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29Apr
April 29, 2024

The Best Maldives Surf Spots – For All Levels

The Best Maldives Surf Spots maldives surf trip maldives surf resort stoked surf adventures

If you were to ask someone to describe the dream surf destination, they’d most likely describe something very similar to the Maldives.

Warm water, tropical islands, and waves breaking over pristine coral reefs. It’s often compared to Indonesia in these respects, but with a broader range of wave types and fewer crowds, you could argue that the Maldives takes the cake when it comes to tropical surf destinations.

Needless to say, a trip here is essential for any surfer regardless of ability. Here are our picks for the best Maldives surf spots for all levels.

Planning your Maldives surf trip? Click here to find your perfect resort, local island or surf charter!

What’s surfing in the Maldives really like?

The Maldives is made up of over 1,190 islands and three atoll groups scattered across the Indian Ocean.

Each island is surrounded by shallow, crystal clear lagoons and waves breaking over reefs and into dreamy lagoons.

You have the Northern (Malé) Atolls, which are the islands closest to the main airport that are understandably popular. There are also the Central Atolls and the less-visited but still wave-rich Southern Atolls – perfect for escaping the crowds if you’re willing to put in a bit of extra travel time

Each atoll group offers its own unique conditions and surf spots. You can surf high-performance waves, beginner friendly reefbreaks and everything in between. In this sense, it’s a choose-your-own-surf-adventure destination.

You could hang around the Northern Atolls and surf world famous breaks or chance your hand and explore uncrowded waves in the deep south. It’s your call.

When is the best time for a Maldives surf trip?

The best time to surf the Maldives is largely dependent on which atolls you intend to surf.

As a rule of thumb, the Maldives work from April to October. The Southern Atolls are best during the southeast monsoon season, which takes place in April and May. The Central and Northern Atolls begin to pump more from May through October.

March and November have been traditionally called transition months, but any boat captain and surf guide worth their salt will tell you that there are magic waves to be had (minus the crowds) if you know where to look, with a great balance or waves and weather

The Top Maldives Surf Spots

1. Cokes

Short, intense and fast, Cokes challenges even the most experienced surfers. A steep takeoff sets the tone for a wave that only gets thicker as it winds down the reef, which is only ever a couple of feet from your fins, mind you.

Named after the soft drink brand that once had a factory on the nearby island, Cokes is one of the most popular surf spots in the Maldives, and one of the most consistent too.

2. Chickens

Across the channel from Cokes, Chickens is a long lefthander that favours rhythmic down-the-line surfing. On a smaller swell it’s great for lower level surfers, but when the swells pumping, high end intermediate and above!

It’s consistent despite being the northernmost break in the Northern Atolls, and we rate it as one of the Stoked Surf Adventures team’s favourite waves.

  • Wave type: Reefbreak
  • Direction: Lefthander
  • Skill level: High end beginner – Advance (depending on the swell!)
  • Atoll: Northern Malé
  • Nearest resort: Kuda Villingili Maldives Surf Resort

3. Pasta Point

If you’re a surfer prone to watching surf clips on Instagram, you’ve most likely come across Pasta Point. A bucket-list surf destination if there ever was one, Pasta Point is situated on its own private island and can only be accessed by staying at the resort.

The wave itself is what dreams are made of – a mechanical lefthander that peels perfectly for over 100m down the point. Most of the time it’s fun and playful, but it can bear its teeth when the swell picks up. Quite possibly the most famous wave in the Maldives.

4. Lohis

If on rail, top to bottom surfing is what you crave, Lohis should be one of the first spots you visit.

It’s a competition-level lefthander that offers up round barrels with turn and air sections for the shredders amongst you. The only drawback being that the local surf resort (Adaaran Hudhuranfushi) has exclusive rights to the wave.

Book a trip here and you’ll be well rewarded. It’s surfable on all tides with two distinct sections – outside and inside – that link up when conditions align to deliver leg-burning rides. Despite its reputation as an advanced-level wave, it’s also suitable for beginners when the swell backs off.

5. Sultans

Whether knee high or triple overhead, Sultans never shuts down. This has fuelled its reputation as one of the go-to spots in the Northern Atolls.

The first part of the wave stands up, which is great for burying the rail. It gets hollower as it hits the inside shelf, creating tubes that can be toenails-in-the-fibreglass type stuff depending on the swell size. Manage to snag a good ride out here and it’ll be love at first wave.

Some even call it the best break in the Maldives – a bold claim but hard to refute if you’ve ever scored it.

  • Wave type: Reefbreak
  • Direction: Right hander
  • Skill level: Intermediate – Advanced
  • Atoll: Northern Malé
  • Nearest resort: Cinnamon Dhonveli

6. Jailbreaks

Named for the prison that it breaks in front of, Jailbreaks consists of three sections that all offer different rides.

The first part of this righthander is a steep tube. The second part also barrels, but it lends itself more to turns. The third section is a racy wall that spits you out into the channel.

Word of warning, Jailbreaks tends to grow the further down the line you get, so make sure to bail out early if you’re not confident in making the shallow final section.

  • Wave type: Reefbreak
  • Direction: Righthander
  • Skill level: Intermediate to advanced
  • Atoll: Northern Malé
  • Nearest Island: Himmafushi

7. Vodi

Another exclusive surf spot, this time for for guests at Niyama Private Islands.

Vodi is an epic lefthander favoured by beginners on the inside when its small and intermediate to advanced surfers when the swell picks up.

Clearly, it’s a wave with many faces. When smaller it’s fun and playful. When head high plus it becomes fast and challenging. Rumour has it that 3 x WSL World Champion Gabriel Media comes here to train in the off-season. And hey… if it’s good enough for the champ, maybe it’s good enough for you too?

  • Wave type: Reefbreak
  • Direction: Lefthander
  • Skill level: Beginner to Advanced
  • Atoll: Central
  • Nearest resort: Niyama Maldives Surf Resort

8. Inside Mikados/Farms

While Mikados does have two sections, the best wave is on the inside.

That’s not to say the outside isn’t worth checking – it bowls around the reef to serve up fun, rippable walls. Inside Mikados is the pick though, with plenty of protection from the trade winds and the odd tube. To call this one of the Maldives most drool-worthy performance waves wouldn’t be hyperbole. A favourite amongst travelling intermediates and pros alike.

  • Wave type: Reefbreak
  • Direction: Righthander
  • Skill level: Intermediate to advanced
  • Atoll: Central
  • Nearest Island: Stay Mikado Surf Camp

9. Yin Yangs

Yin Yangs is the type of wave that goes from mellow to “Holy heck” real quick.

Known as one of the most powerful righthanders in the Central Atolls, the outside peak is mellow with a relatively accessible takeoff. This flows into a flatter section before wrapping into a hollow racetrack that’s not for the faint of heart.

The bigger the wave on the outside is, the thicker the inside barrel will be. It’s also the most consistent wave in the area, which makes it popular with charter boats and nearby resorts.

  • Wave type: Reefbreak
  • Direction: Righthander
  • Skill level: Intermdiate – Advanced
  • Atoll: Central
  • Nearest resort: Six Senses Laamu

10. Beacons

Unmatched power and shallow reef come together to make Beacons quite possibly the heaviest wave in the Maldives.

We’re talking slabby barrels that lock you in and don’t let go until you find an exit. Fall here and there’s a distinct chance you’ll be plucking coral from your board and/or body for days. Ferocious, fickle and unpredictable, Beacons demands expert-level shredding and clean conditions to look even remotely surfable.

11. Love Charms

Goofyfooters, prepare for a wave that will make you fall head over heels with the Maldives. Love Charms is a series of lefthanders that can be fun and wally or hollow, depending on which section you surf.

When it’s big both sections connect. When it’s small you can pick your takeoff spot. The best part about Love Charms is that because it’s almost as south as you can get in the Southern Atolls, so there’s rarely more than a few people in the water with you.

  • Wave type: Reefbreak
  • Direction: Lefthander
  • Skill level: Beginner to Advanced
  • Atoll: Southern
  • Nearest resort: Ayada Maldives Surf Resort

Planning your Maldives surf trip? Click here to find your perfect resort, local island or surf charter!