Brian James knows a thing or two about the surf in the Maldives after 18 seasons surfing and guiding with Perfect Wave.
Ben Horvath sat down with Brian to discuss how you can make some decisions about your 2021 Maldives charter. Here’s the ultimate quick Maldives guide straight from a very experienced campaigner.
Ben Horvath (BH) – Where and how can you best score uncrowded waves in the Maldives? In short: the best months, best locales?
Brian James (BJ) – Early season, March and April, I would recommend Ghaafu Dhaalu Atoll. There are light winds, if any wind, and a really remote location offering great surf, great fishing and the way to do it is on a safari boat. The season from May to October, North and South Male Atolls offer the best and most consistent waves in a concentrated area. The Central Atolls is a more spread out locale and the attraction to this area is the remoteness of the area. A safari boat or a resort or surf camp are the way to go in Nth and Sth Male Atolls and a safari boat is the way to go in the Central Atolls. All these areas offer uncrowded waves, it is all in the timing and the TPW Maldives guides will set you right.
BH – When is the peak swell season?
BJ – Peak swell in the Maldives is June, July and August.
BH – Where’s best to go with the family?
BJ – Holiday Inn Kandooma is the best family destination for surfers in the Maldives. Kandooma has all the infrastructure to provide mum, dad and the kids with the perfect surfing holiday.
BH – Where best to learn to surf?
BJ – Perfect Wave Maldives have SGA and ISA qualified surf instructors at Kandooma Resort and Cokes Surf Camp. Either of these two destinations operate high quality learn to surf packages.
BH – How can I score the best deal?
BJ – There is 3 ways to score a deal:
1) Booking early ensures you lock in your preferred dates and save.
2) Sometimes we offer a last-minute deal – subscribe to our newsletter and you might luck into a last-minute deal that suits you.
3) Organize a group of 8-10 or more people to go to a Maldives resort or on a Maldives surf charter and we will sweeten up the deal for you.
BH – What board size, volume etc is best? Two best boards to bring?
BJ – The Maldives surf points are long and range from hollow, fast and shallow to fun, forgiving waves. The best surfboard for you to bring is the one you are comfortable on. From Hypto Krypto to Mal to Rhino Chasing Gun, bring what you enjoy to surf on. Maybe best to bring two, just in case.
BH – Any other Maldives specific tips to make my surf holiday all time?
BJ – Pack very light – you won’t need too much more than your favourite boards, boardshorts and a few of t-shirts, zinc and spare fins/leggies. You can’t bring any (duty-free) alcohol into the country, but the boats and resorts are licensed (unless they’re on an inhabited island). The waves are all reef-bottom, but they are much more forgiving than your average Indo slab. Every part of the Maldives has its own specifics, so come again if you have already been here and perhaps try a different area – there are so many different waves here…
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