Maldives Surfing
The Maldives are generally known for being a tropical paradise made up of beautiful, palm tree covered islands, ringed by white sand beaches, blue lagoons, and spectacular coral reefs inhabited by colourful sea life. The Northern Atolls are no different and with Baa Atoll being a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it is even more special. A range of quality lefts and rights have been logged, but this is a boat charter option for surfers who want to surf newly discovered or completely uncharted surf spots.
Dhravandhoo Right
BAA ATOLL
About 3 kilometres to the south of Dharavandhoo, it is the closest wave to the airport. As the name implies it is a right-hander that works best on a SSE swell with W to NE or light variable winds. Probably the heaviest of the few regularly surfed waves in the atoll, it is for intermediate to advanced surfers only..
Kudadhdhoo
BAA ATOLL
This left is the standout wave in the region, and is considered world class. It is best on a SSE to SE swell and N to NNE wind.
Kudathulhaadhoo
RAA ATOLL
Well hidden wave inside the atoll, a playful right hander. Needs big SW swell, above 12s period.
Maamunagu Finolhu
BAA ATOLL
Left Hander, suitable fo rintermediate – advanced surfers. Shifty peaks, and fast inside section. Requires big SW swell, above 10s period.
When to go
The most consistent swells for the Male Atolls occur between April and October. This is when the best south swells and prevailing west or southwest winds light up most of the quality breaks in the atolls to the north and south of Male. March and November can be considered transition months, but also provide moments of magic without the crowds.
Attractions
The scuba diving in the Maldives is world-class, and many of the surf boats and surf resorts have top class facilities and instructors available. The Maldives is one of the best places in the world to spot manta rays and whale sharks; this should be more than enough to convince anyone to travel there, but there is more. Reef sharks including whitetip and grey reef are quite common, together with big tunas, Napoleon fish, eagle and stingrays. Otherwise, activities include: spa treatments, deep sea fishing, yoga workshops and yacht dolphin cruises.
The Country
The Maldives is made up of 1192 miniscule islands called atolls spread over 800 km from north to south and straddling the equator. Roughly one hour’s flights southwest of Sri Lanka or 4hrs from Singapore, most of the atolls are idyllic, sun-drenched, palm-fringed Gilligan’s Island style set ups. Countless pristine, white, sandy beaches are surrounded by shallow, crystal clear lagoons and vibrant live coral reefs perfect for diving. This is life stripped down to simplicity – bright blue skies, year-round sunshine and fantastic diving and snorkeling in lagoons the temperature of bath water. The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in terms of both population and area; it is the smallest predominantly Muslim nation in the world. With an average ground level of 1.5 metres above sea level, it is the lowest country on the planet. It is also the country with the lowest high point in the world, at 2.3 metres.
Getting There
Velana International Airport in Male (MLE) is the gateway airport to the Maldives. The airport is well connected with major airports around the world – London, Moscow, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and many more. Once you arrive in Male, the representative will transfer you to your domestic flight, your surf charter boat, or to the speedboat which will take you to your resort.
Travel Information
Time Zone
UTC+5:00
Currency
USD
Calling code
+960
Electric
230 V