Niyama Resort is a stunning, luxurious and ultra-modern resort in the remote Dhaalu Atoll of the Maldives. Here you’ll find a very private setting for intimate, one-of-a-kind experiences.

With twin islands Play and Chill, Niyama Private Islands Maldives offers up the luxury of choice. Discover your island experience and settle in, or jump back and forth between high-energy indulgences and cool serenity. 

Nathan Kemp is the Surf Development Director at Niyama. Nathan grew up in SoCal and moved to Niyama in recent years to manage the surf program. Perfect Wave’s Ben Horvath caught up with Nathan Kemp to find out what life is like in Niyama during Covid-19 lockdown.

 

Ben – What date did you fly over to prepare for the 2020 Niyama Surf Season Nate?

Nathan – I actually stay year round at Niyama as we face SW, so we still get surf able waves in what people call the “off season” of the Maldives November-February. However, I did go on a holiday mid January and returned at the end of February to Niyama.

 

When you arrived was there any sign of Covid-19 at all in the Maldives?

When I arrived, the Maldives was Covid-free. However, two tourists in the North Maldives tested positive on March 7th, prompting the eventual closure of travel between resorts and local islands by the Health Protection Agency and the Maldives Tourism Authorities.

When did the Maldives and Niyama itself shutdown?

The Maldives began to suspend entry from certain countries as early as January 30th ending flights from China. Other countries followed suit with the bulk beginning to be banned in March. On March 27th, the Maldives suspended issuing tourist visas. 50 resorts at that time had already stopped operation, yet Niyama remained open until April 3.

 

It must be kinda surreal being in paradise with so few surfers and tourists around?

Speaking as a surfer, it has had its perks, such as surfing alone and scoring, but speaking professionally, it has been a bummer to not share waves, memories, and get to know people from all over the world.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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What are you doing with yourself, what does an average day currently look like?

Currently, I am on the island and I am surfing, but Niyama is also focusing and working hard on implementing new safety measures for all operational aspects of the hotel so we guests can feel safe in this new kind of normal. We are also looking to stay relevant on Instagram to keep people stoked on the waves that haven’t ceased to come our way.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Do you have your usual team in place? How many people are still at the resort?

We currently have about 200 staff at the resort, and people are looking to get home as flights become available. Normal operations has about 500 staff on the island. A core group of staff will stay here to maintain the property and keep it nice for when we reopen.

 

 
How have the waves and weather been?

I don’t really want to brag as I realize my situation is quite different than most, but yes, it has been good. I can’t get to some other spots we normally surf, but I have Vodi here, which I can simply paddle out to.

You must have had some great empty surfs?

In a word – yes. The dive director here surfs a bit too, and some other local staff have been learning, so it’s been nice to see some new faces in the water getting stoked on surfing.

 

 

Have you been visiting other breaks for surfs?

I haven’t yet, as it’s been pretty hard to justify with Vodi right here at my doorstep, but hopefully I can check out some other setups and corners I haven’t had the time to visit during a normal season.

How has Vodi itself been? Any boats at all or visiting surfers from Male or anywhere at all?

Vodi has been good. March and April are always pretty good for us. May can be a bit windy as the season goes through its changes. We haven’t had any boats come through for surfing, which is also one of the perks of Niyama, our crowd stays low because the wave is for our guests only and some locals that come over from time to time, but given the circumstances, they haven’t been able to come over either for safety reasons.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Are the local lads surfing?

A couple of our staff have been giving it a shot and doing quite well which is awesome! It’s been good for them, who will now be able to talk about surfing and experience their own country and breaks differently. It’s been a great thing to see them catch the stoke of surfing.

Have you been communicating with surfers based in other areas? We have seen some incredible images from a few epic days at Cokes and Chickens up in the Nth Male Atolls from Easter and again in May etc?

I have seen that footage! Looks like everywhere has been firing! It is kind of shaping up to be “the lost season” around the world, which certainly photogenic, albeit sad for those of us stuck away from the water.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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What are your thoughts about the potential for the Maldives to open up later in the season?

We’d like to open as soon as possible if flights start running and visas begin to be issued. We are focusing on revamping our entire operation to accommodate and provide safe stays for guests, so we will be prepared when the time comes to re open. The geography of the Maldives is playing a strategic role in the battle against Covid-19, and has been extremely helpful to the country.

When there isn’t traffic moving between small islands, there isn’t a spread and it has been easier for the HPA to contain and do contract tracing during outbreaks. Thus, I think it could be one of the areas to come back and open up for travel first in the world. Talking about Niyama, we are a 45 minute plane ride from Male and have ample amount of space spread over 2 islands making us an ideal haven for people looking to travel and stay safe. Not to mention, our wellness offerings at our spa and our diverse food and beverage offerings makes us a great place to be for a long time and to not get tired of island life.

 

 

Late season in the Maldives from Late October-December is great fun. We are southwest so we tend to cop more swell than the Male region, and the wind gets light around this time of year and switches in around October to N/NE winds, which is offshore at Vodi. Last December 8-15, we had 2 great swells giving us 12 days of fantastic conditions, and a very consistent month with 18 days with good conditions. Most the other days were surf able (shortboardable) with favorable wind, too.

Also, Niyama is family friendly, so as people come out of quarantine, they probably can’t justify ditching the family for a solo surf trip, but they could justify bringing them along. So as soon as you can come on over to the Maldives.

 

Check out more in our Lockdown Series:

Part 1 Maldives
Part 2 Mentawai
Part 3 Kandooma Surf Resort
Part 4 Kandui Villas
Part 5 Hollow Trees Resort

Written by:
Ben Horvath

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