All the waves in the Maldives break on coral reefs, with the best surf on the eastern and southern edges of the atolls, where the reef has just the right orientation to swell and wind direction. In those perfect spots, the Maldives surf season produces consistent, clean, straight swell lines.
»  North Male' Atoll Breaks
»  South Male' Atoll Breaks
»  Outer Atoll Breaks
»  Equipment
The Surf Season
The Surf Season runs from mid February to November when swells are produced by winter low pressure systems in the southern Indian Ocean.

The early part of the season has the most stable weather, with light, favourable winds. Swell consistency and size improve from February, with March, April and May having very clean conditions.
June to August have the most potential for big swells (the WQS contest is held in June every year), although tropical storms can be more common in these months.

September and October are also very consistent months for swell, with variable winds and tropical storms becoming less frequent. November is still quite consistent for small to medium size waves and the weather is usually perfect.
North Male' Atoll Breaks «
North Male' Atoll has the biggest concentration of resorts and the most accessible, best-known, and most popular breaks in the Maldives.


Chickens: Long & fast left. Best on higher tide.
Colas: Barrelling right.
Lohis: Two sectioned left off Lohifushi Resort. Links up well on a big SE swell and high tides. (Access restricted to guests of Lohifushi Resort)
Piddlies (ninja's): Mellow right. Good long board wave. Moderate Swell.
Pasta Point: Perfect long peeling left. Most consistent of North Male' Atoll breaks. Good from small to big swells. (Access restricted to guests of Dhonveli Beach & Spa).
Sultans: Excellent right with great barrells over 4'. A great peak takeoff that turns into a thick tube on the inside.
Honky's: Long wrapping left. Best wave in the Maldives on its day. Perfect 150 yard ride with long walls and an inside section that stands up bigger than the takeoff.
Jailbreak: Long right that is brilliant. The fastest wave in the Maldives with long walls and three tube sections.
Tombstones: Great long right that needs a big swell.


South Male' Atoll Breaks «
  South Male' Atoll breaks are usually a couple of feet smaller than those in North Male' Atoll, but can be excellent if there's a big swell. There are fewer resorts here, but the surf is accessible by boat from Male' in a couple of hours.
Gurus: left that works well with a big south swell and a north wind
Quarters: small, quick right Kates: short little left-hander
Natives: short right that works with a south-west wind and a solid swell
Last Stops: fast right with a great bowl section


Outer Atoll Breaks «
Huvadhoo Atoll has over a dozen named breaks, accessible only by live-aboard surfari boats.

Beacons (Right),
Castaways (Right),
Five Islands (Right),
Love Charms (Left),
Tigers (Left),
Bluebowls (Right) and
Two Ways (Left & Right).


Equipment «
Bring everything you need because surfing equipment is virtually unavailable in Maldivian resorts. Most surfers will find a short fun board suitable for most conditions in the Maldives, but bring a longer board for bigger swells. The water is warm enough to swim without a wetsuit, though a light suit or rash vest is a good idea, for protection from the sun and from the coral. Booties are essential for picking your way over exposed coral reefs, and a helmet is recommended.
Home     ©Atoll Travel     Top