Due to its tropical monsoon climate, the Maldives has two distinct seasons – the dry season (Northeastern monsoon) which occurs between January and March, and the rainy season (Southwestern monsoon) which lasts from April to October.

From March until October, waves galore throughout the Maldives. Once the monsoon transition has occurred in May, the Northern and Central Atolls tend to get the most perfect waves – which run until the end of the season in late October. Between March and April, during the Northeastern monsoon, the Southern Atolls offer the best conditions for surfing. Generally speaking, as a result of storms that develop further down in the Indian Ocean (mainly due to intense Roaring Forties activity) during the Southwestern monsoon, the largest swells reach the Maldives in June, July, and August.

One of the misconceptions around the Maldives is related to the heterogeneity of its surf spots. When people say they will go “surfing in the Maldives,” they often visualise a single type of perfect wave over a single type of scenery. That, of course, is tantamount to saying “I’m going surfing in Portugal.” After all, given the extension of the archipelago, it should be taken for granted that variety is a linchpin in any Maldives surf trip.

Therefore, even if so many Maldivian waves may look similar on a photograph, a trip in the Northern Atolls near Male differs greatly to one in the Southern Atolls. Such is the surf-versatility of the Maldives that, in a single boat trip to the Central Atolls, for instance, we can find a wave for one of our guests to work on their cutback and, only a 10-minute dinghy ride, find spot congenial for another guest to improve backhand barrel riding.

Along those lines, when organising a trip to the Maldives it is crucial to note that the archipelago is an extensive, sprawled one. This means that getting from A to B will require either maritime or air travel, and while spots within the same atoll are not too far away from each other, travelling from atoll to atoll can take up to 10 hours. Keeping that in mind is vital when deciding what type of trip best suits your needs: resort stays or boat trips.

Another point of misconception revolves around the paradisical trait conferred to the Maldives. Unfortunately, it is not always that you will be surrounded by the palm-tree laden island and colourful coral reefs we mentioned at the beginning of the article. Some regions are more accessible than others, which causes both the atmosphere and the pristineness of the natural environment to be not completely untouched. That is when having a knowledgeable guide around pays off – which brings us to the third misconception about the Maldives.

The variety of spots, their configuration, their susceptibility of winds and swells…many are the factors that make a difference in successfully planning your surf trip. Regardless of who you are and how long you have, one thing is certain: you will want to get the most and best waves as possible during your sojourn.

Hence, having a guide on board will not only ensure that you will be at the right place on the right time, but also that your level of surfing will be taken into account when assessing what type of waves to search for. Moreover, being accompanied by someone with local knowledge as well as lifesaving qualifications (as it is the case in all Mahalo surf trips) provides you with that extra bit of security when jumping into the water.

As a tropical paradise, the Maldives boasts extremely pleasing weather: temperatures both in and out of the water fall between 24-33°C/80-91°F, and there is always plenty of sunshine. Though the climate and the sun are some of the reasons the country attracts so many surf travellers, being so close to the Equator, they are also a potential hazard. Therefore it is important to keep yourself hydrated before, after, and during surf sessions, as well as apply high-SPF sunscreen or wear rash vests.

Fortunately, there are no official records of shark attacks in Maldivian waters. The majority of sharks in the Maldives are reef sharks who tend to feed away from the impact zone and leave humans alone so long they are undisturbed. The same goes for other sea creatures such as stingrays, lionfish, jellyfish, etc.

The only other hazards besides the sun are, therefore, the reefs. Still, most spots in the Maldives feature relatively flat reef platforms and deep waters near the take-off zone. So unless you are surfing on dead low tide chances are you won’t come close to touching it. That will depend, of course, on each particular break. To be on the safe side, bring a pair of booties along. Should you require basic medical assistance, the boat crew can aid. Otherwise, Male has modern medical facilities.

Concerning customs regulations, both alcoholic beverages and drugs, as well as items such as spear guns and harpoons are strictly forbidden. Another thing to be aware of is that the Maldives is a Muslim country and dressing modestly is recommended, so try to cover your body from shoulder to knee when visiting public places.

It is important to prepare your equipment before boarding the flight since there are only a handful of surf shops in Male. Although we don’t encourage anyone to overpack, make sure you have the number and type of boards you need for the type of trip you’re going to. If this is a family holiday or if you are a beginner itching to catch your first barrel, two boards (a shortboard and a fish) should suffice. Those who want to push their limits on bigger swells or intend to explore the remote Southern Atolls could benefit from carrying an extra step-up board on top of the two high- performance ones.

Last but not least, we can’t overlook the fact that a trip to the Maldives doesn’t only mean surfing. Our team would be happy to organise other activities such as snorkelling, island sightseeing, cultural presentations, beach barbecue parties, whale shark or manta ray spotting, yoga practice, cocktails at a resort, stand-up paddling, deep-sea fishing, and scuba diving.

The Northern Atolls is the most popular and accessible region of the Maldives when it comes to surfing. Here, visiting surfers of all levels are bound to find the conditions they are looking for, whether going right or left, without having to travel far from the capital Malé. Subdivided into North Male Atoll and the South Male Atoll, the region claims the longest and most consistent waves in the country – as well as the most crowded. Spots like Jailbreaks, Pasta Point, Ninjas, andRiptides, are known for breaking year-round, improving throughout the summer months (June, July, August) and peaking in late August.

AIRPORT – Velana International Airport

TRANSFER – Catch a ferry or domestic flight to the resort where you will be staying.

The Central Atolls is the ideal region for those who seek the idyllic Maldivian setting and value less crowd over bigger waves – although swells still roll in with the same consistency and perfection.

Among them, the main ones to receive travelling surfers are the Laamu and Thaa Atolls. Spots such as Finnimas and Mikado (Thaa Atoll) and Ying Yang and Refugee’s Lefts/Rights (Laamu Atoll) attract surfers for their hollow and fast barrels. These conditions, however, are susceptible to the intensity of southerly swells and wind direction. But when it is on, the Central Atolls become the perfect combination of quality, fun waves and empty line-ups.