The warm air and the smell of the salt water hits our faces as the aeroplane doors open and we walk down the stairs onto the tarmac. We’ve made it to Male, the capital of the Maldives and are met by our guide, Nathu before being led toward a traditional style dhoni. A few minutes later the ten of us, tired but so excited, board the Cobia surf charter, our home for the next ten days as we cruise the atolls in search of waves.