M for Magic – Maldives, paradise for anyone who enjoys surfing in a bikini.

Lohis, the left-hand housebreak looks different every time you look at it – onshore head-high before breakfast, overhead, clean and glassy after breakfast, huge before dinner. What’s nice is that the resort built stairs and a rail to make getting in easier (!!!). Getting out of the water is where you might get your coral cuts if you get it wrong and don’t manage to get back to the keyhole. Booties definitely help.

Some days are so easy at Ninjas, the Australians push their wives and children into waves. So that’s a good entry-level spot. We paddled across the channel from Lohi Island once when no boat was available and the surf looked stunning from across the channel. We were all smiles about how easy the paddle was until we paddled back. The current does not coincide with the tides and coming back can be VERY difficult.

We saw a lot of baby reef sharks, but shark attacks don’t seem to be a problem in the Maldives. Maybe because the water is so clear they don’t have to take an inquisitive bite (that at least is my theory).

Had the best surf trip of my life. All smiles. Grateful.

Russell

Years of surfing: 4 years

Age: 50ties

Favourite spots in Cape Town: Long Beach, Black Rocks, Muizenberg

Favourite board: Natural curve squirrel, 6.6 ft

Other surf trips I have been on: All over South Africa

Comment: Lohis is a fairly difficult left which makes you focus on the take off. When you get it right an extremely rewarding wave.

Ninjas: Undoubtedly the best session of my life. A fantastic right that can go forever.

Jailbreak: Only surfed there once. Very nice right. Would be amazing on a big day.

Maldives in general fantastic place, warm water, warm weather, nice people and eight out of twelve days great surf.

Michele

Years of surfing: 3 years

Age: 50ties

Favourite spots in Cape Town: Muizenberg

Favourite Board: Longboard, 9ft, John Bramwell

Other surf trips I have been on: Elands Bay beach break

Comment: Way beyond my ability. Learned by observing other surfers at Lohis. But caught waves at Ninjas and one at Jailbreak. Can be struggle to get back into lineup at Ninjas if you surf it too far, if on a longboard. Enjoyed going out on the boat. Getting in and out at Lohis can be a problem. There is possibility to paddle in and out via the beach though. Tides make significant difference to the level of the waves. Ninjas best just before high. Currents can be scary. Lots of alternatives.

Clifford

Years of surfing: 3 years

Age: 50ties

Favourite surf spots in Cape Town: Muizenberg

Favourite board: Greg Stokes, Longboard, 9.6ft

Other surf trips: Elands Bay point break

Comment: Waves were more challenging than expected, especially Lohis. Top of surfing ability to handle it. Every break is very fickle. Not to be too starry eyed. Holiday on tropical paradise does not necessarily match up to it. Didn’t expect other surfers to be so friendly…really good vibe, generous with information. Group of peeps you go with is important. Our group very easy going but enthusiastic about surfing but still doing their own thing. Snorkelling, diving good alternatives. The island can be frustratingly small sometimes and the only way to get off it can be frustratingly expensive.

• Snorkel in-between sets: There is so much marine life
  Super consistent (We went July/August)
• There is so much else to do: Feed a boiled egg to the coral fish or watch a triggerfish build a nest or paddle around world renown water chalets on a sup.
• Doable, yet challenging waves
• You find uncrowded surf if you look for it
• Everyone is chilled, says hi when you paddle over from the boat and shares wave – must be because everyone in the Maldives is so perfectly happy. Difficult not to be.
• You’ll meet all sorts of nationalities: Brazilians, Australians, Germans, Russians, Chinese, Japanese…
• If you have a problem with drugs you can go rehabilitate at rehab island Jailbreak. They do have a rehab centre there. SHAME.

• Swell forecasts on Magic seaweed and Windguru are inaccurate for the Maldives. When we last checked the swell at the airport in Dubai I almost started crying. 1.5 feet ocean swell, 15 seconds – so f…all swell every 15 seconds. The most expensive snorkelling holiday of my life? 10 hours later we chucked our luggage, ripped our clothes off and paddled out into overhead high waves at home break Lohis, having the surf of our lives
  On the island itself nobody knows what the waves are doing either – not the dive centre and not the water sports people. If you want to know what the waves are doing at other breaks, best will be to ask peeps who took the early boat. However even then, three hours later perfection can turn into tiny with riptide. This not knowing can leave one with a slight uneasiness, seeing that one might be sitting in a rising swell on an unforgiving coral reef.
• Resorts have different times in which they are allowed to send boats to neighbouring breaks. Lohis resort has the slots 9 – 12 am and 3 – 6 pm. Taking the early boat chances are you get fried into a crisp. The late one seems to be the better option. Time slots rotate meaning Lohis resort does get the sought after 6 – 9 slot sometimes.
• Lohis, the housebreak looks different every time you look at it. High and low seem to break hollower, mid tide gentler. It can go big or small in no time.
• It can make sense to get the “wavechaser” pass, allowing you to go for unlimited surf trips morning and evening if you feel strong. Another advantage is that wavechasers have priority. The boats are only allowed to drop 15 people at neighbouring breaks like Jailbreak or Sultans. If you are not a wavechaser you might find the boat full with wavechasers and no more space for you. If you are in a group you can book the third boat for 3pm to either go to Ninjas across the channel (you just need two people for that) or to any of the other spots (more peeps required). That boat goes snorkelling in the morning. So you can only book it for the afternoon.
• Currents play a huge role in the Maldives. They don’t coincide necessarily with tides so are extremely difficult to predict (meaning it can be three hours past low tide and the current is still going in the opposite direction). The current can be so hectic that none of the boats will even go to the other surf spots (happened to us at spring tide). An easy paddle across the channel to Ninjas can turn into a hectic experience coming back. Look at the way the boats are facing before you paddle back home – that will give you a good indication how to paddle. Also depending on the current try and hug the reef as long as you can before you cut across.