This is where it all began! The Maldives surfing mecca and the first location surf travelers come across when landing in paradise. The place is filled with guesthouses, camps, hotels resorts or charter boats, satisfying all types of budgets, especially in the prime summer months. North Male has by far the highest concentration of world-class waves in the area, ranging from picture-perfect barrels a la Pasta Point and Cokes to long rippable walls you'll find at Jailbreaks or Honkys. North Male is also incredibly consistent and hardly ever goes flat from March - October.
Just a few clicks to the South lies the quiet brother of the brash North Male Atoll. South Male has a much more mellow vibe and is perfect for families and people who prefer to surf less-crowded lineups.
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.
South Male
Always a little smaller than up North but truly world-class when the conditions are right. Don't be surprised when you show up to a perfect 5ft barrel with not a single soul in sight during the Atolls prime swell season from June-August.
North Male
North Male has by far the highest concentration of world-class waves in the area and hardly ever goes flat from April - September during the Atoll’s prime surf season.
South Male
Suitable for all levels. A mix of High-Performance waves and a few mellower, forgiving options that are great for learning.
North Male
Suitable for Intermediate - Advanced Surfers. More hollow, high-performance waves with only a few options for lower-level surfers.
South Male
South Male is home to some of the best resorts in the Maldives and also offers plenty of routes for surf charters.
North Male
North Male is the Maldives’s surf mecca and hosts every accommodation option under the sun. Whether you are after a luxurious resort, a surf charter or a budget camp. It’s all there!
South Male
A great choice for families and non-surfing partners with plenty to do at the resorts. Boat trips are surf-centric and options onboard are limited.
North Male
The North Male is a great choice for families and couples that are looking for fun things to do apart from catching waves. The resorts in the area have plenty of stuff to do and cater to everyone’s needs. Boat trips in the area are all about surf and options for non-surfing partners or kids are limited.
South Male
Direct Speedboat from Malé
North Male
Direct Speedboat from Malé. Options for local group Speedboats and local ferrys to the public islands and Surf Camps
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
LUEX offers incredible luxury options to choose from, guaranteeing that an adventure to Male is unforgettable. If you expect and desire only the most luxurious boat option in the Maldives, you got it. Are you more of the “wine & dine” on a private island kind of person? We got you covered too. Whatever it is, luxury knows no boundaries in the Maldives.
If you are only here for waves, then North Male is the place you wanna call home (for a while). Especially during the prime summer months, North Male is a skatepark! It’s ultra-consistent and the crazy amount of different waves in the area has something for everyone. The local standouts are without a doubt Cokes, Chickens, Jailbreaks and Sultans that can rival any other world-class wave on the planet. And if you throw in the extra cash, you’ll get to surf world-class, private Pasta Point or Lohis with only a handful of souls out. It just doesn’t get any better than this.
One thing is for sure, the surf is superb in North and South Male, however should you want to try other water sports, the choices are plenty. Kayaking, canoeing, snorkelling, sea bobbing, jet-skiing, and even X-Jet Blades are options! Of course, instructors are around to guide you should you need some assistance.
Every country has its own unique food and that’s no different in the Maldives. Head to Male and be prepared for an assault on your food palate without mercy. An assault in the best kind of sense, local food such as Maldivian Curry with Tuna and Garudhiya (A type of fish soup with lime, chili, rice, curry leaves, onions, and a coconut) will blow your taste buds away. Let’s not even talk about Mashumi Roshi –Tuna and Chapati or Hedhika, which, along with the dozens of street food options on offer is enough to get you salivating for a surf holiday to North and South Male!
If the, at times, crowded lineups of the popular North Male breaks get too exhausting, head South for a more mellow, fun-sized time. South Male is always a little smaller than up North but truly world-class when the conditions are right. Don't be surprised when you show up to a perfect 5ft barrel with not a single soul in sight. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just that crowds aren't really an issue here!
One of the hottest and the most reliable surf spots in the world - and you can have it, no matter what!
Much less crowded than the northern parts of the Maldives, you can have the time of your life here.
The Southern Atolls are all about surf charters - and we got the one that fits you best.
