When to go, Where to go, and everything else!

A well-kept secret for so many years, Kakuni Rights might not be as consistent as other spots further south, but if you hit it when the conditions are right, the hard barreling righthander is absolutely perfect. The wave wraps around a deeper shelf of reef and starts with a mellow-ish takeoff, followed by a fast and hollow barrel section over shallow reef. It's a bottom turn-stall-race kind of scenario, so speed is key - Don't hesitate! Very remote and only accessible by boat!

As the name suggests, this is a pretty epic righthander when it's on and probably the heaviest wave in the Northern Atolls. It has a pretty small swell window which makes the break pretty fickle and unpredictable. Works best in a medium tide with variable W - NE wind and a strong SSE push. Even though Dharavandhoo right is close to the Atolls airport, it's a pretty remote set up, so make sure your captain knows where he is going.

Just out front of Sonevafushi Resort, this wave has a little bit of a temper. It’s fickle and you need to have a little bit of luck on your side to score, but with a big southeast swell, Soneva Reef is on fire. It’s a pretty friendly righthander with an easy take-off but it gets super shallow through the inside, so make sure you keep your head straight and watch where you’re going. Not the most powerful in the region, but with size, it’s super rippable for shortboarders.

A solid A-frame that works in all sorts of conditions. Either way you wanna go, with a straight W swell the wave turns into a barreling machine. Bats is mechanical which makes it easier to navigate the zippy and hollow mid-section. It’s one of the more powerful waves in the region as the swell traverses through a narrow channel out from the open ocean before hitting the shallow-ish reef bank. Ya need some skills to get the most out of the steep and heavy take-off, but on the right days, it’s perfection!

One word. Worldclass! Drumsticks well and truly turns into a perfect barreling lefthander in the right conditions. It’s long. It’s fast. It barrels. It has all the attributes of a world class wave without being too heavy. It has a pretty easy take-off that fades into a rippable bowl before the wave bottoms out through the inside for a classic, pristine Maldivian barrel. It has a smaller swell window than other waves around, and needs a South - Southwest to really start working.

The Northern Atoll’s response to a wave pool! Snakes is a lot of fun with a perfect reef formation to support that claim. The wave never gets too big or too heavy and hardly ever closes out. It essentially has 3 sections. The mellow take-off is perfect for longboarders to cruise down the face before the reef wraps around, producing slightly steeper, faster and more rippable walls. In smaller conditions it’s a safe haven for beginners and intermediates as it breaks in deep water. With a good Westerly push, Drumsticks turns on the high performance mode perfect for more comfortable punters to shred away.

It can get a little fickle due to its location. Too much South in the swell can create longer waiting periods, making the whole experience a little inconsistent. Nonetheless, this wave pumps when the conditions are on.

Dhakendhoo Corner is a solid option when everywhere else seems to be too small. It always has a little wave as the swell travels through a narrow reef passage before hitting the reef. It breaks directly off Dhakendhoo, an inhabited island, with a perfectly deep reef set up. It’s an A-frame wave cooking up something for everyone. The right is fast and rippable, while the left is mellow and cruisy. A lot of fun when nothing else seems to work.

The northern-most break in the North Male Atoll got its namesake from the poultry factory that was close nearby. While the slaughterhouse is long gone, the unbelievable long left walls still remain. Across the channel from Thulusdhoo Islands, Chicken's is known as the longest left in the country that can hold some pretty decent size too. Pretty mellow when it's under 3ft but lo and behold, the place produces some serious thunder when it's bigger. Chicken's is fast, real fast, probably the fastest wave in the area, so put the jets on when you take off and pump down the line. It has two distinct sections that define the wave. The first section after the takeoff drops out pretty quick for a nice clean barrel before it leads into the second section, that's basically one long wall that hardly ever closes out, for you to go to town on. Chicken's is a grower, not a shower and gets better with size. Tube time galore is best on an incoming mid to high tide with a clean South - East swell. Watch the current though, as it can get really nasty and ruin the spot within minutes.

Only downside, constructions are underway and a resort is being built that will claim private access to the wave. Get amongst it while it’s hot, as the resort is pulling a Pasta Point sooner rather than later.

Cokes is the poster child in the area and the reason why many surfers get stuck in North Male for their entire stay. Only a stone's throw away from Season's Paradise, Samura Guest House and Cokes Surf Camp, this fast and hollow righthander is every barrel freak's dream. Coming out of deep water before hitting a shallow reef shelf, the wave disperses into two sections; A steep takeoff section followed by a beautiful barrel section, linking up with the shallow end bit of the wave for another hollow cylinder for you to take cover from the sun. While the first section of the wave is pretty manageable and slows down quite a bit after the takeoff, the end section is shallow, shifty and fast and requires enough speed and proper positioning to not get clipped by the zipping lip.

Cokes is a swell magnet and often the go-to spot in North Male when the swell is small - which of course, intensifies the crowd factor a lot. You want to hit Cokes on a mid to high tide when the ruthless current is a little bit more gentle on those arms, NE winds and enough South Swell for perfect overhead caves all day long.

Cokes is a tricky spot to enter/exit the water, and the gate to safety is pretty small. Timing is critical when trying to make it back through the keyhole if you want to avoid an encounter with the colony of sea urchins inhabiting the nearby rocks around the break.

Lohis is a real gem for everyone who can throw out the cash to stay at Adaaran Select, the resort that claims exclusive access to the wave. Capped at 45 surfers a day to manage the crowd, Lohis isn't quite as perfect as Pasta Point but makes up for it with some incredible long rides. The lefthander has two distinct sections, and when they connect, Oh boy, you are in for some incredible and hollow barrels, longer than anywhere else in the Maldives. The outside section has a relatively easy takeoff and slows down before it jacks up over the shallow reef for some time in the shade. Lohis is one of those rare spots that work on all tides but watch out for the current that runs through the lineup when the tide starts to change. It destroys the wave and most likely your energy for the whole day if you try to fight it.

Although the Maldives aren't really on the level of Sri Lanka or Bali when it comes to beginner friendly waves, there are a few spots worth mentioning. The name somewhat suggests otherwise, but Ninjas is a pretty mellow break great for longboarders and beginners who mastered the skills of trimming and going across the face. It is much slower than other waves in the area an and only works on a small swell. Everything over 4ft tends to close out. Ninjas is slightly less consistent then nearby Sultans and Jailbreaks, but its several take-off spots make it perfect for those who like to improvise, cruise or improve. The wave can get pretty shifty too which, weirdly, is the main attraction at Ninjas as it gives people time and space from each other without having to worry about dropping in or running into traffic.

The holy grail of surfing in the Maldives. The myth, the legend, Pasta Point rivals Kelly Slater's wave pool in any way. In a nutshell; Pasta Point is perfection! Unfortunately, it is off-limits for the "common people," and you only get to surf this left -hand wave machine if you are one of 30 surf guests staying at Cinnamon Dhonveli, the luxury resort that claims ownership of the wave.

Named after the Italian restaurant that was once located near the point, Pasta Point is perfectly tucked away between neighboring islands and much less wind-affected than any other breaks around. The reef set up is so precise that Pasta breaks exactly the same, no matter if it's pumping 6ft or 1-2ft grovel. The wave has 3 sections. The on-the-mellow-side take-off leads into "Macaroni Bow," a mechanical and hollow tube section that spits you out for some maneuvers on the open face before the shallow and fast end section called Lockjaws - cheese grater alert! Watch the sketchy entry/exit, especially when the current runs through the break.

As the name suggests, this wave is majestic, challenging and home to the Four Season's epic Single Fin event. Sultans breaks off an uninhabited, government controlled island, called Thanburudhoo and is always a touch bigger than anywhere else. Sultans is the Maldives answer to Indonesian type waves and has 3 main sections. The takeoff is often behind the peak, so be aware and sit just a little deeper than you usually would. Bottom turn into a beautiful open wall for some high-performance maneuvers before the wave links up with the shallow reef shelf along the corner of the island for a keg so square, you could fit a firetruck. The wave breaks fast, especially at the end but refuses to closeout. That's right, Sultans never closes out - never! Sultans is ultra consistent and always has a wave. It truly lights up on high tide with a solid 4-8ft swell and light winds from the West to Northwest.

On the other side of Sultans is another world-class break that makes any goofy footer go wild! By many labeled as the best wave in the area, Honkys is a long, wrapping lefthander that keeps growing down the line. The reef formation upon takeoff is a semi-circular shape which makes the wave appear to come at you, and you never have to pump down the line or race a section. It's a surfer's playground with multiple sections to slice and dice or tuck into a little cave. But it's the inside section, known as Fred's Ledge that deserves all the glory as it jacks up almost 2ft higher than the takeoff zone for an often square barrel before the reef wraps around, practically parallel to the island's beach, which is your cue to pull out. Best on low tide unless the swell is massive. Honkys reaches perfection in the head high to double overhead range.

Jailbreaks is one of the stand-out waves in the area with a troubled past. The spot was off limits for many years because it was part of a prison complex on the island and anyone who attempted to surf it ran the risk of trading empty hollow right-hand barrels for a filthy dark prison cell instead. The prison has since turned into a drug rehabilitation center but what remains are the long steep walls that can often go on for a few hundred meters. The two main takeoff spots separate the crowd into two groups. Surfers sitting at the main peak further out the back are in for a steep take-off followed by a beautiful but fast open wall, that's perfect to cruise, work on your re-entries or master that backhand snap. People who are digging the second takeoff spot further down the line are in for a hollow barrel section that breaks over shallow reef. Not really beginner friendly but a hoot for those who master the late drop-tuck-in-stall combo. A rising tide with an SSE swell is what you are after at Jails and be aware of the strong current that makes it almost impossible to surf it when the tide's changing.

Tombstones is off the beaten track, away from all the traffic and breaks right next to the Sheraton Full Moon Resort. This is another favorite among beginners as it needs a lot of swell to break above waist hight. Not many boats venture out this way, and there's a good chance you'll end up surfing it by yourself. Even though the reef is pretty soft be aware that there are some shallow kinks in the reef, especially on the end section when it's time to kick out.

The North Male list wouldn't be complete without mentioning Towns that breaks on the Eastern reef of Male, the capital city of the Maldives. Not many surf travelers will end up here, but in case you have a few hours to kill on the mainland, it is worth checking out the shifty peaks that break both left and right. Towns is kind of a swell magnet and catches its fair share of Southeastern swell. A pretty short but steep drop followed by a workable wall makes this break a favorite among local shredders on whatever craft they can find. Towns is one of the only spots in North Male that don't require boat access, and you can paddle out from the shores, often without getting your hair wet.

Best kept secret in South Male. A fast, shallow and super hollow lefthander that will feed the hunger of the most barrel-starved charger. Do not attempt if you aren't barrel ready or you'll pay the price for it. Rumored to be the best break in the Maldives on its day, offers multiple barrel sections and many opportunities to catch some shade from the Maldivian sun. Beware; the wave is super fast, especially on the takeoff as it rushes in from deep water before it hits the

shallow reef bank. A rising tide with a South to Southeastern swell is what you want here.

A sectiony break that picks up more swell than any other spot in South Male. Pair a south swell with a high tide, and Twin Peaks turns into a rippable top-to-bottom kinda setup with a pretty inviting end section. It's nothing too spectacular, and Twin Peaks will never be in contention for "best wave" in the area, but on its day it offers a hell of a time for intermediate and more advanced surfers away from all the traffic.

Quarters is a pretty fun little right with a potent inside section that offers a few head dips on the right days. Need a little more swell than other breaks around, but this zippy bowl has some pretty fun walls to work with. Speed is your friend, and you might want to high-line a few more sections than usual. The outside wave is great for longboarders and beginners as it slowly peels its way over the deeper part of the reef and towards the less consistent but hollow end section that produces some epic little barrels on a bigger swell.

Technically the Anantara Resort claims exclusive access to the wave but the ladies and gents are generally pretty mellow and let you have a paddle without too much drama.

Kate’s is a more mellow, shorter lefthander near Anantara Resort. It is a fickle one as it needs NW or N winds, but when the stars align it can be a really fun option. It never gets too big which makes it a great little wave for beginners and intermediates.

On its day, Kandooma is a freight train type wave, barreling top to bottom without any nonsense. Usually breaks pretty straight which means it can close out quite a bit but once you pick a good one, tuck in under the zipping lip and get sped out at the end, you know why you paid the extra buck to surf this exclusive righthander. The wave breaks just out front the Holiday Inn Resort that claims exclusive access to the break and has two designated take-off spots, one for easy cruising and a more critical one for clocking time in the tube. It's a world-class wave when it packs some size but also pretty rippable and fun when it's under 4ft. Watch out for the shallow end bit and the horrendous current that kills the wave in an instant.

A South Male local favorite, Foxies is a fast and hollow lefthander breaking over a pretty shallow reef bed. Advanced territory only, Natives is a (reversed) carbon copy of Machines (later on the list) producing long, hard barreling rides when the swell hits 4ft+. The end section drops out pretty quickly which means you need enough speed to punch through the last tube section and make it out the other end. Unlike other places in the Maldives the reef at Foxies is sharp and alive, so be careful, especially when kicking out towards the end of the wave. Not as consistent as other waves in the area the wave needs a strong push from the Eastsoutheast to work.

As the name suggests, this zippy righthander has one major drawback; riptides. The wave is located across the channel from Guraidhoo Island and breaks off an uneven reef in the middle of the ocean that occasionally comes with some pretty filthy riptides making it impossible to surf. Other than that, the wave is incredible. It breaks in the middle of the ocean for crying out loud - that in itself is a pretty unique experience. Ideal for the cruisers, longboarders, and improvisers, the place provides some pretty long open walls on the outside corner moving toward shallower water and speeding up in the process, churning out quick little walls that are perfect for transitioning moves on a shortboard. Riptides or often referred to as Last Stop is pretty consistent and always slightly bigger than around the bend at Kandooma or Foxys. A great place for all levels and all kinds of crafts.

The name kind of gives it away. Playgrounds is a super fun and playful left that's only accessible by boat. Nothing but good times here, with a mellow roll-in take off, followed by a perfectly angled wall waiting to be punished. Super rippable and long rides, not too steep, not too flat - just perfect to work on your high-performance maneuvers. Easy exit in deeper water and next to no crowds.

Mulah Point is another beginner-friendly spot that can really save a holiday, especially in the learner-friendly-starved Central Atolls. A point break type wave that breaks over a deep, wrapping reef that slows down the wave. The break has multiple take-off spots and grows smaller as you go down the line. Can get busy at times with local kids enjoying the break as much as surf travelers passing through.

Just south of Mulah island is Mushrooms, a high-performance right hand point that is famous for its consistency. Mushrooms' claim to fame is that it always has a rideable wave, even when other spots around are completely flat. This major drawcard is also the wave's biggest curse as it maxes out real easy. It does not handle bigger swells at all. The place is beautiful though, and the water clarity is so incredible that it feels like you are surfing in a pool as you are going to town on the long rippable right-hand walls.

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.

"The closest you can get to a surfers paradise." A quote found on the website of Niyama Private Islands, the ultimate luxury resort that claims exclusive access to the break pretty much sums up what Vodi is all about. Directly breaking onto the South-Western tip of the island, Vodi is a world-class lefthander and the region's life insurance for waves. It picks up more swell than any other break around and has multiple sections to hone your craft. The outside part of the wave slingshots you through a bottom turn section before you have a wide open wall dedicated to turns, hacks, and even airs before it connects with the shallower part of the reef for some incredible tube visions, sometimes in the high single digits. The wave works on all tides, and even when it's tiny, the shape of the wave remains the same, and you can have a lot of fun on longboards or a good ol' twinnie. Great for intermediate surfers to really practice their tube riding as the wave offers a more makeable barrel section than other same caliber waves in the Maldives. The wave's quality increases with size as the 3 main sections link up quite nicely.

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. 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.

Touted as the most beautiful wave to surf in the Maldives, Inside Mikado offers something for all levels with plenty of sections to choose from. Really starts working when it gets over 3ft, Inside Mikado has a pretty mellow take-off over a deep reef that turns into a long cruisy wall before jacking up through the inside for an easy barrel before again, running into deep water for an easy kick out in the lagoon, or little heaven - how the locals like to call it. It never gets too shallow and it never really chandeliers or closes out. It's a perfect little ripper that is much better protected than its bigger, more powerful brother on the outside. It doesn't really work on the low tide as it gets too inconsistent, but it's one of those memorable waves you'll remember for a lifetime when it starts pumping out perfection on the mid to high tide.

Really just an extension of Inside Mikado but the two waves are so different that they are really considered two separate spots. They are in fact, the polar opposite. Inside Mikado is mellow, slow, safe and fun, while Outside Mikado is fast, sectiony, shallow and powerful. It's a tricky wave to figure out so you might want to sit and watch it for a bit before heading over to the take-off spot. The wave breaks over a wrapping, uneven reef that increases in size and speed as you race down the line. A no-no on low tide, Outside Mikado works best on mid to high tide with a southeast or southwest push. It's an amazing wave when it's on but really hard to surf when the crowds show up as there is only one designated take-off spot. If the crowd sucks all the fun out of you, then it's worth mentioning that there's usually a phantom left across the channel that lights up with a bigger swell.

Finnimas is the reason why you want to slide an extra backup or two into your board bag. It's a hard barreling left with one great feature; it gets hollower than any other wave in the Maldives and is known to snap boards of even the keenest of barrel riders. Shallow, unforgiving with tricky take-off but Finnimas is the real deal, spitting out unbelievable rides when it's on. Always a touch smaller than the neighboring breaks but it's pretty well protected from North winds. It can't be stressed enough; watch the reef! It's a pretty uneven reef formation, and you want to make sure the conditions are right, and the tide isn't too low.

Full Disclosure:

Everything above WAS true. However, a shipwreck threw a wrench into the works by running into trouble at the best part of the reef. It makes for a great sight - that is, if you just come for the photos. The wave is unsurfable on most days, however, when the conditions are just right, you might still be able to catch a few wider ones that sneak past the rusty beast occupying prime real estate on the reef.

A solid option for when the crowd gets too hectic at Inside Mikado or too shallow for Outside Mikado. Finnimas Right is a powerful righthander that breaks in deeper water before it hits a shallower ledge through the inside. While it packs some punch, it has a pretty mellow take-off that gives you enough time to plan ahead for what’s to come. There are 3 designated sections. A fatter but powerful outside section followed by a rippable wall through the inside that lets you throw a few hooks and carves at it before the wave jacks up once more over shallow reef for a steep, fast and occasional hollow end section.

Finnimas Right works in all tides but the horrendous current can turn off and on without warning throwing a wrench into the works by ruining your session real quick.

Maliks loves a good southwest swell to really turn on the barrel factory. It's a pretty fickle wave that adds to the mystery that surrounds this heavy lefthander off the inhabited island of Hirilandhoo. Malik has a temper which is also the main attraction of the wave. It is unpredictable and can turn on, or off for that matter, in a matter of minutes. On its days Malik produces a perfectly mechanical Maldivian barrel your friends will envy you forever for. Easterly winds are the secret ingredient here. Throw in a mid tide, and you get yourself a barrel party that is unrivaled in the Central Atolls. Draw your line straight after the take-off and don't bottom turn for too long or you will end up missing out on the best section the wave has on offer.

A nice change to all the shallow breaks around, Bowling Alley breaks in deep water and works on all tides. Just like Malik, although a lot more manageable, the wave has a temper and doesn't react to any sort of winds too kindly. Best on a Southeast swell with little to no Southwest wind, the spot turns from a sleeping beauty into a hard rippable wave machine.

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.

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!

Shoulders is everything a beginner wave should be. Fun, safe and right out front of Six Senses Laamu, making it easy to paddle straight out. It’s nicely tucked in between the island and works great with N/ NE winds and S / SE swell. When it gets a little bigger, it’s also a great option for more advanced surfers to toy around on a longboard, fish or some other alternative craft. A lot of fun! A lot of waves!

Petrol’s is a safe haven for intermediate surfers longing for a change of scene when Ying Yang gets too heavy, too shallow, too gnarly. Just around the corner from Six Senses Laamu Resort, Petrol’s is a short-ish, punchy left that wedges up right from the start for a quick little head dip before the reef bends towards you for a finishing snap or top turn. The end section is pretty forgiving as it fades out into the channel. Easy paddle out, mellow vibes, Petrol’s is a super fun wave without the hazards of other nearby waves.

The absolute highlight in the Laamu Atoll. A barreling righthander that can compete with any wave on the planet. It's perfect! Without giving too much away, it breaks like a machine and every wave coming through is a carbon copy of the one before. It just barrels - period. No trimming, no high-lining or re-adjusting required. Just take off (deep) set your rail and tuck in. Angle your take-offs and don't pull out until the wave fattens out down the end. It's shallow but never too shallow, and there is most likely a sizable (local) crowd that knows where to sit. Even the most perfect wave has its imperfections though. As good as the wave is, it requires a lot of work. The lack of channel and the reef formation the wave breaks against needs constant paddling, or you're never going to catch a bomb out there. try to avoid incoming tide as it makes the current and rips almost unbearable.

Another swell magnet that always seems to have a wave. A really fun lefthander that really needs a lot of East in the swell or it tends to close out a lot. Ultra protected from all winds from the North and West, Tsunamis has 3 clear sections. Sit deep on the take-off and get a quick cover-up before setting yourself up for a super fun and rippable wall. Carry speed into the last part of the wave, and you'll get another quick barrel before the wave shuts down over the shallow reef bed. A potential lifesaver when it's flat in the area. Watch the current and make sure you keep looking down the line for creases in the wave.

Bring your A-game and practice your barrel riding / railgrab-drop-in combo before you surf it. It's one of the most challenging waves in the country, and even when the conditions align, you will be racing the zipping lip most of the time. Commit on the take-off and never look back or the extremely shallow and uneven reef will beat you. Make the drop, set your rail and look down into a pristine barrel that spits hard before it shoots you out like a rocket. A consistent and mechanical break that requires a "ride or die" attitude.

Definitely more manageable than its right counterpart, Refugee's Lefts is another pretty epic spot found in Laamu. What looks like a grammatical error is, in fact, the hint for multiple lefthand peaks that light up the place. Pretty short but nonetheless spicy, Refugee's Lefts packs a lot of punch. A strong push from the Southeast with the right winds and tides causes the different peaks to line up for some legendary barrels but the majority of the time you'll get that heavy-drop-cover-and-out-combo. It picks up a lot of swell too and is probably best on a mid tide in the 3-6ft range.

Tiger Stripes got its name from the narrow (tiger like) gouges in the reef and is touted one of the most consistent waves in the Southern Atolls, spitting out wide open lefthand walls perfect for all levels. Although more powerful than other waves in the area, it doesn't get as hollow, and cruisy long walls are usually what you get to work on your cutbacks, carves or backhand snaps. Tiger Stripes is ultra reliable and works in all tides and never gets too shallow. Pretty unimpressive when it's small, Tiger Stripes really turns on when the swell hits 3ft+ and a prime option when other spots tend to shut down. 3 main sections define Tiger Stripes. A quick and tricky take-off at the outside corner of the wave turns into a super rippable wall that increases in speed as it runs towards the inside with an end section that throws out the occasional tube vision before a mellow exit into the channel. It handles North winds and loves a Southeast swell. Keep an eye out for the current that seems to turn on and off without warning.

A comfortable 5-minute boat ride from Ayada Resort, this ultra-consistent lefthander turns on the charms on a medium, southwesterly swell and N / NE winds. An instant love affair for every goofy footer, Love Charms is a long beautiful wave with two sections. An easy take-off slingshots you into a nice steep wall for a few nice turns before the little kink in the reef hollows out the wave through the inside for some fantastic little tubes. Although more almondy than round in shape, it's a fairly easy barrel that ends in a shallow-ish bowl, and the spot you should be kicking out. Depending on size the break can change in an instant. On bigger days the first section links up with the reef as it draws more water and you can tuck under a zipping lip upon take-off. The two sections that are so mechanical on smaller swells somewhat disappear, and you have to watch out for the wide cleanup sets or the straight up closeouts that can drag you to the wrong side of the reef. Prepare your paddle muscles too as there always seems to be a rip trying to pull you out of position.

Five Islands is a heavy righthander that throws hard and hollow over a shallow reef. It's a pretty sectioney wave, and you might want to watch it for a while, but it produces some of the longest barrels in the Southern Atolls. Well protected from south to southwest winds, Five Islands is less forgiving than nearby Blue Bowls with a pretty steep take-off and a fast mid-section. Angle your take-off and sit a little deeper than you usually would to not only get yourself over the crease of the wave but to set you up for the main attraction of the wave. The fast but super hollow mid-section is why surfers keep coming back for more. It's a quick wave so don't draw out your bottom turns and angle your take-off, so you are already going in the direction you are about to get slotted. Five Islands handles size pretty well, and it works on all tides with a mid to high tide and a swell from the south, primed to score the barrels of your life. Paddle wide to not get caught inside or to be in someone else's way.

The name kind of gives it away but this righthander bowls up so nicely for a variety of tricks. It has a pretty shallow inside section which bottoms out for amazing barrels when the swell has some south in it, and the winds blow from the west. Works on all tides and gets better with size but is actually a really fun spot when it's small as it slows down and offers a really nice, long and consistent high-performance wall to shred away. The end section gets pretty shallow so watch out before you kick out that there are no exposed rocks nearby. The section after the take-off is money, and you can actually backdoor it as it wraps around the reef and doesn't close out.

Antiques is the ever so perfect alternative to Tiger Stripes but smaller and less powerful. The wave breaks over a perfectly flat reef bed that has no kinks or imperfections you have to deal with. Really consistent and breaks across all tides pumping out perfect little peelers especially popular among longboarders, regular footers, and intermediate surfers. It has two main peaks to keep the crowd at bay and really fires on a solid south swell. No bueno on a low tide as it gets too shallow.

Castaway has probably the most amazing backdrop of all waves in the Maldives. The spot backs onto a large, lively reef formation that separates the break from a chain of little, uninhabited islands. It has a pretty soft take-off, but has a super shallow inside section that needs some navigating. Really idyllic vibe here with cruisy waves, plenty of marine life and usually not too many people but watch out for the super shallow reef along the inside of the wave! Works best in a mid to high tide and a swell bigger than 4ft. On it’s days, it can throw square barrels over the shallow reef, so don’t let the gentle take-off fool you, it’s tricky. It’s dangerous. You better bring your A-game.

Probably the heaviest break when it's on and not a wave you want to mess with unless you are an expert in the barrel. A super exposed reef break that is both fierce and fickle. Only really works in a clean southwest swell and any other direction almost always causes the wave to close out. A prime summer months destination with S -SE swells coming through pretty consistently. Although the barrel is perfect in the right conditions, the reef is not. It's an uninvitingly shallow, coral reef formation you do not want to come in contact with and best surfed on a mid to high tide. It has one distinct take-off spot with a pretty challenging drop but a beautiful and hollow barrel section that follows. Take the drop with commitment and then it's off to the races before the wave slows down over a bowly end section. Watch it a few times before you get into position and watch out for the straight closeouts that, unfortunately, come through every once in a while.

Viligili Left is a fast, zippy lefthander that is offshore when Viligili Right gets too windy. It breaks right opposite the airport landing strip and truly comes to live with a Southern push and West - Northwest winds. Although the take off is on the faster side, the wave mellows out quite a bit as through the inside with a pretty safe end section. It’s pretty remote so finding a ton of heads in the water is rare. It’s pretty fickle and throwing in a horrendous current at times, makes it hard to stay in position. Nevertheless, Viligili Left’s imperfections are what truly makes this spot magic when the conditions align.

Located on the Northern end of Huvadhoo Atoll this break is only accessible by surf charter which leads to pretty uncrowded and often epic sessions. It's an open face righthander with multiple sections that really lights up with a good southeasterly swell. Due to its location, the narrow reef passage and channel the rips can be pretty horrendous. Not much else is known about the break other than there are a few other waves around, so it’s worth to tell the skipper to check out the epic lefthander (on its day) just across the landing strip of the airport.

A fast-breaking lefthander (main wave) with a pretty potent lip breaks off Hithadhoo, a small but thriving local island that up until 1976 was a British military base. The reef formation is quite large, and other waves break along the shallow inside, but nothing really matches the quality of the wedgy left at the outer corner. The water around the wave is pretty murky as the reef is located directly across a huge garbage dump and a muddy lagoon. Kottey is a swell magnet and exposed to any Indian Ocean swells that pass through but works best on a medium southeasterly swell combo'ed with a mid tide and south winds. Addu is the southernmost Atoll in the Maldives, and solo sessions at Kottey are usually the norm.

Pretty self-explanatory that the consistent righthander got its name from the luxury resort nearby. Pretty remote and you really have one hotel/resort in the area which leads to pretty uncrowded surf. It needs a little bit of push from the south but typically always has a wave. Odd for such a remote destination but the Shangri La Hotel has been lobbying for a "You can only surf here if you stay here" policy which puts the wave's public access in jeopardy. The rippable righthander with two distinct, yet short, barrel sections might soon be off limits, but until then, uncrowded easy barrels are guaranteed.

Named after the approach lights from the nearby airport runway, the righthander dishes out long, wide open walls deep in the Indian Ocean. The wave is pretty exposed which means there is always a little wave to be had. Pretty vulnerable when the winds blow from the south but a sure-fire address for waves during the summer months. Pretty fun and rippable up until head high but completely transforms into an intense and powerful bowl when it's bigger. It has a few sections to work with and gets better as the tide rises. Watch out for the horrendous currents and super sharp reef section at the end of the wave. Paddle wide and don't get caught by the occasional rogue set that comes through.

Madihera is just East of Approach Lights, off the tip of Madihera islet. The set up is magic! Although a reef, Madihera breaks more like a pointbreak with a few take off sections and a long, sectiony wall through the inside. It’s pretty exposed and picks up a ton of swell, however, it picks up plenty of wind too. It’s a wave you want to hit early before the wind gets too strong as it completely kills the wave.

This fun, rippable lefthander breaks over an uneven reef which makes it one big playground with different sections that look totally different to one another, depending on where you sit. It has a pretty mellow end section but don’t let that fool you! Madihera is a solid wave that packs some punch. There’s always a little something to be had - and occasionally that little something turns into money with the right conditions.