Jamie Mitchell on the hunt- Photo Jody MacDonald
Maldives Surf riot in the Southern Atolls
Dates | Feb 21 - Mar 1, 2020 (10 days) |
Ports of Call | Thinadhoo |
Air | 79.6 |
Water | 82.3 |
Mean Avg Wind | 7 ENE |
Miles | 50 |
"Sunny, unique and unspoiled, the Maldives is an archipelago comprising 1,190 low-lying coral islands scattered across the equator. Specks of emerald green enveloped by dazzling turquoise waters like scattered beads in the ocean; white powdery beaches, tall palms lean on towards the sea, crystalline white sands giving way to crystal clear waters, shades of turquoise blend flawlessly with deeper hues of blue; pristine coral reefs and some of the most incredible underwater life on our planet."
That's what tourism board has to say. The Maldives archipelago is probably the number one honeymoon destination on the planet. With over 90 luxury resorts and we can verify from our months there in 2010- truly magnificent underwater life it's not hard to imagine why. But those tourists are trapped on one resort on only a handful of the MANY navigable and utterly stunning atolls. We can go anywhere we want! The Maldives are made for jaw-dropping adventure. This was a place we never wanted to leave. Some of the best surf we ever found, water so clear it seemed like you were kiting on glass, schools of fish the size of football arenas, swimming with manta rays and whalesharks not likely but guaranteed- often hundreds and hundreds at a time! There is very little downside here except wind. The Maldives straddle the equator so wind can be vexing and the capital Male is downright awful- a concrete jungle that is dangerous and needs to be avoided. This entire nation, like all atoll nations on Earth is likely within decades of being lost forever due to sea level rise and climate change. You're chance to visit, help the economy, and raise awareness of such a precious, special place is now.
On this Adventure we'll start and end on the same atoll via the Thinadhoo airstrip where there is a convenient slip for Discovery. A slow motor or sail away is one of the best right hand waves we found on the entire Best Odyssey expedition. Total open to southern swells this baby pumps and is accessible to experts and beginners. We know this zone very well after spending a couple months there in 2010. Wind is lacking- we might get a couple decent days, but this trip is more about surfing, diving, spearfishing and playing in the water.
To find out more about the Maldives, Visit Malidives And Maldives Tourism.
Read the Captain's Logs of our time in the Maldives back in 2010:
Blowing our Minds in the Maldives
Beating the odds in the Maldives
Maldives Paragliding and Surf Insanity
Getting there: RT international flight to Male then you'll grab a short domestic sea plane flight to Thinadhoo for the inbound/outbound.
Pluses
- Awesome diving and underwater scenery
- Resort stay before or after your trip?
- Unreal colors
- Unreal surf
Minuses
- Coral bleaching event in 2016/ Climate change
- Expensive provisioning/ Domestic flights
- Lack of reliable wind
Reservations
Cabin 1 - Stephanos Velissaropoulos - Guests: Guests
Cabin 3 - Stephanos Velisaropoulos - Guests: Guests
Cabin 4 - Stephanos Velissaropoulos - Guests: Guests