The Maldives might just have the bluest water on the planet. We’ve been here a few days now, and it still doesn’t look real.
These tiny islands are a bit of a geological freak. They’re the exposed tops of ancient coral reefs that have been growing on sinking volcanoes for tens of millions of years. It’s one of the best examples of this anywhere on Earth. Whatever happened down there, we’re glad it did. This is our third surf season here in a row, and we keep coming back.
Surf season runs from April to October. They call it the monsoon, or wet season (Hulhangu), but we’ve jagged immaculate sunshine every day and fun, clean 2–3 foot peelers.
We’re down in Laamu Atoll, a 65-minute seaplane flight south of Malé. It’s well off the tourist trail. Apart from the odd surf charter, there aren’t many people in the water.
The water colour blows my mind every single time. The seabed is bright white coral sand, the lagoons are shallow and crystal clear, and the tides breathe through the Maldives’ 26 atolls, creating some pretty serious currents. Get your tide wrong, and the surf can be a very different experience. Tropicsurf runs the surfing on this island, and does a good job of reading the charts and making it easy for you.
We’re staying at uber luxurious Six Senses Laamu, the main resort down here – funnily enough, the island is full of Aussies and kids on hols. Yes, we’ve taken it over…90% frothing skippies, bouncing around this tiny 800-metre-long island (that’s smaller than Bondi Beach).
: : Uge
