Maldives Quiver

When you say Maldives, whereabouts? Southern Atolls or Male Atolls. Southern Atolls can be more powerful as these pick up the longer period S/SW groundswells and hence the waves are a little heavier (nothing like Indo though), so I'd recommend taking a step up board plus your regular shorty for when/if the S/SW groundswells push in.

The Male Atolls don't pick up the longer S/SW groundswells and hence they only pick up the S/SE groundswells (tend to be a lower period) or more predominantly that time of year the SE mid range swells from the slow moving high pressure systems in the Indian Ocean. Hence the surf is a lot mellow, even at 6ft at the Male Atolls, so I reckon just take ya regular shorty and possibly another similar board but a couple of inches bigger. Even at 6ft, the take offs at the Make Atolls are very very user friendly.

Have fun.

HA! I'm doing the same trip with the same bunch of 40 something's but in July/August so would also appreciate any advice. I'm on a boat so might get to go to both Southern and Male Atolls.

Maddog, that would be some boat trip that took you from the North Male Atolls to the Southern Atolls!!! LOL.

I'd expect not much time surfing either as it's a fecking long way in a boat!!!

Interesting Don because the Himathi (boat I am on) advertises surfing BOTH the North and South Male Atolls so either you are right or they are. Got it in writing from The Perfect Wave so not really sure what you are on about but I guess you could be right - doesn't really bother me either way as long as I get wet. Suspect they might pick a region based on swell forecasts and head there for 2 weeks rather than driving back and forth between the two.

Don - from what i can work out north male atoll is 60km long and south male atoll is 35km long. North and South are separated by a deep channel (Vaadhu Kandu).

I did a boat charter to the Montebello's a few years back which is about 100km from Exmouth and that trip took 10 hrs or so in a decent sea. We travelled overnight to maximize surf time.

So by my reckoning doing a boat charter that covers both North and South Male atolls is quite feasible.

Waddya reckon Don - am I on the money or not?

Hey Maddogmorley - Was on the Himathi a few years back and surfed North Male and South Male Atolls. I think Don was referring to the southern atolls, which is a plane trip away.
The trip between the North and South Male atolls is only a couple of hours but you need a decent SE swell to get into the South Male Atolls to make it worth while.

Thanks for the tip jonno...

Maddog, what Jonno said!!! I was referring to the Southern Atolls....NOT the South Male Atolls. Southern Atolls are about 1hr flight from Male.

And Jonno is right. South Male Atolls will be smaller than the north Male Atolls unless there's a reasonable SE swell running. Any south swell is blocked, ie doesn't get into the South Male Atolls.

Either way, you'll have a ball I'm sure.

great news. im going to the maldives for a month in september too. cant wait to drop in on you!

Funpeeler, so what boards ya takin ?

Hey funpeeler,
What about the ACMEstick by AcMEcorp?
Sorry to poke fun, I'm sure they're all real great boards. But have you thought about investing in some nice customs from your local shaper?

Fair point. Hope you have a great trip.

How do you rate the 'generics' vs the Gravelles?

I know the Surftech / Cobra debate has been done to death. What do you think about generics by respected manufacturers?