April Surf Report
We love April in the Maldives, it’s a special time when swells can come from every direction yet the local winds are often light and the skies are blue.
In 2024, the Maldives are enjoying a return to regular programming, where the season follows a classic pattern and the absence of the strong local winds. The surfers lucky enough to travel during the season have been scoring as all regions have benefited at some time.
Southern Atolls – with exposure to SW and S groundswells and SE trade swells, breaks like Beacons, Blue Bowls and Love Charms have been on the pump. The Carpe Diem was on the spot and some memorable sessions have gone down, especially at the slabby Beacons.
Beacons – April 2024
Taylor Knox Beacons – April 2024
Central Atolls – A diverse region offering breaks exposed to the SW like Vodi and Mauroofs and SE like Ying Yangs. Occy was on the spot at Niyama during April to get some solid sessions at both Vodi and Mauroofs:
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Mauroofs, Dhaalu Atoll – April 2024
Male Atolls – Kandooma Right turned on in all its glory with a strong pulse of SE swell lighting up all the East facing breaks, just as we forecast.
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May is looking like it could offer more goodness for surfers. This month usually sees the arrival of the Westerly winds associated with the monsoon. While this sounds ominous, it often just passing rain bands and consistent offshore winds and many of our favorite breaks.
Season Outlook
There are some indications that a Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) could develop in coming months, with enhanced trade winds south and west of Indonesia. This indicates potential for stronger than usual trade wind fetch directing pulsing trade swells towards the Maldives. The Kandooma surf guides are loving this pattern with the last 3 years being the most consistent in memory – all driven by trade winds turbo charged by the IOD. At this stage it is not clear if there will be any effect on local winds across the Maldives but current indications are that the Maldives region will be surrounded by warmer waters and the usual seasonal winds can be expected, ie westerlies blowing directly offshore at the East facing breaks. To see what the Positive IOD can mean for waves in the Maldives, check this “Swell of the Season” from 2023
May Forecast
Following an epic start to the month with both SW groundswell and SE tradeswell lighting up the whole of the Maldives, the first week of May sees an easing of the SE tradeswells as the trade winds south of the equator throttle back. The SE swells will hang around in the 2 – 3 foot range at 9 – 10 seconds for the entire period of the first 2 weeks of May. Never going flat, there will be some fun ones at times and there is always potential for an upgrade if there is a tightening of the isobars between Indonesia and Western Australia. All the usual spots should be fun and some of the swell magnets like Riptides could turn on at the right time and tide.
The SW groundswell looks to supply the dominant energy with a powerful, very-long period (19 sec +) SSW groundswell building through 4th May and providing at least 3 or 4 days of solid set waves and long lines at breaks exposed to the South. Look for some well overhead to double overhead set waves at breaks like Cokes (North Male Atoll), Mauroofs (Dhaalu) and Ying Yangs (Laamu). A reinforcing pulse of groundswell around 3 – 4 foot at 15 seconds is expected to push in through the 9th May, adding a bit of power to the SE trade swells already in the water.
14 May onwards
The mid range SE trade swells continue in the shoulder to head high range until the 16th May with moderate westerly winds, so the east facing waves like Kandooma Right will be fun. The SE swells throttle back on 16th May and the trend is toward due South swell direction. A moderate pulse of SW is set to fill in from 18th May while the Westerly monsoon winds will strengthen and there will be some squally conditions and isolated passing storms. These conditions will favour breaks with exposere to the Southern swell window yet face East and are offshore in the gust westerlies, spots like Mauroofs on Dhaalu and Sultans on North Male should be the best options.
From 20 – 23 May the main swell train will trend SSE around 3 foot @ 10 seconds, this slight twist to the east should open up some fun options at the East facing waves like Machines, Mushrooms, Riptides and Kandooma Right, the winds remain moderate to strong out of the west to WNW although there will be moments where the winds ease and waves will be fun. From 24th to end of May the trend looks like a mid range South swell around 4 foot and 12 seconds and an easing of westerly winds, hopefully trending lighter toward the last days of May
Taylor Knox shifting water, Southern Atolls, late April 2024, pic Liuttey
Beacons doing its thing, Southern Atolls Late April 2024, pics Liuttey
Chambers, Thaa Atoll. Pics Minhaal
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Kandooma Surf Resort Maldives is the perfect spot for surfers and families. Exclusive wave out front, and several qualit surf spots nearby.
Kandooma Surf Resort Maldives is the perfect spot for surfers and families. Exclusive wave
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Kandooma Surf Resort in the Maldives offers the best surf holiday in the world hands down.