Maldives : Outer Atolls

Handhu & Handhu Fahli - Surf season Feb - Apr

If you want to discover this remote frontier that few before you have, with just a group of mates, then this is the trip for you. Book in Early as spaces fills fast!

The Outer Atolls, approximately 300 miles to the South of the capital, Male, contain at least a dozen, potent world class reef breaks that are rarely surfed. This zone is fickle, with peak swell and offshore wind conditions only coinciding with reliability during the months of February, March and April. This area can only be accessed by means of a well-equipped surf charter vessel. The Maldives' remote "Outer Atolls", a.k.a. Southern Atolls, focusing on Gaafu Dhaal and Seenu (Gan) Atolls, is one of surf travel's last great frontiers, offering world class surf with no crowd factor. This area is far removed from the busier Nth Male Atoll.

The Surf

Maldives: Southern (Outer) Atolls

Gaafu Dhaalu starting from the airport making your way around in a clockwise direction some of the breaks don't have names so will give the island name also some of the breaks have two names so will give both.

Kaededhdhoo - right, island with the airport on it, has a right hander that is fun when the swell is large is on the west side of the atoll so doesn't receive as much swell as the other breaks.

Beacons or Barracuda Point - right, one of the most powerful and hollowest wave in Maldives, faces south so picks up plenty of swell, needs north west or north wind so always better early season February to April. Pretty short ride with easy takeoff where you then line up for the inside and the fun begins best on mid to high tide and can be surfed 2 to 10 feet.

Dhigulaabadhoo - left, across the channel from beacons we call it dhiraagu after the phone company in the Maldives as the island is shaped like a phone. A sort of fat ride on the takeoff and if the swell direction is right can link up with another section on the inside where it produces a bit more speed and power, needs same wind as beacons and can be surfed on all tides. Plenty of marine life around here common to see whale sharks.

Castaways - right, very shallow only to be surfed on high tide, when the swell is over 4 foot breaks out the back where a fun wave can be had and you make the choice to keep going through to the inside where it hits the shallow ledge and gets a bit tricky, nice little deserted island in front of the break.

Blue Bowls or Voodoos - right, long wave not so hollow but a lot of fun best around 4-6 feet on mid tide it is protected if the wind swings around to south south west which is common in April.

Gani Point - right, also protected from south winds, gets hollow, best on mid to high tide.

Booga Reef - left and right, a Bombi in the middle of channel into atoll, not so hollow but a fun ride can be had the right usually being the pick needs west to north west wind.

Love Charms - left, great wave from takeoff to finish, nice tube on the inside breaks 2-10 feet needs west to north winds and can be surfed on all tides.

Rockets - left, fun wave not so hollow but nice long walls to be had picks up plenty of swell and can be surfed all tides needs west to north winds.

Note: There are some more spots on the top of the atoll (Gaafu Alofi) always smaller though as swell is blocked from the east side of the atoll which sticks out past these channels into the atoll.