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About Maldives
A popular diving destination for years, the Maldives has started attracting surfers from all around the world and has become exceptionally popular. Surfing in the clear, warm waters of the Maldives is a veritable source of enjoyment for novices and professional surfers alike.
MALDIVES FACTS
Capital: Male
Language: Dhivehi (local language) & English
Currency: US Dollars
Climate: Tropical Warm & humid. The sun shines all year. The average temperature is around 29-32 degrees Celsius
Best Time to Travel: All year, but best from April until the end of October
Health: Visit a Travel Clinic or your Doctor for more details before you travel
Travel Insurance: We highly recommend travel insurance (Please ask consultant for a copy of the policy we recommend)
Visa: No visa is required for South African passport holders and most other nationalities
Main Attractions
Snorkelling and Scuba Diving
Dive with Manta Rays and turtles
March to November is considered the surfing season with most swell likely to happen over June, July and August
One can book boat charters which travel in the North Male Atoll and South Male Atoll. Some boats charter deep south where waves are uncrowded and gnarlier. Charters generally require group bookings of 8 or more.
Land options are also available – Hudhurenfushi (ex Lohifushi) or Dhonveli are the best options for surf. Most resorts besides these two options, do not offer transfers to surf breaks and to hire private dhonis is exceptionally costly.
The Maldives is 3 hours ahead of South African local time.
The Maldives has beautiful unspoilt regions with white beaches, turquoise lagoons and reefs teeming with fish.
Surf Informations
There are three major surfing areas in the Maldives: North Male Atoll, South Male Atoll and then the Outer Atolls.
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 has the most surf breaks and is therefore very popular for surfers coming from around the world.
Chickens –
Located on the eastern reef of the North Male Atoll, this lefthander is near the uninhabited island Villingilimathi Huraa. This surfing site is best surfed during high tides.
Cokes/Colas-
Located on the eastern reef of the North Male Atoll and near Thulusdhoo and named after the Coca Cola factory based on the island. It is on the opposite side to Chickens. This cooking right hander is very consistent and can be rather gnarly.
Lohis–
Located on the eastern reef of the North Male Atoll and breaks alongside Hudhurenfushi Resort. It links up well on a big South East swell (lefthander) and high tides. Access is permitted only for the guests of Hudhurenfushi Resort.
Pasta Point–
Pasta Point, a left, is one of the most consistent of the breaks in the North Male Atoll. Its main attraction is that it is good in small and big swells. Access is permitted only for the guests of Chaaya Dhonveli Resort.
Jailbreaks–
This surfing site attracts surfers with its exceptionally long right. It also is the fastest wave in the Maldives, having long walls and three tube sections. Also considered quite gnarly.
Ninjas–
Located on the eastern reef of the North Male Atoll and near the Kanifinolhu Resort (Club Med). Its main highlight is that is breaks on a moderate swell and is a good long board wave.
Sultans–
Located on the eastern reef of the North Male Atoll. It has a cruisy takeoff which may turn into a nice tube on the inside. It also has a great right which barrels over 4 FT. This break can get crowded.
Tombstones–
Located adjacent to Sultans and near the uninhabited island Thamburudhoo. It has a great long right which requires a big swell.
Honkys–
Located on the eastern reef of the North Male Atoll and near the uninhabited island Thamburudhoo. This break offers a long wrapping left and a perfect 150 yard ride with long walls and an inside section which jacks up.
Male Island Point–
Located on the eastern reef of North Male Atoll, Male Island Point has a dry reef to surf on. When many of the islands were flooded in the big swells of 1987, this was surfed at a perfect six to eight feet. Only an option for people staying in Male the capital.
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