Maldives - Early season report: Part 2
Words by Louis from Liquid Destination:
Here are a few more pictures from our early season Maldive adventures. Already this year we've logged about 2,000 nautical miles in pursuit of perfection. To put that in perspective it's like covering the East Coast of Australia and the year has barely started.
The last few weeks have been pretty much pumping. The guests have been blown away by the lack of crowds and the quality of the set ups we've shown them. The left featured is arguably the best in the country. It's fast and hollow, no real time for turns but you can get three barrels on one wave or get barrelled the whole way. It's something really special.
We had a solid south-east swell (more east than anticipated from what we saw) filter through that not a single forecasting site predicted at the size it ended up at. Every now and then this happens. It's rarely underplayed though, more so the other way round in calling it bigger than it ends up. The result was the waves were firing and empty.
The weather has been stunning with light winds and clear skies. It's always hot though in April - it's the hottest month of the year. The water clarity is as good as you get it as the prevailing current that stirs the water up in the middle of the year isn't active yet.
It looks like we are right in the thick of the third Nakaiy (weather/storm) of Hulhangu (south-west monsoon) at the moment. This system is called Kethi. These storms have dark clouds and bring the first real rains of the year. I've noticed over the years this pattern seems to have a lot more thunder and lightning than other storm systems in the year. This one lasts about four or five days usually, if it leaves us early I'm one ahead of myself in the storms but it just feels like it's Kethi.
There's a good swell in the water at the moment but the strong winds associated with this weather pattern are closing down a lot of options. It's all good though, there are waves to be found and once it passes it's going to be a good run of swell.
Visit Liquid Destination for more information.
See Part 1 photos.