Despite chatting daily, Renegade co-owners Simon and Dale don’t get to hang out in person all that often. With one living in Europe’s surf capital, Ericeira, Portugal, and the other living in Liverpool, UK (not known for its quality surf), the pair catch up just a few times each year.

Fortunately, they spent the start of 2025 together in Indonesia, chasing unseasonably large off-season swells and having a jolly good time before Simon headed off to Sumatra to guide our first coaching camp in Indonesia. This provided them with the perfect opportunity to not only plan to make the 2025 season even better but also to reflect on 2024.

Running 17 trips more or less back-to-back was a huge increase compared to 2023, and we couldn’t be more proud of our epic team for having pulled off an incredible season.

With countless unforgettable sessions, seeing every guest leave a better surfer than when they joined us was amazing. The words ‘ best wave of my life’ almost lost their impact – though not quite.

We’ve compiled some of our most memorable moments from 2024 below. For those travelling with us in 2025, this should give you some idea of what you could be in for.

sOUTHERN ATOLLS SCORING

Our trusty Assidha, the perfect vessel for discovering the remote Southern Atolls. Credit: @bethmorgan86

Our season began way back on March 1st, with 8 Level 2/3 surfers joining us on a domestic flight from Male to a remote airport 1 hour South.

The next 32 days were spent cruising from spot to spot in one of surfing’s last tropical frontiers, with Nic, Beth & Yaman (coach, Reneguide & local guide) ensuring the crew were in the best spot every day. With our first two trips of the year being Level 2/3, we hit the jackpot with Mother Nature providing glassy, chest-to-head high waves almost every day. Given there were just a handful of other boats in the area, we surfed alone for around 70% of sessions. This truly is a game-changer in terms of increasing your wave count, getting clips for video analysis, and generally having a bloody great time.

KM absolutely charging down the line… love the speed blurs of this shot! Credit: @bethmorgan86

Coach Nic. One of the best in the game and an all-round legend. Credit: @bethmorgan86

Warming up as the sun rises. Dreamy! Credit: @bethmorgan86

One particularly memorable moment came during our last Southern Atolls trip, where we welcomed an amazing mix of Level 3/4 surfers. Even before taking off on the flight south, the group bonded so well that we knew we were in for an epic time.

As predicted by Simon (Renegade co-owner and guide) – who spends a lot of time studying historic forecasts and trends – larger swells began to march through as we moved into April. The perfect test for our Level 3/4 guests.

As if by design, it was on the last day of the trip that things truly came together. The biggest swell of the trip came bombing through, awakening Beacons – widely regarded as the best and heaviest right-hander in the Maldives. With 8-days of shredding under their belts, our stoked (and extremely surfed-out!) crew paddled out with anticipation, scoring their best session of the trip.

Repeat guest Octavia charging on one of the bigger days. Credit: @liquifymaldives

Unlike the Central Atolls, there are more lefts than rights in this region. Perfect for some backside bottom turn practice. Credit: @bethmorgan86

MID-MAY MADNESS

We said these are our most memorable moments, not just the best moments. Our trip running May 16-26 was memorable for very different reasons, with some of the most prolonged and stormy weather we have ever witnessed in the Maldives – Thank you, climate change.

Around a week out from the trip, we could see that the forecast was looking a bit dicey, with strong winds and not much swell on the horizon for the first few days of the trip. Having said that, we’ve seen plenty of similar-looking forecasts before and we always find something to surf, so we weren’t TOO worried. However, predictability isn’t the tropic’s strong point, and what transpired was 5 days of storm-force winds, forcing us to stay put, batten down the hatches and ride it out.

Credit where credit is due:

1. Theia proved to be an incredible vessel in the rough conditions. Whilst other boats anchored nearby were rolling and bobbing all night long, Theia held strong and stable in the 40mph+ gusts. With 5 anchors down, at times you would forget there was even a storm going on, and all of the crew on board managed to sleep soundly despite the maelstrom outside.
2. Our guests turned what could have been an absolute nightmare of a trip into an enjoyable situation. Sure, we were all disappointed not to be surfing pristine waves in the tropical sunshine. But despite that, we had a bloody good time! We dashed out for a surf at Jailbreaks whenever there was a gap in the weather, we played A LOT of cards, we had deep conversations and without fail, we still maintained our daily surf coaching schedule with theory sessions and video analysis when possible.

A screenshot from Simon’s phone of just how rough conditions were at times. A harsh, but honest reality of how conditions can occasionally be in the tropics. Credit: @renegadesurf

After what felt like forever, with a couple of days still to go on the trip, the clouds parted, the wind abated and the swell showed up. We, unfortunately, didn’t have the time to make it to the Central Atolls and back, so we went to work in North Malé Atoll, putting in multiple sessions a day until the crew was surfed out ahead of their journey home. Mission complete!

I think one of the most telling things from this whole experience, is that of the 10 guests who joined us for that trip, 7 have booked to come again in 2025. We look forward to welcoming them in June.

DREAMY JULY DAYS

If you asked ChatGPT to create a perfect Maldivian wave, it would look similar to this. Credit: @surffoto

Our June 29th – July 9th trip scored arguably one of the best forecasts of the season. Nothing huge, but consistent, fun-sized swell and next-to-zero wind meant that pretty much every spot in the Maldives was working. This doesn’t only mean that any potential crowds are spread out, but also provides us with an endless feast of spots to try, completing a perfect circular loop from north, to south and back up to Male for departure day.

Reading the above, you’d almost guarantee that the waves would be the highlight of the trip, right? With 10x hungry level 3/4 surfers from all corners of the globe, what could beat 3-4ft glassy walls like the one above?

What made this trip one of the most memorable this year was just how well the group gelled on board. To say we had an eclectic mix of people is an understatement… from corporate London office workers to the head of marketing of a global luggage brand to the legendary Mike from the US – 67 years young and shredding harder than anyone else on the trip.

Reneguide and all-round frother JJ lays some serious rail. Credit: @surffoto

Legendary Mike O’Connell, 67 years young, out there charging each day! Credit: @surffoto

A particularly memorable moment came towards the end of the trip, with Male just coming into sight. Several members of the group gave incredible, heart-felt speeches after dinner, explaining just how much the time spent on board with the other guests meant to them. Emotional stuff, and in an age where surf lineups are becoming more and more hostile these words felt particularly poignant about how surfing can, and should, bring people together.

This speaks volumes to the type of surfer that typically joins our trips. Given the fact it’s a coaching trip, most people who join know they’re there to progress, to learn, and to leave a better surfer than when they arrived. This creates an ego-less environment where everyone is genuinely invested and froths off seeing other people improve. We’d argue that this is not always the case on non-coached trips.

Some seriously surfed-out individuals… (missing a few of the crew here) Credit: @jonisstrom

We were lucky enough to have Jonathan Stromberg (@Jonisstrom) filming on this trip. He created an epic edit that you can see HERE. We highly recommend checking it out!

AUGUST MEGA-SWELL

Aussie Craig makes the drop on one of the biggest days of the season. Credit: @surffoto

Some say it’s luck, others say it’s fate, but when the swell of the season marched through with PERFECT TIMING for our August Level 3/4 trip, we like to think it was down to good planning…

With a boatload of chargers from Australia, Hawaii, USA and Portugal, we set the compass south towards the Central Atolls.

The trip started slowly, scoring fun, but not super memorable waves in North and South Male, as well as Meemu Atoll. Looking back, these sessions proved to be the perfect introduction for those who fit more into the Level 3 category.

This is one of the ‘not super-memorable’ days… still pretty good! We love this shot of Lottie charging down the line whilst her brother, Ru, cheers from the boat. This is what it’s all about! Credit: @surffoto

On the morning the swell was due to arrive, we flew the drone over and saw stacked lines marching in towards the spot we were anchored close to in Thaa Atoll. Given that 4ft @ 13s often means overhead surf in The Maldives, we were super excited and incredibly intrigued to see what 7ft @ 16s was going to look like.

These bigger swells are the perfect time to explore lesser-known areas, with deep water energy wrapping into often-flat reef passes. Areas which rarely see waves can turn into perfect setups. We checked a fast barreling right, breaking super close to the rocks. Then an Indo-style left slab that would have undoubtedly been epic if the tide wasn’t dropping.

After seeing one wave do an incredible Backdoor impersonation, coach Pepijn was super keen to give it a crack. However, Dale (Co-owner and Reneguide) decided the proximity to the reef meant and slabbing nature of the wave wasn’t ideal for most of the surfers on board. The crew headed north, having not surfed on the morning of the swell – every guide’s worst nightmare…

The forbidden right… what you can’t see is the dry reef sticking just out of the shot. Credit: @renegadesurf

So much potential at this left. With a bit more water it would have been world class. Sadly, with the promise of pumping surf a few hours north, we couldn’t wait 6hrs for the tide to be better. Next time! Credit: @renegadesurf

Fortunately, the break that Dale had in mind was just a couple of hours north. With everyone on board itching to get wet, you could almost feel the tension as we rocked up to the wave. As we approached from behind, large plumes of spray began wafting into the sky. We saw the first set march towards the reef pass. Well overhead, clean as can be, and breaking about 100m further out than usual. Some waves were sucking so hard further up the reef it looked like a reverse Teahupo’o…

We jumped out for the first session, with sets easily pushing double overhead. Fortunately, the defined channel meant that those who were less confident could sit wide, whilst some of the crew paddled deep and caught some incredible waves.

The next few days were as good as surf trips get. Anchored close to the spot, we had eyes on the wave at all times, jumping out when a couple of other boats finished their sessions, scoring perfect waves with just our crew. As the swell dropped to around 4ft @ 15s (which would be a peak swell on most other trips), the wave arguably got better – hugging the reef more and getting hollow on the inside.

The best moment for us? Watching 11-year-old, Grace, face her fears and charge the biggest waves she’d ever seen. She sat wide with Pepijn, gradually shimmying to the peak and picking off a medium-sized one. The smile on her face was etched on for the rest of the day!

Grace laughing in the face of double-overhead bombs! She managed to snag a few wide ones, too. Credit: @renegadesurf

SEPTEMBER EXPLORATION MISSION

A screengrab from one of Coach Shannon’s first waves at this secret right. After a long, nervous sail north, it’s safe to say Simon was more than relieved to see waves like this. Credit: @surffoto

Renegade is about doing things differently. That said, even for us it’s still easy to get into a routine of sorts when we have our tried and tested go-to spots, favourite routes and surprise activities etc.

However, with the season drawing to a close, Simon felt like time was running out to go and explore a remote region of the Maldives – very rarely visited by surfers – that had been on his radar for quite some time.

As if to make up for his stormy stint of guiding in May, the swell charts lit up ahead of our final (Level 3/4) trip of the season. This proved to be the perfect opportunity to take the punt and set sail.

However, just because the forecast looked promising, doesn’t mean there wasn’t an element of risk involved. There is little to no information about any of the spots in this region online, the reefs sit a long way from the swell source and it’s no short cruise from Malé. We’re well aware that our trips are not inexpensive, and to take a punt when guests have paid a lot of money to travel with us felt like a big call. With that in mind, Simon called a team meeting and presented the options. Unanimously, everyone voted in favour of adventure! With that decided, at 4 am the following morning, we pulled anchor and headed for our destination.

With one spot in particular on Simon’s radar (due to a grainy video he had seen a year ago), we had our starting point. Almost 12 hours later, the spot was in sight. With no swell lines in the water and no whitewater crashing on the surrounding reefs, there was a sense of disappointment on the boat. However, we were still a good kilometre or so from where the wave broke.

Louisa with speed to burn @surffoto

As we got closer, we started to see whitewater from behind and swell bending around the small headland. It wasn’t big, maybe shoulder high, but there wasn’t a breath of wind or a soul around. We ended up surfing here for 2 days, completely alone, before moving onwards, to another atoll where we surfed one of the best right-handers I have ever seen in the Maldives. Unfortunately, the session didn’t last long but the vibes were through the roof as we continued on our exploration mission.

Over the following few days, we surfed a handful of different reefs, completely alone (apart from one session with a couple of locals) before heading back to the Malé Atolls as the swell dropped.

It was an incredible adventure and everyone was stoked that we took the plunge. That is what Renegade is all about.

There we have it! In truth, there are hundreds of moments we could have shared with you here. These are the ones that sprung to mind over a couple of post-shred Bintangs here in Indo.

Again, we’d like to thank our amazing team for making the season run so incredibly smoothly, and also our beloved guests, many of whom have already booked to join us again in 2025.

COMPETITION TIME

We ran a competition where guests who travelled with us in 2024 could let us know the top moment of their trip. The one which grabbed our attention the most would win a FLORENCE hooded rash vest.

With great pleasure, we’d like to announce Kale McNaney, who travelled with us in August, as our winner, recounting a hilarious tale of his board blowing away during a storm! We’ll be in touch, mate.

Side note – we’d like to make an apology to our female guests who, quite rightly, didn’t enter the competition. Unbeknown to us, FLORENCE doesn’t make any female products right now. We will ensure our next comp has a more unisex prize!

WANT A SLICE OF THE ACTION?

If you’re considering joining us, we recommend checking out our YouTube channel and our website where you can find full availability for the season. We’re already at 80% capacity meaning many trips are full, so please contact us below if you’d like to secure your preferred dates.

We’ve just returned from 3x back-to-back coaching trips in the Southern Atolls, a 1hr domestic flight south from Male International Airport. Our team of Nic, Beth and Yaman welcomed a total of 22 lucky punters aboard Assidha – a gorgeous, 26m vessel, in search of some of the most idyllic waves on earth.

Heading to this remote region of The Maldives is a truly unique experience; one that’s becoming increasingly special as lineups elsewhere become more crowded. Fortunately, solitude can still be found if you’re willing to put in the effort, and our guests revelled in surfing some seriously high-quality waves alone. Don’t just take our word for it – read on to hear how both our crew and guests enjoyed themselves scoring empty waves in The Maldives’ Southern Atolls.

Nic – RENEGADE SURF COACH AND ALL-ROUND FROTH-LORD

It was your first time in the Southern Atolls; summarise it in one sentence…

The most beautiful and bountiful surf adventure I’ve ever been on.

How would you describe the waves in this region?

Went left, a lot. (In contrast to predominantly rights in the Central Atolls). Next level wave consistency. An excellent training ground to improve your surfing and bags of fun.

Which was your favourite wave?

Sorry, that’s too difficult…top three would be Beacons – for levelling up your barrel game, Blue Bowls – for easy entry waves, rippable sections and tube riding on the end section, and Tiger Stripes – an excellent progression wave for coaching on lefts.

How does it compare to other tropical destinations you’ve been to?

It doesn’t compare. It’s now my favourite tropical destination. Uncrowned, super reliable, progressive waves and not much travel time between spots means more hours surfing. It’s definitely one of highest wave counts I’ve had on a trip and you get to share them with like-minded surfers who are all there for the adventure.

What was the most memorable moment of the trips?

The new friendships formed on every trip was beautiful to be a part of. Everyone who joined brought the stoke and zero egos onboard which created a nurturing environment….and cake, everyday!!

What was the most memorable coaching/progression moment of the trip?

Everyone who joined the trips brought the stoke and embraced the coaching process. Everyone is at different stages of their surfing journey and everyone was genuinely respectful and supportive of one another, no matter what level they were.
It’s an honour and exciting to be on that journey with so many like-minded and amazing humans. To be able to share knowledge and help people to the next level makes me stoked.
I’ve learned so much from every single person on these trips. I gain new perspectives and learn new ways to deliver information, so it really progresses my coaching and I am thankful for this.

Are there any other surprises people may not expect to find in the SA’s? 

Did I mention there was cake…everyday!!
Sometimes it felt like we were the only people floating around those atolls. It was absolutely stunning and really felt deserted. So much sea life. Without fail, everyday we would see an abundance of dolphins and sea turtles.

How many waves do you think you’ve surfed these past 30-days?

Ten waves a day at least, so has to be in the three hundreds.

What advice would you give to surfers who are looking to surf this region?

Do it…but don’t tell all your friends about it, it’s a secret.
The flight down there is surprisingly easy .
If you’re planning to surf Beacons, bring a step-up kind of board. Nothing too crazy, just a board with a bit of extra length and volume to get you into the wave early. This will help prevent the veins popping out the side of your neck as you drop in to one of the waves of your life.

What’re your plans now your first stint of the season is done?

After thirty four days on a boat, I need to learn how to walk again.
It’s a busy couple of months. I head back to Sri Lanka to finish coaching for the season, then off to Krui (Indo) to get coached myself and learn new skills. Then I’m excited to be back with Renegade for May/June in the Maldives.

BETH – RENEGADE GUIDE AND DRONE EXTRAORDINAIRE

It was your first time in the Southern Atolls; summarise it in one sentence…

One of the best months of my life! 

How would you describe the waves in this region?

Super fun and playful. Reliable, consistent, rippable lefts and rights. 

Which was your favourite wave?

Blue bowls. It’s a beautiful right-hander. Easy take off then a big, long, open face. The perfect training ground. 

How does it compare to other tropical destinations you’ve been to?

It’s now one of my favourite places in the world to surf for a few reasons; It’s consistent, the whole month we were there, there was always a wave. The lack of crowds, which is getting harder and harder to score on. I would guess that 40%-60% of our sessions we scored alone. Maximum in a line up was probably 20 people, which means your wave count is really high. They aren’t the most critical waves I’ve surfed compared to somewhere like Indo, but so much fun and so perfect to improve your skills. 

What was the most memorable moment of the trips?

There were a lot! But one would have to be finishing the third trip at Beacons and watching the whole group really push their limits. The adrenaline was pumping for everyone that day, there was a lot of barrel hunting going on!

What was the most memorable coaching/progression moment of the trip?

For me, the memorable aspect was the supportive nature of every group. Naturally, there are differences in experience and ability, but with out fail every group was so supportive. That created the perfect environment for everyone to push themselves and not feel self-conscious. There was no ego. This resulted in everyone improving. 

Are there any other surprises people may not expect to find in the SA’s?

It’s so insanely beautiful in the south, and so quiet which really adds to the beauty. We saw dolphins every day, to the point where you don’t even bother looking by the end, you’ve seen so many. There are turtles chilling in the line up with you. Curious nurse sharks will come hang out by the boat. I even saw a humpback whale in the distance whilst sat in the line up. It really adds to the uniqueness of this location. 

How many waves do you think you’ve surfed these past 30-days?

I’ve just done a quick calculation and it’s over 250. And I was missing a session each day due to filming! 

What advice would you give to surfers who are looking to surf this region?

If you’re main focus is uncrowded, consistent waves and you’re not looking for gnarly barrels then the south atolls is the place for you. Don’t be put off by the internal flight down there, it was straight forward and hassle free. 

What’re your plans now your first stint of the season is done?

I’m back home in England for a couple of days of R&R and then I’m heading over to southern Costa Rica to coach at a women’s surf retreat for two months.

YAMAN – LOCAL SURF GUIDE AND PLANNING GENIUS

You’ve spent a lot of time in this region. How did this March compare to previous times you’ve been here?

March has been really consistent. We were mostly delivered South-southwesterly swells throughout the 30 days. With a few south-easterly swells as well. the wind was light throughout the whole month, which is actually expected in March. The light winds allowed us to surf at different spots. However, if we had gotten more westerly swells we would have been able to surf the west side of the atoll more.

How would you describe the waves in this region?

I would say Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll has the most diverse variety of waves in the Maldives. We have soft left-handers that can hold a lot of size (Tiger Stripes) and is really consistent, to a more advanced left-hander that is only an hour away (Love Charms). The rights can range from more performance style waves such as Blue Bowls, Kaafena right and Lips(Thinadhoo), to more advanced technical barreling rights such as Beacons, Castaways and Five islands. There are also beginner waves such as antiques and two ways as well.

Which is your favourite wave?

As a regular footer I have to say I enjoyed surfing blue bowls on one of the bigger days. We didn’t really score it due to swell direction, but Kaafena right will get a shout as well.

What was the most memorable moment of the trips?

Surfing Beacons on the last day was definitely the most memorable moment of the trip. Watching everyone charge some solid waves was special.

What was the most memorable coaching/progression moment of the trip?

In all three trips I saw the progression of all the guests from day one to the last day. From being able to improve their bottom turns, to working on more advanced maneuvers. The most memorable would have been seeing one of our guests (Victor), charging Five islands with just me and another guest. It is an advanced wave and he did really well.

How many waves do you think you’ve surfed these past 30-days?

At 9 different surf breaks I’ve surfed 380 waves in 30 days. I have a Garmin watch that I used throughout the trip and it counted how many waves I caught.

What advice would you give to surfers who are looking to surf this region?

Definitely bring the right equipment. Bring the boards you are used to but if you’re coming on a 3-4 surf trip, a step up, a high performance short board and also a fun board should be recommended.

What’re your plans now your first block of the season is done?

I’ll be back in Male’, resting for a few weeks and will jump on some more trips throughout the season!

It may come as no surprise that our crew absolutely loved their time down south, but what did our guests have to say?

KATE, UK – LEVEL 3 SURFER (3/4 TRIP) – FIRST TIME IN MALDIVES

It was your first time in the Southern Atolls. How would you summarise it in one sentence?

It’s a tropical paradise down there. The clearest water I’ve ever seen and an abundance of sea life. It’s basically like I’d jumped into the cartoon setting of Moana, with an incredible variety of waves as the cherry on top!

How did the waves compare to what you were expecting?

Mmmm, I’ve learnt to be more relaxed around surf expectations! Although friends had questioned if the swell was going to be good enough that time of the year. I just thought it would be weird to put on a level 3/4 surf trip if Renegade didn’t think there was a high chance of good waves. I trusted that whatever happens would be better than 6/5 of neoprene with hood, gloves and boots!

Have you had coaching before?

Only in the past year but just a couple of sporadic sessions in not so great waves and one at The Wave in Bristol. It did mean that I’d been through the humbling experience of seeing myself on video before the trip!

What was your biggest takeaway from the coaching?

I loved it and it was challenging! I was totally up for having my surfing pulled apart to rebuild it in a far more technical way. Nic was really good at positively affirming in his coaching, battling my own self-criticism was the challenge! In the past I’ve ‘gotten away’ with charging some fairly sizeable  and scary waves like Cloud Break & Teahupoo, for example. Going left was always a pop up, grab rail and wish for the best! Because of the swell direction and wind we mostly went left on smaller waves which I wouldn’t have asked for, but was exactly what I needed to learn how to actually put turns in on my backside surfing.

What was the most memorable surf session?

Without a doubt Blue bowls on day three. I was terrified and electrified in equal measure. I think they were the biggest waves I’ve surfed frontside. The vibe in the water was so fun with local guys, Hawaiians & our crew all calling each other into waves and cheering. There were a few boats watching and I had a female fan club excitedly cheering every time I caught a wave, which gave me extra energy for the paddle back out! I think I did close to 7 hours of paddling that day with a few minutes of surfing – so worth it!

What was the most memorable non-surf related moment?

Haha, karaoke night for Tia & Tyler’s birthday! After presenting birthday cards accompanied by the classic Stevie Wonder tune, one thing led to another and the microphone came out. It all began with Tyler & Alwins rendition of Spice Girls, ‘Tell Me What You Want’. A couple of Yaman’s (surf guide) local mates and their Aussie guests came over, and by the end of the night we’d had an array of bangers from across the globe being being performed! One of the funniest nights I’ve had in a long time.

Favourite wave?

Initially I’d say Blue bowls but each one had their unique thing. I actually had a really fun time at Love Charms when it was shoulder high and I felt myself start to consistently go rail to rail in my manoeuvres. Plus Tia and I surfed it on our own with a friendly turtle the next day which was incredible.

Is there anything that came as a surprise to you during the trip?

Not sure, I think perhaps the size of the cabins, they were all a really good size to share with another person. I love people, but I like my own space and need time on my own to recharge. The boat had plenty of space to do this under shade which is vital as the sun was so strong!
Oh, and having both a female (Beth) and local guide (Yaman) was a huge added bonus to the experience. Come to think of it, this was a surprise to have Nic, Beth and Yaman. They worked really well together. The quality of Beth’s filming and her dedication to it was on another level. Yaman is a legend, I have a little soft spot for him! And his comms with other local guides who had eyes on other breaks was invaluable. Nic is a master in the field of surf coaching, you can tell he’s really passionate about it.

What would you say to someone who is considering a surf coaching trip?

Without a doubt this is the best £3k I’ve ever spent on myself. I wish I’d got coaching before but so happy that I’ve started now. So grateful that I chose to go to Maldives on a surf coaching boat trip rather than just surf guiding. A total game changer, saving up the pennies for the next one!

Where are you heading next?

Heading out to France next week to snowboard but first I’ll get back into the seal suit and catch a few cold ones at my local break in Aggie!

DAVID, UK – LEVEL 3 SURFER (2/3 TRIP) – RENEGADE VETERAN

It was your first time in the Southern Atolls. How would you summarise it in one sentence?

It was incredible. Super remote, empty lineups with perfect waves consistently rolling in!

How did the waves compare to what you were expecting?

The waves were spot on! I wanted to go on this trip to be somewhere un-crowded and have perfect waves peeling in. It was exactly that. Consistent waves and most of the time it was just our crew of 7 in the water. The swell changes, of course, but we always had options and always had super fun wave to surf for the full 10 days of the trip.

Have you had coaching before?

Yes. This was my third time on a Renegade surf coaching trip to the Maldives. The coaching really helps me improve which means I can have a lot more fun on the waves.

What was your biggest takeaway from the coaching?

For me it was to slow down! I had a lot of unnecessary movement going on, especially with my arms. Once I got this under control and using my arms correctly, the body followed and my surfing become a lot smoother and I was able to generate more speed to enter manoeuvres. It’s hard to spot these things on your own. The video analysis and daily feedback was game changing.

What was the most memorable surf session?

At a break called Blue Bowls… it’s a right, it was in our first few days of arriving and the swell was a decent size. Some solid sets coming in. It was just 3 of us out including Nic our surf coach. He helped us get way deeper than our usual comfort zone, and gave us the confidence to catch the biggest of the set waves which was super fun! I’ll never forget those waves that day!

What was the most memorable non-surf related moment?

You can’t beat how special the tiny islands are! Going ashore for a sunset beer on a tropical Island no bigger than a football pitch. The snorkelling is also incredible around all the reefs. But I think my favourite moments are post surf beers on the roof, hanging out with everyone and sharing stories from the day.

Favourite wave?

Blue Bowls… a super fun, perfect right.

Is there anything that came as a surprise to you during the trip?

Not really! I’ve been on a few Renegade surf trips and they always deliver the perfect surf adventure! 10 days of uncrowded surfing in paradise! It was exactly that, and it’s why I choose to go with these guys!

What would you say to someone who is considering a surf coaching trip?

Coaching is always going to improve your performance on the wave.. even if you just want to have fun. You’re going to get so much more out of the wave and your surf sessions with coaching. It’s the small things that make all the difference. It’s a hard sport to improve in when you don’t know what you’re doing wrong or not doing effectively! A coach will spot these things immediately and you’ll be surprised at how your surfing improves so quickly! If you want to have more fun, longer rides, catch better waves, or overcome your fears! That’s where a coach will take your surfing to the next level!

TOBIAS, GERMANY – LEVEL 3.5 SURFER (2/3 TRIP) – RENEGADE FIRST-TIMER

It was your first time in the Southern Atolls. How would you summarise it in one sentence?

The Southern Atolls with it’s fascinating marine life is unique, and the surf spots are not far away from each other which means more time in the water.

How did the waves compare to what you were expecting?

The wave size and how they break was totally manageable. I wished I would have had more energy in the water but we still surfed all day.

Have you had coaching before?

Yes, I have been coached several times.

What was your biggest takeaway from the coaching?

I have a more targeted focus on my arm movements in different manoeuvres on front and backside surfing. The daily video analysis is the key to improve yourself.

What was the most memorable surf session?

The one where I had a dolphin in my wave on my backside (on video 😁)

What was the most memorable non-surf related moment?

Snorkeling in crystal clear water and seeing huge live corals

Favourite wave?

Blue Bowls

Is there anything that came as a surprise to you during the trip?

The wind was not a big issue so it was always surfable all day. I enjoyed that we surfed 50% alone with only our “go deeper” boat crew.

What would you say to someone who is considering a surf coaching trip?

Go for it because it’s a lifetime experience if you come with the right level you can surf in 9 days as much as your body allows.

And there we have it! A huge thanks to both our amazing team and guests who truly made these trips so special.

We’re on a brief hiatus until our Central Atolls season kicks off on Assidha’s bigger brother, Theia, on May 16th.

You can check out full information about our Central Atolls trips here.

Our 2024 season is fully booked, but be sure to keep your eyes peeled for 2025 dates dropping very soon.

Check out the YouTube edits from each of our Southern Atoll Coaching Trips here;

WHY THE MALDIVES?

The Maldives have been on surfers’ bucket-lists ever since Tony Hussain accidentally discovered waves there, when his boat washed ashore nearly 50 years ago, and for good reason. This collection of over 1200 islands is widely regarded as one of the best places to surf in the world. Think tropical palm-fringed lineups, abundant sea life, and super-consistent waves with something for every level of surfer.

Read on for our top 10 reasons why we believe The Maldives should be your next surf trip…

Coach Mark Boyd with off-the-top number 1384 of the trip

1. ONE OF THE MOST CONSISTENT SURF DESTINATIONS ON THE PLANET

Ever been on a surf trip and been left disappointed by a lack of swell? We know the feeling. Fortunately, being positioned in the middle of the Indian Ocean means The Maldives is one of the most consistent surf zones in the world.

As with all Indian Ocean destinations, SW swells regularly light up the region between April and October. These powerful, long-period swells wrap into south facing shores in far-flung atolls – often with nobody around.

However, it’s the lesser known SE swells that really make the Maldives so consistent and unique. These swells are created by the SE trade winds that blow across much of Indonesia between April and October. If you’ve ever been in Indo at this time, you will know these winds blow every single day. This means there is a constant stream of SE swell being sent towards the Maldives, ready to be groomed by westerly trade-winds on arrival.

We’ve even scored pumping waves at unknown reef passes during rare west swells!

This exposure to swell is a key reason why The Maldives is one of the best places to surf in the world. Magicseaweed data (R.I.P) shows that the Maldives has a swell consistency of between 95 and 99% between April and October – quite incredible! Make the most of these swells and join one of our signature coaching trips where we scour the whole of the Atolls looking for the most suitable conditions.

2. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LINEUPS ON EARTH

Picture yourself pulling up to an uninhabited tropical island. Densely packed with lush, green palm trees. Bath-warm, gin-clear water laps against the coral and an approaching set sounds like tearing paper as it peels, unadulterated, down the barrier reef beyond the lagoon. The sheer beauty of some of the breaks needs to be seen to be believed.

The beauty isn’t just above the surface… You’ll be sharing some of the clearest water on the planet with resident dolphins, turtles, manta rays, tropical fish and reef sharks. There’s more to a dream Maldives session than the perfect waves.

3. ACCESSIBLE, EASY TRAVEL

Compared to many tropical surf destinations, travelling to the Maldives is a breeze – especially for us Europeans. There are direct flights from major European hubs, although most will have a short transit through the Middle East. It’s about the same for those coming from Australasia, only with Kuala Lumpur and Singapore serving as the most common stopovers. 

Those coming from the U.S. have a longer journey ahead, but it’s still relatively straightforward and often doable with just one layover.

The convenience continues once you land in The Maldives. Male International airport (Velana) is situated right next to the ocean, meaning no lengthy transfer in a cramped van with broken AC. Simply stroll 30 meters outside the arrivals hall, meet your guide, and jump on your floating home. In some cases, you can be surfing within 2 hours of touching down. Most arrivals land in the morning, meaning we can usually get a quick session in before lunch is even served – something that’s almost impossible to do in other destinations.

Last but not least, no visa is required for tourism in The Maldives. You are granted 30-days on arrival which can be extended for another 30-days with relative ease. Hassle-free surf trips are the best surf trips.

Was this the best surf we scored all year? No. Did the adventure and novelty of surfing an unknown wave alone make it one of the most special sessions? Absolutely.

4. EMPTY LINEUPS STILL POSSIBLE

A quick flick through of our Instagram and you may think our captions are false. The number of times we surfed alone in 2022 feels almost unfair. Particularly in a world where lineups are becoming more and more crowded. We scored a load of empty sessions on our Advanced Coaching Trip back in April of this year, too.

The Maldives aren’t empty, however. Far from it. But we are willing to go the extra mile (or hundred) to ensure the best chance of surfing with minimal crowds. It’s not always possible, but we estimate that 50% of sessions last season were solo. There are a huge number of waves in The Maldives and the distance from the well-known waves of Male to the far south of the Central Atolls is vast – almost a 24hr cruise. Unlike some other charters who have a fixed route, our itineraries are solely based around the conditions and crowds.

Running coaching trips demands that we are surfing relatively quiet waves. So if spot A is a 9/10 but busy, and spot B is a 7/10 but empty, we’ll be heading to spot B. Especially when a 7/10 day in the ‘dives equates to an 11/10 at your local.

We’re highly experienced when it comes to searching for surf in The Maldives. In August 2022, whilst 5 boats battled it out in pumping surf at Spot X, we spotted a rare Westerly swell and nipped a few hours south. We scored the wave above without another soul for miles, before nipping across the channel and scoring the cranking right on the other side. Surfing nirvana.

5. THE PERFECT PLACE FOR A BOAT TRIP

With the Maldives being 95% ocean, it stands to reason that the best way to get around is by boat. If you’re lucky enough to have been on a surf charter before you’ll know just how special they are. With a good guide in charge you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the spectacular scenery as we take you from perfect surf spot to perfect surf spot. When surfing the best waves possible is the priority, a boat trip cannot be beaten. You can read an extended blog post on why we think so here.

With that said, in our opinion The Maldives is the best place in the world for a surf charter. Most of the waves here break off uninhabited or sparsely populated islands and often a few hundred metres offshore. This means that even if you put all your eggs in one basket and stayed on one of these islands – crossing everything that the conditions aligned for that particular wave – accessing it can be a bit of a mission.

On the contrary, entering the lineup from a surf charter couldn’t be easier. Simply jump in the dhingy at the back of the boat and get dropped off a stones-throw from the peak; no duck dives or scrambles over the sharp reef. When you’re done, wave your board in the air and the dhingy captain will collect you from the channel. It almost sounds too good to be true!

6. USER FRIENDLY LINEUPS

We hate to break it to you, but those perfect tubes in every Mentawai edit are probably beyond your pay grade. Whilst it looks like absolute perfection on your 5″ iphone screen , the reality of a double overhead wave throwing top to bottom is very consequential. Dry inside-sections, impossible walk-outs over the reef, and hungry packs of Aussie and Brazilian pros makes the whole experience quite intense, to say the least.

Enter, The Maldives. Don’t get us wrong, the Maldives does have it’s share of heavier, barreling waves. From Cokes in the north, to Finnamas in the Central Atolls, all the way to the Beacons in the far South. Fortunately, for us average Joe’s there are plenty of user-friendly waves in-between. Most of these break into deeper water rather than shutting down on a shallow end section. Think ‘4-5 turns then kick out into the channel’, not ‘hold-on-for-your-life before an inevitable scraping across the reef’.

7. NO MOSQUITOS OR DANGEROUS WILDLIFE

After some of the points above this one seems almost a little trivial. Can a lack of mosquitos really have a meaningful impact on the Maldives being the best surf destination on earth? Yes. Yes it can. 

If you’ve ever spent time at land camps in any tropical destination you’ll know just how much of a negative impact the mozzies, scorpions, and other tropical nasties can have – from mild itching to severe bites and insomnia.

Fortunately, being at sea means we’re typically away from all of these annoyances.

There’s not much to worry about from below either. You’ll occasionally see reef sharks zig-zagging their way across the reef, but these guys don’t pose any threat to surfers and are an incredible sight to see. On some trips we’re even lucky enough to snorkel wit Nurse Sharks – always an unforgettable experience!

8. LONG SEASON WITH VARYING CONDITIONS

The surf season in The Maldives is generally considered to be from April-October. That said, differing wind patterns in the Southern Atolls means that you can score perfect waves all year round.

As a brief summary, here’s our suggestion:

Off season (late October to early March) – head to the Southern Atolls, for clean, empty lineups and powerful waves.

Shoulder season (March/April & September/October) – light winds and consistent swells in the Central Atolls

Peak season (May – September) – consistent, solid SE swells and WSW trade winds make the Malé Atolls or east facing Central Atolls light up

See our full breakdown of the Maldives Surf Season and regions here.

9. TROPICAL CLIMATE

Unsurprisingly, given its proximity to the equator, predicting the temperature during your stay in The Maldives won’t be hard. It hovers consistently between 27-31c. 

You can leave your wetsuit at home too, with water temperatures never dropping below 27c. We recommend bringing a long-sleeve surf top and a hat to protect yourself from the sun. Those of you who are particularly sun sensitive should look into a pair of lycra bottoms or ‘surf-tights’ too. 27-31c doesn’t sound THAT hot- but it feels way hotter than this in reality and the sun can be brutally strong.

10. 3 DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT AND WAVE-RICH REGIONS

As mentioned above, The Maldives caters for every level of surfer. It’s one of the few destinations where a ‘just surfing green waves’ intermediate can have just as fun as a ‘been surfing all my life’ tube pig. This is down to the variety of the surf spots and the variation across the different regions.

In the north are the Malé Atolls, with Male Airport sitting right inbetween the waves North and South Malé Atoll. Malé Atolls are home to the most well-known Maldivian waves and some of the best waves in the country. However, it’s consistency, quality and proximity to the airport means they’re often crowded.

Keep cruising 8-24hrs south and you’ll reach Meemu, Dhaalu, Thaa and Laamu Atolls – collectively part of the Central Atolls. This is where the majority of our coaching trips take place due it’s ability to deal with all swell and wind directions, and thin crowd factor.

Another long sail (or short flight) south, and you’ll reach the Southern Atolls. They’re widely considered one of surfing’s last frontiers thanks to their isolation and remoteness. It’s home to a number of epic set-ups, including some of the heaviest and hollowest waves in the country. We usually begin our season here in March.