The vast coral reefs, multitude of marine life and tropical sunny weather makes the Maldives the ideal diving and snorkelling destination; however these beautiful azure waters also providing seasonal waves that are perfect for surfing. Away from the picture perfect resorts, like the luxurious Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, renowned for its exquisite water villa in Maldives, are seasonal reef breaks that attract quite a few adventurous surfers.
The surf season in the Maldives works in tandem with the North-East and South-West monsoon seasons that take place between February to November; however, wave sizes and consistency can vary throughout the different atolls during the months. Between June to August is when you can find the biggest breaks, while the most consistent are recorded between September and October. The surf waves aren’t as big or intense as the ones found off the coast of Bali, Tahiti or Australia, but any beak over 6″ ft deserves some respect, especially over a reef!
A typical wave rolls like any point break, with fun pockets, workable corners and long rides. The waves break over dead reef, but you’ll rarely feel it unless you’re surfing on low tides. There are several great surfing spots around the atolls, but very few are easily reachable from the resorts. The northern and central atolls offer great breaks for intermediate to experienced surfers while the southern atolls are less crowded and offer the best breaks on the outer reefs. The South Atoll breaks are possibly the most remote on the planet and only accessible by boat. However, due to political reasons, a government permit is needed for boats to travel here and greatest surf spots are kept a secret by those in the know.
To really experience the Maldivian surf breaks and waves, charter a boat from a reputed tour operator who has knowledge of all the best surf spots or speak to someone at the resort you’ll be staying at and check if they can organise an excursion for you.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, Joanna James ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought. Her interests include Politics, law and Philosophy. Google+
