The Maldives are made up of 26 coral atolls surrounded by 1200 islands, of which only a few of these are famous for the quality of their surf. Being open to all swells of the Indian Ocean with directions ranging from east to south and west, the atolls of Thaa and Laamu have recently been discovered for their surfing potential as, thanks to some of their passages between the reefs, they boast some top-class quality waves. These 2 atolls have around 150 islands that stretch for a length of 650km (400mi) and they are constantly hit by swells. The central atoll of the Maldives enjoys an abundance of perfect reefbreaks (mostly right-handed) surrounded by peace and tranquility and reachable mainly only by charter boats. Unlike other island chains, the expense and low number of boats operating in this area of the Maldives make the atolls free from chaos and crowds. Thanks to waves like Mikado and Yin Yang, known for their tubes, with the right conditions the central atolls are the tropical perfection. On the west coast of Thaa atoll, there is Bowling Alley , a wave that breaks on a rather high seafloor and it tends to become close-out in the internal reef of the atoll. When the wind blows from the southeast, move towards Hirilandhoo, where a long, fast but flimsy left called Malik’s will give you some high quality tubes. To the east of the atoll, at the most eastern tip of the Veymandhoo pass, there is Adonis , a good right better with N winds. The SE-SW swells first hit outside Mikado before break into the inner reef. This spot sends right waves that increase in quality at high tide. Moving further east, Inside Mikado is a perfect and wraparound right; not so powerful at low tide but with tubing sections at medium and high. This spot is sheltered from the island of Kanimedhoo: the wind from the SW comes offshore, but the winds from the west and northwest ruin the conditions. Finnimas is an exposed left that needs winds from the northeast, north or a light breeze from the northwest to break at best; sometimes there is also a discrete right in the passage channel between the reefs. South of the Thaa Atoll there is the small Laamu Atoll. Yin Yang is the most consistent wave in the area, working best with strong swells from the southeast. When the ideal conditions are formed, the large tubes and the innermost wave section don’t forgive even the smallest mistakes. The outermost section on the other hand breaks on a very deep bottom and it could be a good option to check when the NW wind ruins the innermost section. With the SW wind, the opposite happens: the outer section becomes active and chunky while the inner one begins to work at its best. If the swell is big and the wind is NW, it might be worth checking out Mada’s , a short and fast left. When Ying Yang reaches 4ft in height, there are 2 more east facing passes starting to break. Bedhuge is a perfect, remote right that breaks with big swells from the southeast and holds any wind from west. Along the pass there are Refugee’s Lefts and Refugee’s right . Machine is usually the best option on this side of the atoll, as it is characterized by tubing and fast rights that become perfect with the rising tide. It can be surfed even with small swells. At the northeastern tip of the atoll there is Isdhoo Bank , a rarely surfed right that only starts to break with large S-SE swells accompanied by S-SW winds. Charter boats stop here when in transit to the most southern atoll. If we have intrigued you, contact us now to find out more about this surfing holiday in the Maldives!
Tariff per person, starting from:
| Departure | Nazaki Residences | Mo Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Double | Double | |
| From 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 | € 263 | € 273 |
Notes
The Maldives are home to medium-sized surf conditions, and it is very difficult to find them flat between March and November. The predominant swells throughout the year come from the southwest. The spring tides are just over 3ft, but nevertheless you have to pay attention to the strong currents that are generated during the tide changes between the atoll passes. The months between December and March are sunny and dry (Iruvay season, NE monsoon) while the months between May and October are more windy and humid (Hulhangu season, SW monsoon); April and November are the transition months. The days between the end of March and the middle of May are generally calm and therefore suitable for cruises. As the SW monsoon season begins to approach, the weather becomes quite unstable and it can range from severe storms with possible torrential rain to sunshine and clear skies. The wind never gets too strong and even during the monsoon season, it is not uncommon to find beautiful days. The wind conditions can be classified into 3 distinct periods: the prevailing wind from April to August is the SW-W wind, from September to November, it turns more from SW-NW, while from December to March, it blows mainly from the NW- NEITHER.
How to get there: Take a 30 day visa upon arrival. Flying to Male (MLE) is easier from Europe (Emirates) or SE Asia (Singapore, Malaysian, Qatar, Sri Lankan). From Male ‘fly to Kadhdhoo using the island’s aviation means. The flight takes approximately 40 minutes and it costs approximately $ 200. Departure taxes are not applied. Laamu atoll is about 220km (136mi) from Malè, and it takes about 24 hours of navigation to get there by sea. Boats in the Maldives do not travel overnight so it will take you 2 days to reach this atoll. The easiest option is to fly there.
How to get around: There are well organized tourist villages in Thaa atoll and there is also the possibility of staying in a guesthouse in Mikado, but most of the waves in this area can only be reached by boat. There are currently only 2 boats operating in the area: the “Maldivesurf Maha Boat” ($ 150 / day) and the Tropicsurf Blue Lagoon ($ 295 / day).
Accommodation and food: Air-conditioned cabins are a luxury given the extreme heat. The boats provide fairly high quality food and healthy fresh fish. Ask for Roshi Mashuni!
The climate: The “Iurvai” is the NE monsoon (December-March), characterized by dry climate and light N winds. The W-SW monsoon, “Hulhangu” lasts from mid-May to mid-November and brings cloudy weather and thunderstorms. The average rainfall is 1924mm per year. The Maldives receive about 2704 hours of sunlight per year, which helps the sea temperature to remain constant between 28 ° -30 ° C (82 ° -86 ° F). Neoprene is only needed to protect yourself from the sun and to protect yourself from the reef.
Nature and culture: The Maldives teem with underwater life, so bring a mask and fins to observe the fantastic seafloor and all the species of colorful fish. Tuna, swordfish, marlins and a few sharks are not difficult to encounter. The fishing is always of excellent quality. Expect a warm welcome in the villages.
Dangers and annoyances: In most of the passes the reef is flat and quite deep, but in some areas it could be on the water surface and sharp, so take your reef shoes with you. Sharks are small and attacks on humans are very rare. There are few diseases and few insects. The islands are peaceful and the locals very friendly. Tourists only need to beware of burns or sunstrokes, which can be avoided by carrying a high-protection sunscreen. Remember that alcohol, pornography and guns aren’t accepted at customs.
Tips: Relax a bit in Male, surf the waves in the city, and let yourself be carried away by the positive vibes of the island. There is very little rental equipment on the islands and what is available is very expensive, so bring everything you need with you. Bring something for entertainment, such as books and DVDs, for resting between sessions in the water. If money is not a problem, rent a seaplane and go on an adventure, new discoveries are waiting for you.
Exchange rate 1 EUR = 1.08 USD
Exchange rate variations (more than 3%) will lead to an adjustment of costs. They will be communicated within 20 days of departure.
The tariff does not include
Duration: 8 days / 6 nights
from € 242 - Excluding flights
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