by Stephen Lanfranco
 
 

Hi, my name is Stephen (Stevo) and I’m the Surf Operations Manager at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, located in the South Male atoll which is just a short easy 45 mins speed boat ride from Male.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Adventure starts with an open mind and and open heart ❣ @courtneyleigh____ @the_vagabonders @holidayinnresortmaldives @kandooma_right @perfectwavetravel

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Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives surf and yoga program is fully operated by Perfect Wave and we have our very own dedicated team of surfing guides, coaches, photographers and yoga teachers at the resort all year round.

Our on resort surf shop is stocked with all sorts of surf gear and apparel. This year we partnered with Awayco and now stock the largest amount of surfboards in the Maldives, including brands like Hayden Shapes, JS, Al Merrick and many more. We have over 40 surfboards to choose from, so for those of you who want to travel light we have you covered! Check out the range of boards here.

 

 

The South Male and Kandooma surf season runs from late March to early November when the South East swells travel north through the Indian ocean to reach the Maldives. This combines with trade winds which blow offshore, providing perfect waves for about 8 months of the year, although sometimes you can score waves off season too.

 

Just south of Kandooma. Photo Andy Potts.


The final Kandooma bowl section late June 2019. Photo Andy Potts.

 

The South Male Atoll has over 7 different breaks ranging from lefts to rights and suited to different ability levels from beginner to advanced surfers. We can easily access all these breaks and do so for our guests running at least 3-4 surf trips daily (up to 6 when its pumping) from the resort.

 

Dhoni’s to nearby breaks leave 2 and sometimes 3 x times daily when it is pumping. Riptides. Photo Andy Potts.

 

The best thing about the South Male Atoll is it’s less crowded in the water and offers a great range of waves suited to different abilities. It relies on a South East trade swells, so isn’t always as big as some other Atolls which get swell from multiple directions. South Male Atoll is consistently less crowded with perfect and super fun waves. You score more waves per surf because there are usually less people and more of a variety of different waves to choose from.

 

Last but not least, we have our very own private wave right out the front of the resort which is the only exclusive right hander in the Maldives!

 

Kandooma Right is one of the best waves in the Maldives on its day, it’s a perfect punchy down the line wave with 2 different barrel sections and a fun carvey mid section. The wave grows in size and power from a fairly easy outside take off spot to the very hollow and steeper end section. It holds swell up to 8 foot, this year the biggest we had was about triple overhead, but its average size through out the year is about 3-5 foot.

 


Kandooma Right doing its thing during Shane Dorian’s Signature Series week. – Photo Potts.

 
 
 
 
 
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Kandooma has it’s very our own Instagram page which our team update daily throughout the season with posts and pics of our guests getting shacked or riding the best waves of their lives!

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Hope to see you all next year🤙🏻 #surf #kandooma #kandoomaright #perfectwave #southmale #maldivessurf #maldives #surfing @surfin2yoga 📸

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So how was the 2019 surf season at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives?

2019 has been our most eventful season ever without a doubt. We have scored epic waves every month of the season although it was not perfect every single day but hey that’s surfing! Our guests have been super stoked and our guest satisfaction levels are at an all time high. We’ve had guests coming back 3 times in the one season – that speaks for itself.

 

Kandooma clean and uncrowded in June 19.- Photo Potts.

 

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has been blessed with the presence of some surfing superstars this year, including Shane Dorian, his son Jackson (watch this little guy, future world champ in the making), Barton Lynch and Pam Burridge.

 

 The Dorian boys – Shane and Jackson love Kandooma. They’re coming back in 2020. – Photo Potts.

 
 
 
 
 
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Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives also hosts Surf Music in Paradise and our guests have enjoyed listening to their favourite tunes with their closest friends and family from the likes of Bernard Fanning, Hoodoo Gurus and Jimmy Barnes and family!

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Why would you stay at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives?

Out of all the surf destinations and resorts in the Maldives, possibly the world, I’d have to say Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is one of the most diverse and best value for money options available. This place is perfect for families, honeymooners, surfers of all different abilities, solo travellers; you name it the resort has something for everyone.

 

 

It boasts world class food and beverage with 3 different restaurants and 5 bars to choose from. For the families the kids club on the resort is second to none with its very own ball pit, kids water park, kids swimming pool, daily activities & baby sitting service.

For the non surfers, there is an endless amount of activities on offer from Yoga, SUP Yoga, Foiling, Scuba Diving, Snorkelling with Whale sharks, Manta rays, turtles and for the more adventurous types, swimming with the sharks!

 

 

For those who want to chill out and unwind, there is a world class spa on the resort offering a plethora of treatments to choose from.

 

 

What are some of the highlights from this season?

Surfing Kandooma right at sunset whilst Bernard Fanning was singing a cover of Purple Rain.

 

Seeing some of our guests come back multiple times this year.

 

Sharing waves and getting barrelled with Shane Dorian.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Written by:
Perfect Wave

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