2016 keeps giving it up if you are surfing in the Maldives
With March, April & May all producing quality surfing in the Maldives, June 2016 eclipsed the preceding months with constant back to back swells. The Perfect Wave safari boats Cobia, Hamathi, Hariana One and Carpe Diem were everywhere this month, scoring perfect waves all over the country.
Early June, a solid SE swell lit up all points on the east coast of the Maldives and with slight winds from the SW to W, waves were in the head-high to double overhead size.
28th May to 12th June: this swell persisted and the safari boats were well spread out over the Maldivian Atolls. A new S to SW swell kicked in on the 14th June and the west coast got going and of course, Cokes and Chickens, the swell magnets, got this also. Head high and over. Hariyana One scored big time in June, roaming from Laamu Atoll to Thaa Atoll to Dhaalu Atoll to Meemu Atoll, staying in these remote areas and surfing perfect waves with one boat, one surf point on numerous occasions.
Saving the best until last
From 18th June, a new south swell, 16 sec intervals, brought what we all wish and hope for, dream of and live for. Starting head-high at Cokes, this swell turned to the SE and with 14 sec intervals and a metre and more of swell, waves were in the double to triple overhead range. Not for everybody at this size. The safari fleet quickly dispersed to other surf points and four to six in the line up at Cokes was a dream come true for the chargers. Winds were slight to moderate, mostly from the SW so the rights were the favourite points. Come on the NWesters for the goofeys.
- Remarkable, Cokes and Chickens
Kandooma got going on all the SE swell and gave it’s best at the end of June. Guests staying at Kandooma were treated to perfect head high and over waves and, of course, no crowds.
So the saying here in the Maldives continues: You should have been here yesterday and tomorrow and the next day.
photos by Lozza James and by Mark Cooper/Epic Swells: