Surfers heading to the Maldives in late June 2025 are likely to be spoiled with consistent swell, and light offshore winds.
Last updated: 19 June, 2025
Late June is often a great time for waves in the Maldives as there are multiple swell sources producing at the same time as the westerly monsoon winds settle into a consistent pattern.
This season is looking no different, except that it could be one of the better seasons of the last few years.
Right through April and May 2025 we have seen pulsing SE trade swells across the east-facing breaks of the Male and Central Atolls.
This has been due to strong trade winds south of the equator in the region west of Australia and south of Indonesia. This pattern is set to strengthen into late June and July as the Indian Ocean climate system trends toward a negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). This pattern is the equivalent to El Niño / La Niña in the Pacific. June has also had periods of lighter winds from the west to NW which opened up some excellent sessions at some of the lefts like Tucky Joes.
Tucky Joes lighting up in early June 2025. Pic: Jinu
Smaller SE trade swells around 2′-3′ @ 9 seconds will keep a few waves breaking (waist to shoulder high) at the east-facing breaks with lighter SW winds favouring the right-handers. A similar-sized mid-period groundswell from the south will mean a few stronger sets at breaks with more exposure to the south.
Monday 23 – Tue 24 June 2025
Smaller SE trade swells to 3 foot @ 9 seconds will increase in consistency while winds remain lighter from SW. Expect shoulder-high and fun conditions at east-facing rights like Kandooma and Machines.
A stronger SSW groundswell is also building at this time up to 4 foot plus at 16 seconds; this should translate into decent sets pushing wide at east side breaks with some exposure to the south like Jails and Sultans. Central Atolls breaks with more exposure to the south like Yin Yangs in Laamu could have well-overhead sets.
See this map of Indian Ocean wind speed showing the two strong swell systems directing towards the Maldives, which is the basis of the strong swells to come.
The SE trade swell will build in size and constancy from Wednesday onwards, settling into what could be an extended period of excellent waves at east-side breaks like Kandooma. Building from 3′ @ 9 sec to 4′ @ 11 sec on Wednesday under light WSW winds, expect waves to push into overhead range.
From Thursday 26 June, the SE swell is pushing toward 4 to 5 foot at 11 – 12 seconds. East-facing breaks like Kandooma (South Male), Sarongs and Machines (Laamu) could trend from good to excellent. This looks like it will be the best South East swell of the season so far.
At the same time, a similar-sized (4-5′) SSW groundswell (14-16 seconds) will combine with SE swell at breaks with south exposure. This should mean well-overhead to double overhead wide-swinging sets at spots like Yin Yangs (Laamu).
Kandooma Right on a pulse of SE swell in early June 2025, pic Jinu
The SE swell is expected to moderate slightly into the 4 – 5 foot @ 10 seconds range under light SW winds – which is the sweet spot for super fun head-high-plus rights rifling down the east-facing breaks like Machines, Kandooma, and Jails.
From July 1 2025
Hang on, looks like even more SE swell coming under straight west winds. As usual, July 2025 is set to pump.
MALDIVES SURF TRAVEL SPECIALS