South Male Atoll boasts a total of 7 surf spots : Tucky Joes, Gurus, Twin Peaks, Quarters, Kandooma Right, Native and Riptides.
3 key points about Surfing in South Male Atoll
Surfing conditions in South Male Atoll are generally excellent, with several noteworthy features:
The Swell
The primary swell direction in South Male Atoll is from the southeast. During peak season, waves typically range from 1.5 to 2.5 meters (5 to 8 feet), providing consistent surf conditions ideal for intermediate to advanced surfers.
The best season to surf
The best season to surf in South Male Atoll starts around April/May and reaches its peak between September to October.
It’s crowded
South Male Atoll is less crowded than North Male Atoll, but don’t get overly excited, it is still easily reachable from Male, the capital, and the international airport. Besides local surfers, expect tourists from neighboring guest houses and resorts, as well as many liveaboards.
The surf spots in South Male Atoll are :
Tucky Joes: Tucky Joe’s is renowned for its challenging and powerful right-hand waves, making it a favorite among experienced surfers.
Gurus: Left-hand reef break ideal for catching southerly swells with waves reaching 1.5 meters or more. It offers a long, fast, and manageable wall, perfect for intermediate surfers.
Twin Peaks : This swell breaks both left and right, similar to Sultans-Honkys in North Male Atoll. The right is more consistent and popular among local surfers.
Quarters : This small and quick right-hand wave requires a bigger swell to come alive and offers punchy barrels under the right conditions.
Natives : A hollow right-hand wave breaking over shallow reef, recommended for experienced surfers due to its challenging conditions. Produces long and fast barreling waves.
Kandooma Right : Exclusive to guests to Holiday Inn Kandooma Maldives, this right-hander breaks with a relatively easy outside take-off.
Riptides : A fast right-hand wave situated in the middle of a channel with strong currents during tide shifts. It offers a 150-meter wall with hollow sections and a notable bowl towards the end, attracting both longboarders and shortboarders alike.
Map of SOUTH Male Atoll surfing spots
South Male surf spots . The List
1. Tucky Joes
Tucky Joes is located on the north/east side of South Male Atoll. Its location features a powerful and consistent right-hand wave for intermediate and expert surfers. Tucky Joe thrives with southeast swells and performs best with southwest winds, ensuring clean, well-shaped waves. Be careful, take-off is steep !
- TUCKY JOES WAVE is challenging. Its power and speed require quick reflexes to navigate it. It presents numerous barrel opportunities, occasionally linking for exhilarating, sunlit rides.
- SWELL : typically ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 meters (5 to 8 feet) and streches up to 200 meters.
- TYPE : Reef Coral
- LEVEL : Intermediate to experienced Surfing conditions.
2. Guru’s
Guru’s wave is located on Gulhi Local island. Guru’s is a popular left-handed wave quite easy to ride.
- Guru’s break is located on the Eastern reef of South Male Atoll. It is a very famous surf spot in Maldives and can be crowded by locals and Surf Safari boats. Fast and consistent wave according to wind direction ( best from N/ NW ). Only accessible by boat.
- SWELL : left-handed, Left-hand up to 3ft-5ft, sometimes 6.
- TYPE : Reef Coral
- LEVEL : Beginner to experienced Surfing conditions. Beginners can ride when small swell.
3. Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is one of South Male Atoll best break for tourists and locals alike. Located near the island of Gulhi, eastern reef of South Male Atoll, Twin Peaks is a bit further from Male, so it is not as busy as expected.
- Twin Peaks Break is located on the Eastern reef of South Male Atoll. The swell is perfect during good wind exposure. The left & right barrel picks up more swell than most of the breaks in the atoll. The right, however, is unpredictable and often inconsistent. This spot performs best under north winds, and higher tides generally enhance its quality.
- SWELL : Left and right. Left-hand up to 3ft-5ft, sometimes 6.
- TYPE : Reef Coral
- LEVEL : Beginner to experienced Surfing conditions. Beginners can ride when small swell.
4. Quarters
Quarters wave breaks on the Eastern reef of South Male Atoll. The spot is open to locals, resorts and surf boats, so it can sometimes be crowded. Quarters is a quick ride with a strong swell but not consistent.
- Quarters Break Quarters is located close to Anantara Dhigu and Veli with two distinct sections. The outside section features a slow, meandering wave ideal for longboarders and beginners. Meanwhile, the inside section boasts a fast, right-hand wave that, although less swell-prone than other spots, can deliver perfect barrels on the right day. This spot thrives under west to northwest winds and is named after the resort workers’ quarters located on the island.
- SWELL : Right-hand swell. Wave size from 1ft up to 5ft.
- TYPE : Reef Coral
- LEVEL : Beginners to Experienced Surfing conditions
5. Native
Native’s wave is a powerful wave but always consistent. Open to locals and surf boats, so it can be crowded.
- Native Break is a rapid and hollow wave breaking over shallow coral. Surfers adept on their backhand will relish its speed and intensity. Spanning 100 to 150 meters, it offers numerous chances to ride inside barrels. It thrives under southeast swells and northwest winds.
- SWELL : Right-hand swell. Wave size from 1ft up to 5ft.
- TYPE : Reef Coral
- LEVEL : Beginners to Experienced Surfing conditions
6. Kandooma Right
Kandooma Right is located on the Eastern reef of South Male Atoll, and breaks close to Kandooma resort. This right-hander, exclusive to the resort, creates fast barreling walls.
- Kandooma Right is a right-hander breakings with a relatively easy outside take-off. It performs best with a larger swell and west to northwest wind, creating fast and barreling walls as the wave wraps around the reef corner.
Its exclusive access to guests staying at the resort makes it a super confortable spot, uncrowded. The resort arranges transfers to the surf break, ensuring convenient access. - SWELL : Right-hand swell. Kandooma Right breaks over a shallow reef. The wave typically provides a relatively easy outside take-off, followed by a fast and often barreling wall ride. During larger swells and with favorable winds (typically west to northwest), the wave wraps around the reef corner, creating excellent barrel sections that are thrilling for surfers.
Kandooma Right performs best with a bigger swell, usually ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 meters (5 to 8 feet), and when winds are from the west to northwest. These conditions help produce clean and well-shaped waves. - TYPE : Reef Coral
- LEVEL : The wave at Kandooma Right caters to intermediate to advanced surfers due to its challenging nature and the need to navigate shallow reef sections. It’s particularly favored for its consistency and quality during the surf season in the Maldives, typically from March to October.
- Kandooma Right is exclusive to guests staying at the resort Holiday Inn Kandooma Maldives.
7. Riptides
Riptides is located on the Eastern reef of South Male Atoll, on Guraidhoo local Island. The wave is powerful and suitable for longboarders too. Despite its proximity, surfers often need a transfer to reach this wave.
- Riptides wave is not the longest wave of South Male Atoll but the break is powerful and beloved by surfers. This right-hander breaks for 150 meters over a reef positioned in the middle of a channel. The name is fitting as strong currents can occasionally sweep seaward, necessitating a careful check of current conditions before committing to a session.
It’s an ideal wave for both longboarders and shortboarders, accommodating low-intermediate surfers with very carveable walls and occasional hollow sections. - SWELL : Right-hand swell. Medium length wave with size up to 7ft. Pay attention to very strong currents according to the season ! Optimal conditions include a 5-foot swell and southwest winds.
- TYPE : Reef Coral
- LEVEL : Intermediate to Experienced Surfing conditions due to the currents.
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