What a season, what a year! August 2021 continued the stellar run of swell across the Maldives with a series of South and South East Swells pulsing across the breaks, groomed by the seasonal light offshore winds.
Standout sessions went down, some were captured in social posts and images. Other live on only in the memories of those lucky enough to be there.
The monsoonal westerly winds remained consistent for the first half of the month but eased to light and variable in the last week of August, opening up the lefts for some sweet sessions.
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At the same time, the fishing turned on, although it never really turns off. Check this mighty Marlin brought in by senior Surf guide Martey on a Hamathi Central Atolls charter:
Fish of the season – from Marteys Hamathi Central Atolls Charter, late August 2021
The Southern Atolls continued to be graced with pulsing South West groundswells, the return to light winds at the end of August opened up the breaks.
Blue Bowls, Southern Atolls. 1 September 2021 – Pic Martey
Looking Ahead 5 Sept to 9 Sept 2021
The south groundswell hangs in there around 3 foot at 9 seconds before a reinforcing pulse of SSE swell (170 – 160 degrees) at 11 seconds build in to the 3 to 4 foot range from late on 6 September. With modest westerlies expect most breaks in the Male and Central Atolls to be super fun from the 7th to 10th September.
A new South groundswell fills in from the 10th September while the local winds tend lighter and North Westerly, this should favour some of the Male Atolls lefts exposed to the South swell.
Blue line – South swell, Green line, SE swell. Light offshore westerly winds until 9th Sept. Marked up Surfline forecast for Male Atolls.
Mid September 11th onwards
From 11th September the South groundswell remains very strong (7’ to 8’ @ 16 seconds) so expect some well overhead sets at Chickens and Honkeys, however the long swell period should see plenty of swell wrapping in to the less exposed east facing breaks of South Male and Central Atolls. From Mid-September the fetch will move further to the east, resulting in an eastward rotation of the swell train. Expect to see SE swell (4 to 5 foot at 11 seconds, 140 – 150 degrees) dominate from 14 September onwards. The winds should trend light west to SW, opening up the right handers like Kandooma – which could get really good in these conditions! The SE swell is expected to hang in there well in to the 3rd week of September!
Blue line – South swell, Green line, SE swell. NW winds and South swell favour the lefts around 11-12th September. SE swell and offshore westerly winds from 13th Sept opens up all breaks- should be pumping!. Marked up Surfline forecast for Male Atolls.
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