The Maldives

What makes the Maldives a special destination for surfers?

I think it’s the combination of consistent, playful surf and great weather in an extremely comfortable environment. We met so many surfers over the years at Lohis, and the majority didn’t want double overhead barrels, and all wanted a nice standard of accommodation, good food and cold beers, and if they were traveling with a non-surfing partner, they wanted to be sure that the non-surfers were going to enjoy their holiday too. So, I think that the Maldives is a special destination for your average surfer to score really perfect mid-size surf. 

What kind of waves can visiting surfers expect? 

The reefs are so gentle, it’s not like the waves are coming out of deep water and just heaving onto a slab like in Tahiti or Hawaii. The channels are really deep and the angle of the reef makes for really perfectly peeling waves. A teenage shredder can enjoy surfing with his 70-year-old grandfather.

What’s the vibe?

At the resorts the vibe in the water is generally super friendly. Remember that we are talking about high end surf tourism..surfers are paying for a luxury surf experience that includes surf guides who are there to help you get waves.

What should surfers bring?

Lots of zink, the Maldivian sun is intense. We swear by this stuff called Surf Mud as it is the best we have found and it’s completely natural. Definitely pack a mask and snorkel. Most resorts provide them, but I’ve never been a fan of sharing them.

The bugs aren’t really an issue and if they are you can always buy bug spray on the islands, but it’s really hard to get good, natural sunscreen that isn’t full of chemicals that are bad for the reef and your skin. I’d bring a GoPro and some spare batteries, not to surf with it in your mouth when it’s three-foot, but for all the classic moments that happen around the island and in the ocean. And you can trade off filming your friends and the quality is pretty epic these days. I’d bring a few books on a Kindle or some audio books. You need to have an excuse to rest and avoid burning out. I also recommend a good multi-vitamin, some Vitamins C and some rehydration salts. It’s easy to over do it and dehydration isn’t good.

Regarding boards, I went through a few different board phases at Lohis. From short fat fishes and quads when I didn’t ride a board over 5’6” all season, to standard high-performance shortboards when my average board was a 5’9” round pin that I rode pretty much every session.

What I always advised guests is to bring at least three boards: your favorite everyday board that you ride most days at home, along with a step-up incase it’s bigger (more likely in July/Aug/Sept) or the current is running and you want extra paddle power, and a step-down in case it’s 2-3ft every day (quite possible in Feb/March/April and /Nov/Dec/Jan) If you are bringing four boards I’d bring a backup of my favorite, everyday board. Something I noticed when pro surfers came to Lohis was the way that they enjoyed parking up on the deck with a bunch of boards and riding four or five different boards throughout the day. It’s so easy to pop out for a quick session, then come in, have a snack and a drink, then go back out on a different board or the same board with different fins. They said it was the best place to really dial in boards to see what worked best. If you’re a high intermediate/advanced level surfer looking through an extensive quiver deciding what to pack, you might find that lower volume boards, than you usually ride, feel great in the Maldives. Boards just seem to feel more buoyant over there and the waves are so nice that a super responsive low volume board feels great.

When is the best time to score?

July/August is the most consistent, but if you’re going to the North Male atoll you really can book anytime from March to November and be sure that you will surf every day. February is typically small and weak, March/April is a lovely time to be at Lohis, with consistent perfect little swells and beautiful conditions, then by June the season really gets going. By late September/October things are slowing down, and by November it is back to being pretty small and soft. 

What else is there to do when you’re not surfing? 

To me, everything revolves around the ocean. Snorkeling the lineups is always fun, going for a SUP or kayak paddle, fishing excursions. All the resorts have a gym, tennis courts, different bars, a nice spa, romantic diners, excursions to local islands, etc. 

What’s your favorite local cuisine? 

I love the local breakfasts: tropical fruits, good coffee, mashoni (tuna with shaved coconut, red onion, chili and dandelion leaf) with roshi. I actually like to eat fairly simply so the vast selection of food can be a bit overwhelming, but guests always rave about the food.

Where can people learn to surf? Any surf schools you’d recommend? 

I’m not 100% comfortable about the learn to surf thing, especially over reef. Yes, there are surf schools, but they have a burden of responsibility to ensure that their guests don’t do a lesson and then think that they should paddle out to the A-grade spots on a good day.

The guys at Hudhuranfushi have a learn-to-surf program that is held on the inside in the lagoon where there’s some reforms. On the the local islands you can find guys who are great at getting beginners standing up in a really fun environment. Niyama and Ayada both have great learn-to-surf schools with super professional, attentive instructors.

What are some things people should be aware of when it comes to local culture and customs? 

The resort islands are set-up to be a completely self-contained, safe, judgement-free environment for guests to feel at ease and enjoy themselves. The local islands are 100% Muslim, so there’s an expectation that visitors will dress respectfully and not take alcohol ashore. The older generation of Maldivians have seen a huge shift in their lifetime, so please be patient and non-judgmental if you feel that you’re getting vibed on a local island, often it’s just shy curiosity.

Any other local tips? 

When I was guiding in the Maldives, I would find myself repeating the same advice on a daily basis: avoid following the crowd too deep. If there’s a crew of surfers pushing deeper up the point, don’t get sucked into paddling deeper yourself, instead turn and paddle the other way, often the best waves break wider and the surfer sitting slightly further out and down the point, will score the wave of the day. The end section of most of the waves is the hollowest. All the waves I ever surfed in the Maldives have multiple take-off zones, so spread out. Another tip, if approaching the lineup by boat, ask to be dropped off at the end of the wave and paddle up the lineup. This way you get a read of what’s happening. Often the worse operators in the area will just drop their guests off at the top of the lineup, instantly creating a bad vibe among waiting surfers, and essentially throwing their guests in the deepend without the opportunity to ease their way into the session.