Maldives Surf Breaks

The Maldives is better known for floating breakfasts than for surfing, which suits the surfers fine: the atolls' outer reef edges catch long Indian Ocean swells and turn them into warm, clean, boardshort waves that break over coral in water so clear you can watch the reef pass beneath you. North Male holds the classics - Chickens, Cokes, Sultans and Pasta Point among them - reachable from the local island of Thulusdhoo and its guesthouses, or by boat from Male. Further out, the Central and Southern atolls offer emptier line-ups reached by liveaboard safari boats, which remain the purest way to surf the country.

What's there

• North Male's classic reef breaks - Chickens, Cokes, Sultans and neighbours.
• Thulusdhoo - the local island base, guesthouses and a famous nearby left.
• Safari boat trips - multi-day charters to emptier outer-atoll waves.
• The reef itself - snorkelling between sessions in glass-clear water.

When to go

The swell season runs roughly March to October, with the most consistent waves usually between June and September. Outside that window the ocean goes flat and the atolls turn back into a snorkelling destination. Crowds concentrate on the North Male breaks in peak months.

Before you go

These are reef breaks in shallow water - reef cuts are routine, booties and a first-aid kit are sensible, and beginners are better off at designated learner spots than at the famous names. Some breaks sit directly in front of resorts that restrict access to their guests, so check before planning a trip around one. Local island rules on dress and alcohol apply once you step off the sand.

Nearby

Male, the reefs and sandbanks of North Male Atoll, and the outer atolls served by liveaboards.