Text by Louis at Liquid Destination, photos by Jade Rogers.

The wind was howling in early May and there wasn't too much on offer. It was all a bit gloomy but something was brewing and we tend to get solid swells either with or after these type of weather conditions.

We knew there was a big swell coming, and we also knew that some of the boats were still trapped down south by the wild conditions. The call was made to a few of our spies to see what the crowd and ability level was like at the Maldives version of the Gold Coast: North Male. We also knew the size was going to be enough to scare a few of the Euro's away (and maybe everyone else for that matter), so all options were considered and the decision was made. Let's go get barrelled in empty waves!

This swell was almost the perfect direction for Cokes. It wasn't quite big enough to stand up in but some of them were close enough. It definitely gets bigger and better but you can't ask for much more out of the Maldives in May. One afternoon in particular stood out with so many barrels made and only a handful of people in the water. It's crazy how this still happens in the Maldives - just big empty surf. 

In mid-May we picked up some new guests from the airport and drove all through the night until lunch time the next day to arrive at two-to-three foot glassy empty long walls. We had an epic couple of days here and spotted on the charts another decent swell on the way. We knew where we needed to be for it.

The conditions that transpired are where we come into our own. All the years of exploring and not doing the milk run has taught us a lot. Whilst everyone else was surfing one foot packed onshore North Male we were surfing four-to-six foot empty waves alone - enough said.

Late May the winds were still huffing and puffing. We had an all girls charter running with Danny Clayton from Salt Gypsy leading the girls trip. The call was made to rock up to one of the only waves that would be working in the conditions that had changed (yet again) and sit it out. An absolute stunner of a day of empty waves, sashimi and beers stoked the girls out big time. A few days of lonely waves ended the charter and another month ticks over in the Maldives

I've still got some places left for 2014 so if you don't want to miss out contact me on [email protected]

Louis