The Central Atolls might not come with the chatter of the more well-known North and South Male Atolls, but from April - June & September - October, the Central Atolls tempt with empty, fun and pumping waves all day long.
A must for all surf explorers! The central Atolls might not come with the chatter as the more well-known North and South Male Atolls, but nothing but paradise awaits you here! Pristine empty lineups for miles on end. It might never get as big as spots up North, but consistent fun-sized waves are as abundant and perfect as you could wish for. In the right conditions with a strong Southern push (South facing spots) or Eastern push (East facing breaks), this otherwise idyllic and remote paradise comes truly alive, and you'll encounter waves, so perfect, you won't believe it until you see it. What adds to the flavor is the fact that there are still spots only a few lucky ones have surfed. They are the true definition of secret spots just waiting to be named! Due to the shape and location of the individual Atolls, you'll always find a spot that's protected from the wind. All breaks are close by which makes it easy to alternate between them and hunt perfect conditions all day.
Martin, LUEX's Head of Travel, started out skating in the UK, before escaping to the powder of Canadian mountains. He found his way to LUEX through years of chasing snow in winter and waves in France during summer. These days, he manages our surf and snow teams, while squeezing in surf trips to his favorite right-handers at Cokes and Kasabu in the Maldives, or powder missions to the tree-lined runs of Revelstoke. At LUEX, he combines his love for board sports with making sure every trip runs smoothly.
The Central Atolls might not come with the chatter of the more well-known North and South Male Atolls, but from April - June & September - October, the Central Atolls tempt with empty, fun and pumping waves all day long.
Suitable for all levels of surfer! A good mix of more hollow, high-performance waves with some perfect options for beginner-intermediates that are more playful and forgiving.
The Central Atolls have something for everyone on offer. A popular spot among families and surf traveling couples with a great selection of resorts and hotels. Most surf charters are available for trips to the Central atolls, and surfers on a budget have a few camps to pick from.
Plenty to do for non-surfers at the resorts. On the boats, options are more limited to diving, fishing, island hopping, snorkeling.
Domestic Flight (And possibly then a Speedboat to your resort) or Direct Seaplane from Malé. Limited options for local group speedboat transfers. Longer Boat Charter Crossings also possible without the need to fly (Minimum 12-14 nights).
A wave that goes by many names but only knows one way. Fun! Probably the longest wave in the whole country offers something for every level. Beginners can glide along the mushier end section that ends with an easy kick out further in the lagoon whereas more confident surfers have multiple take-off zones to pick from.
A wave that goes by many names but only knows one way. Fun! Probably the longest wave in the whole country offers something for every level. Beginners can glide along the mushier end section that ends with an easy kick out further in the lagoon whereas more confident surfers have multiple take-off zones to pick from. Big days are the best days at Kasabu and you are in for some serious leg-burning when all sections connect. Labeled as the "funnest" wave in the Maldives offer steep walls, hollow tube vision, high-performance mania and everything in between for those you make the steep take-off at the outside corner of the wave. It might not have the same swell window as nearby Vody, but nevertheless, Kasabu is super consistent and always has a wave if there's a little left-over swell from the South sticking around in the Indian Ocean. Can get busy with a few heads from the nearby resorts but nothing out of control as it has multiple sections to keep the crowd away from each other.
The Central Atolls' equivalent to Cokes in the North Male Atoll. It needs a little bit more swell to get really going, but Hocus Pocus is steep, hollow and fast. It's the spot when the swell is too big for all other spots nearby and works best on a mid to high tide with westerly winds.
The Central Atolls' equivalent to Cokes in the North Male Atoll. It needs a little bit more swell to get really going, but Hocus Pocus is steep, hollow and fast. It's the spot when the swell is too big for all other spots nearby and works best on a mid to high tide with westerly winds. Take off deep to get the best of all 3 sections that often link up for an incredible ride that includes multiple barrel sections and nice steep open wall for some maneuvers.
Jetty C is the Six Senses' house reef and breaks close to the resort. Jetty C has 3 main take-off spots, all breaking in deeper water, which makes it a great wave for all skill levels. It has various sections and occasionally even bottoms out for a nice barrel near the reef marker.
Jetty C is the Six Senses' house reef and breaks close to the resort. Jetty C has 3 main take-off spots, all breaking in deeper water, which makes it a great wave for all skill levels. It has various sections and occasionally even bottoms out for a nice barrel near the reef marker. It doesn't have the same reputation as Ying Yangs but a 4-5 turn combo all the way to the inside is the norm, especially when the wave gets over 3ft. It does handle some size too but if this lefthander is too mellow for you then try the shallow, fast and unpredictable right that breaks off Jetty C - Only for the crazy crew!
F1 in a nutshell; Really fast! One of the better waves in the Meemu Atolls, but also one of the more challenging ones. It needs a bigger swell from the East to work, and it usually breaks pretty straight which makes up for incredible barrels or horrendous wipeouts when you get clipped by the fast and unforgiving lip.
F1 in a nutshell; Really fast! One of the better waves in the Meemu Atolls, but also one of the more challenging ones. It needs a bigger swell from the East to work, and it usually breaks pretty straight which makes up for incredible barrels or horrendous wipeouts when you get clipped by the fast and unforgiving lip. The wave comes out of deeper water before hitting a pretty shallow and rocky seabed that adds to the power of the wave. Definitely not your twin fin cruiser kind of wave that's protected from all Southerly winds.
A swell magnet and standout in the area that's just across the Six Senses Resort. As the name suggests, Ying Yangs has two sections that couldn't be any more different to each other. The outside section is a shifty but mellow peak that produces a fat cruisy wall perfect for intermediate surfers or guys on logs.
A swell magnet and standout in the area that's just across the Six Senses Resort. As the name suggests, Ying Yangs has two sections that couldn't be any more different to each other. The outside section is a shifty but mellow peak that produces a fat cruisy wall perfect for intermediate surfers or guys on logs. The second section is why many people travel to the Maldives for. It's heavy, it's shallow, and it's round! A heavy drop leads into a wide open barrel you can park a freight train in. It's the most perfect tube in the Maldives but you have to be committed, ready and know your way around a keg or otherwise, the shallow reef will punish you. Time your take-off, and angle already down the line as the wave approaches. Don't bottom turn but instead, lock-in, pull your head down and wait for the foam ball to spit you out with a bang! Needs a South East to Southwesterly swell to work but when it does, it is as good as they come.
Surfing in the Central Atolls – namely Thaa Atoll, Laamu Atoll, and Meemu Atoll – is possible year-round in warm tropical waters requiring boardshorts only. However, the best season is considered to be from April/May to October when the largest swells arrive (the same which fire up Indonesia's surf spots), peaking from June to August, during the south-west monsoon season. Waves on these coral reef breaks range from super-fast spitting barrels, suitable for only the bravest hearted, through to smaller, more fun-focused options including longboard and SUP suitable waves, depending on swell size, time of year and surf spot.
Surf trips to the Central Atolls are all about escaping the northern hordes and finding yourself some consistent uncrowded waves which typically, in true Maldivian tradition, means plenty of pristine barrels. Although the Central Atolls are well and truly on the surfing map they offer the chance to escape the crowds of the Male Atolls. Empty breaks are still possible especially with surf boat charters and the guiding and spot transfer services offered through our Central Atoll surf operators
Lazing around in hammocks and on sun decks and/or surfing from dawn 'til dusk is the only aim of many, which is of course totally okay. However, once the sun goes down or if you fancy a break from the wave-riding bliss then there is plenty to keep you entertained. Snorkeling, diving, fishing and whale and dolphin watching trips are all on the menu along with a diverse range of facilities and services or you can simply play at being Robinson Crusoe – ocean gazing or wandering along spectacularly beautiful beaches.
When most people picture the most idyllic tropical paradise possible it is probably the Maldives they are seeing – coconut palms, dazzling white sands and turquoise waters. Central Atolls surfing holidays plant you bang smack in the middle of this utopia with its offering of high-class breaks and a wave riding wonderland. The appeal of grabbing a slice of surfing bliss coupled with luxury living draws beginner to pro level surfers of every description from solo travelers through to couples and families. The Central Atolls are a wave riding playground, offering something for everyone.
The majority of Central Atoll surf trips come as surf boat charters, once (but no longer) an exclusive option reserved for the pros only, where you will be lulled to sleep surrounded by the ocean and spend your days hunting down the best waves. While sleeping on a surf charter waking up to pumping waves every day sure is an adventure of a lifetime, there are plenty of land-based options available. Opt for one of our Central Atoll surf resorts and live in the lap of luxury for the duration of your stay.
You might be forgiven for thinking that all this heaven is only accessible to those with large bank balances but you couldn't be more wrong. There are plenty of Central Atoll surf holiday options that fall into the budget to medium range categories opening the gates of paradise to everyone. However, should you be in search of something super special, where just about everything you can imagine is possible, then the other half of the options cover luxury right through to ultimate, 5++ star standards.
Wanna have true comfort in a tropical paradise? These are the trips you are looking for!
One of the hottest and the most reliable surf spots in the world - and you can have it, no matter what!
Surf Camps are the perfect solution for making a tropical paradise like the Maldives affordable for every surfer!
