Surfing

Resorts

in

the

Maldives.

Discovered by Tony “Hussein” Hinde — the Australian shipwrecked on a Maldivian reef in 1973 who became the father of Maldivian surfing. His Atoll Adventures camp pioneered the wave in 1989; he surfed it until he died in its own lineup in 2008. Access stays exclusive to Cinnamon Dhonveli.

The most consistent wave in the Malé atolls — works on almost any swell, offshore through the southwest monsoon.

Shallow coral on the inside section.

A world-class right peeling off uninhabited Thanburudhoo, named in the early surf-exploration era and now a protected surfers’ sanctuary open to all.

Holds size beautifully — works from 1 ft up to 10 ft on a southeast swell.

Coral reef; powerful on bigger days.

Popular — one of the busier breaks in season.

A reeling right that wraps the reef off Himmafushi — the island that once held the country’s prison, which gave the break its name.

Long, fast walls on a southeast swell; boat access only.

Coral reef.

Shared by locals and surf boats — can get busy.

North Malé’s heaviest, most regular barrel, breaking off Thulusdhoo — the island home to the only Coca-Cola bottling plant in the Maldives.

Powerful right-hand tubes up to 8 ft.

Shallow coral reef — experienced surfers only.

Popular when it’s on.

A long, forgiving left wrapping the reef at Lohifushi — today Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi — and one of the longest, most user-friendly waves in the country.

Rideable from 1 ft to 8 ft; suits every level.

Coral reef.

The fast, hollow left that mirrors Sultans across the same Thanburudhoo reef — long a favourite of the Malé surf-boat fleet.

Quick and powerful; especially fun on a northeast swell.

Coral reef.

Busy on weekends.

A long, peeling left off the western tip of Thulusdhoo that can run up to 500 m on its day — North Malé’s longest wall.

Workable walls with barrel sections, from 3 ft to 10 ft.

Coral reef.

Popular.

Secondary left near Hudhuran Fushi / Lohifushi.

A mellow, approachable wave near Lohifushi — a gentle step down from Lohis.

Coral reef.

Punchy right near Guraidhoo, accessed from the Anantara islands.

Small and quick — needs a bigger swell to fire, then throws punchy barrels.

Coral reef.

Photo: Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort

Mellow, forgiving left in the South Malé line-up.

A long, fast, manageable left wall on southerly swells of 1.5 m or more.

Coral reef.

Photo: Luka Peternel / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Hollow right off the Kandooma reef, on the doorstep of Holiday Inn Kandooma.

An easy outside take-off that builds down the reef; bigger on a south swell.

Coral reef.

Photo: Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives

A-frame peak that's friendly for less-experienced surfers.

A forgiving A-frame peak — among the most beginner-friendly waves in South Malé.

Quiet.

Fast wall near Guraidhoo on the right swell.

A fast right in the channel; a big south swell with a southwest wind delivers a 150 m wall with hollow sections and a great end bowl.

Channel current.

Uncrowded.

Playful left in Meemu (Mulaku) Atoll.

A playful left in Meemu Atoll — fun across a range of sizes.

Uncrowded.

Regarded as one of the finest waves in the Maldives — a long, fast right that barrels off the top, walls through the corner and powers along the reef ledge. Six Senses Laamu sits beside five quality breaks.

Barrelling outside section, then walls and bowls; best on a clean south swell.

Powerful inside section over a reef ledge.

Long, workable left in Laamu Atoll.

A long, workable left in Laamu — far from the day-trip crowds.

Quiet right-handers in Thaa Atoll near COMO Maalifushi.

Quiet right-handers in Thaa Atoll, within reach of COMO Maalifushi.

Reef break off Dhaalu Atoll, accessed from Niyama Private Islands.

A reef break off Dhaalu Atoll, accessed from Niyama Private Islands.

Heavy left for experienced surfers in Huvadhoo.

A heavy left over Huvadhoo’s clear reef — for experienced surfers.

Shallow reef.

Remote — charter access.

Long right in Huvadhoo (Gaafu) — charter access.

A long right in the remote Huvadhoo Atoll, reached by liveaboard or charter.

Remote — charter access.

Hollow, shallow right in the southern atolls.

A hollow, shallow right in Huvadhoo — short and intense.

Very shallow coral.

Remote — charter access.

Powerful, punchy left in the deep south.

A powerful, punchy left in the southern atolls.

Remote — charter access.

Mellow left that's fun on the smaller days.

A mellow left that’s fun on smaller days in Huvadhoo.

Remote — charter access.