SURFING
Comprised of over 1,000 islands and islets, it’s no wonder the Maldives is known as a surfer’s paradise. The waves have the quality and consistency of those found in Indonesia and Hawaii, but the swells tend to be a few feet smaller so it’s slightly less intimidating! While you can find waves in the Maldives year-round, generally the surf season runs from mid-February to November with March to May enjoying the cleanest conditions and April to October seeing the bigger swells roll in. Most resorts that offer surf lessons for beginners do it in sheltered, sandy-bottomed lagoons, providing a safe and fun environment for kids. For the more advanced who are able to surf reef breaks, the Maldives is one of the flattest places in the world, so although the reefs are sharp, they are gently sloped and therefore not as hazardous. Also, waves in the Maldives tend to barrel over the reefs as opposed to dumping right onto them, which should provide some relief to those less sure on their boards! Wetsuits are not required as the waters are warm, but we recommend rash guards to protect from the strong equatorial rays.