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Machines

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We kicked off the start of the season on the Mavaahi Maldives Surf Charter for a 10 day Male to Central Atolls surf trip beginning on the 6th April.
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The first few days was spent between North Male’s myriad of surf breaks with the guests scoring 2-4 ft waves all along the Atolls’ coast. We were met with a 10 second south east swell and winds shifting between the west and west /north-west trade winds perfectly designed for the variety of waves offered along the eastern seaboard of the Maldivian island chain. We began our trip at the famed Sultans, cramming all our jeans, shoes and other clothing items we would not see for another 10 days into bags and hidden under beds and into corners of rooms. Jumping into boardies and diving into crystal 28 degree water, it was clear to see the boys did not need much adjusting to tropical surf life. Our first stop was the famed Sultans, a long right-hander just 1 and 1/2 hours from the airport by boat, and the boys were eager to shake the long plane ride off and test out their equipment.
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John Read

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After a couple of sessions the boys were happy so captain Ramsay pulled anchor as the chef was serving lunch and we made our way north to the island of Thulusdhoo and some of the most consistent reef passes in the whole Maldives.. Cokes and Chickens did not disappoint with the guests scoring head-high Chickens to themselves, and for those who wanted a bit more punch, dropping into some bombs at Cokes just across the bay….

Jon Read kept the camera man busy, scoring multiple barrels and throwing some big turns, obviously loving the fact he did not need to be surfing in a 4 mm steamer!
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Personally, I love the month of April working on the Maldives surf charter, as the crowds are very few with most boats still finishing up their diving operations, so the chance to score sick waves with not many people is very high. After a couple of days of great waves we set steam, following the compass south back towards our original starting point.
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Moving down the coast, we saw a break in the reef offering beautiful rolling rights with nobody else around, so we went closer for a look and before we could anchor, bodies were spilling over the side of the boat and the race was on to catch the first wave at Ninjas. Dream-like, buttery conditions kept us here for the next day and a half with happy campers piling up their wave counts before it was time to point the boat due south again and head towards the Central Atolls.
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Michael Lewis @ ninjas

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First stop was Meemu Atoll, where we parked in the channel just next to a super fun, long right-hander. Muli greeted our guests with the same 10 second interval period, offering shoulder-high perfection with rides of up to 150 metres being gnawed at by our salivating guests. Mike Lewis found his groove enjoying some “leg burners”, pleased as punch at his decision to book a spot on the boat.

Muli Outside Rights kept us busy for a day and a half before the swell dropped and it was time to move to the western side of the island chain, chasing a south-west swell that was due to hit that evening. Our timing was impeccable as we pulled in 6 hours later into my favourite anchoring spot, and arguably one of the Maldives most aesthetically pleasing locations, Inside Mikado, located within the south-east corner of the Thaa Atoll. Farms, as its name also goes by, was offering cylindrical, perfect 2 to 3 foot rights as our guests watched trance-like, astounded by the beauty of the set up.

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The wind was a perfect offshore direction as guests would sit in the lineup, looking to the outside reef as an indicator before swell would wrap, hit a ledge and funnel off for a 100 meters offering 3 beautiful sections before dying out into a crystal clear, deep-water lagoon.. I told you I had the feeling this trip was gonna be great spat out, Graham, Taylor of Anglesea, Victoria…. Nobody debated.
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Luke trawling in between breaks

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This was our home for the next couple of days, with plenty of fishing and snorkelling on offer, with guests feasting on waves as well as the local coconuts and sugar cane on offer on the white sand beach just 50 metres from our anchored dhoni…. Guests were kept nourished with fantastic meals served up by the Mavaahi, the Maldives surf charter’s amazing staff, making sure we had enough energy to surf day in, day out. We were also very privileged to be joined by a huge manta ray and a 5 meters whale shark, who feasted on the plankton just meters off the back of the mothership for 3 hours into the night.
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Our time was slowly coming to an end, so we decided to pack up and move ourselves to our final destination of Laamu Atoll, with 2 days being spent anchored beside the the majestic break known as the Machines

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Machines

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If you happened to mistake this place for Kelly Slater’s new wave pool, then I don’t think anyone would blame you… We enjoyed perfect 2 to 3 foot, picture-perfect, barrelling rights with Jon Read and Chris Scanalan standing out, milking every last drop of perfection.
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Overall, we had an amazing time with great waves, weather, food, and hospitality all being served up so if this is any indicator of the season ahead, then the feeling over here in surfers paradise is very, very upbeat!

Photos and words by Rob Underwood – The Perfect Wave surf guide
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Chris Barley

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Chris Scanlan

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Michael Lewis machinesp>
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Jon Read @ machines

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Clint and Luke

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Kingy onto a fishp>
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Jon @ chickens

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Ninjas early morn session Chris Scanlan

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King jamming in the middle of the Indian Ocean

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Island treats @ inside mikados

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Jon read slotted @ cokes

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Chris Barley

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Chris Scanlan @ ninjas

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Machines locals

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