With travel finally starting to open up I am looking for some feedback and advice on a sup surfing trip to the Maldives with my dearly beloved in 2023.
I've been a couple of times 15 years ago surfing (pasta point) but as I've got older (61) I've a real preference for more forehand waves. I also understand that the charter boats (crowds) have become a real issue at the nearby breaks in particular Sultans and Prisons. I've followed the Moon Tours SMedia on their latest sunova trip. It looks fantastic and would be great with the mates but not certain if the bride would be keen with the whole trip being on a boat. Kadooma resort looks like a great option, it also has Yoga, massage, beach and snorkelling options, it is also more importantly limited with surfers at any one time. I am yet to see any footage of guys surfing stand ups though. Any experiences and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi

I have been on 2 trips with Moon Tours ( 2019 & 2022)
These trips are so good , limited numbers on the boat and SUP Surf away from the crowds
Check out their website for tour dates
Highly recommend , go see Marcus at Nth Freo Standup and ask to see photos of our latest trip

I am off on a Maldives trip with Moon's in 2 weeks. Looking forward to it!!

I have been to the Maldives a few times, and while I have not surfed at the break in front of Kandooma's, I have seen it a few times (only guests can surf that break), and surfed at two breaks nearby: Rip Tides and Quarters.

Quarters is pretty good - a bit of fun. It can have some fast current, and on bigger days the very end of the wave can be in shallower water, but it is good for a sup.

Rip Tides is "OK" - can have strong currents (thus the name), but can get some good waves. Kandoomas looks like a fast right hander, but should be sup-worthy.

I believe they will take you in their boat to other breaks too - at an extra cost, I assume.

I have heard that Kandoomas is a nice place to stay - not too expensive. They technically limit the number of surfers, but I heard the limit was pretty darn high. Having said that, I have never seen big crowds at any of those breaks.

One good thing about Moon Tours is that they will either all be sup riders, or certainly most will. On the 10 days trips, they are supposed to get away from the busier breaks - I wonder what will happen now that the price of fuel has gone up by so much... The other good thing is they have boards on board for you to use - so you can either travel with no boards or just one special board - that's what I am doing.

I once looked into a resort down near the ing Yangs break. The place was fancy and expensive, but Ying Yangs can test your skill and nerve under most conditions. My life flashed before my eyes on one wave as the water sucked out in front of me to reveal bare rock/reef, but somehow I did a somersault, landed on my bum, and managed to survive! The nose of my board was very badly damaged but nothing that lots of duct tape did not fix - temporarily.

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DHUSOUTH said..
Hi

I have been on 2 trips with Moon Tours ( 2019 & 2022)
These trips are so good , limited numbers on the boat and SUP Surf away from the crowds
Check out their website for tour dates
Highly recommend , go see Marcus at Nth Freo Standup and ask to see photos of our latest trip

Thanks Dhusouth, yes Moon tours is definitely not out of the question yet! and I did enjoy all the footage on there social media of the current and last trip. And I'll definitely be talking to the guys in Nth Freo.

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cantSUPenough said..
I am off on a Maldives trip with Moon's in 2 weeks. Looking forward to it!!

I have been to the Maldives a few times, and while I have not surfed at the break in front of Kandooma's, I have seen it a few times (only guests can surf that break), and surfed at two breaks nearby: Rip Tides and Quarters.

Quarters is pretty good - a bit of fun. It can have some fast current, and on bigger days the very end of the wave can be in shallower water, but it is good for a sup.

Rip Tides is "OK" - can have strong currents (thus the name), but can get some good waves. Kandoomas looks like a fast right hander, but should be sup-worthy.

I believe they will take you in their boat to other breaks too - at an extra cost, I assume.

I have heard that Kandoomas is a nice place to stay - not too expensive. They technically limit the number of surfers, but I heard the limit was pretty darn high. Having said that, I have never seen big crowds at any of those breaks.

One good thing about Moon Tours is that they will either all be sup riders, or certainly most will. On the 10 days trips, they are supposed to get away from the busier breaks - I wonder what will happen now that the price of fuel has gone up by so much... The other good thing is they have boards on board for you to use - so you can either travel with no boards or just one special board - that's what I am doing.

I once looked into a resort down near the ing Yangs break. The place was fancy and expensive, but Ying Yangs can test your skill and nerve under most conditions. My life flashed before my eyes on one wave as the water sucked out in front of me to reveal bare rock/reef, but somehow I did a somersault, landed on my bum, and managed to survive! The nose of my board was very badly damaged but nothing that lots of duct tape did not fix - temporarily.

Thanks can'tSUPenough, Great feedback. I had a quick chat to the crew at perfect wave regarding Kadooma today and sounding quite positive so far. A full house means a max of 45 surfers but sounds like there's a month to 6 weeks peak time, so will probably look at start (April) or end (September) moon and tide windows. I did a trip to Matanivusi resort in Fiji with these guys and it was a first class experience my wife loved it. Probably why she is so keen on a trip to the Maldives this time. Will let you know how we get on and can't wait to hear how the surf and your trip goes. Already jealous thinking about that 26 degree water! Enjoy

The other thing to consider is that April and May have nicer weather but smaller surf. I think September/October are the same. So your wife would probably prefer an April trip. The other thing is that you can't easily have any quiet, personal, romantic time on a boat - other than at night, of course. Every meal is with the rest of the frothing surfers, and while some of the boats are pretty big, it can be hard to find a private place to sit.

Also, the islands aren't beautiful and pristine - in case you were thinking of paddling off for some quiet time during the day. It is disappointing how much rubbish there is around the shoreline and through the palm-tree areas.

The resort islands are clean and nice, though.

I have fond memories of the moon trip to the Maldives ,Stef &Trent are good ambassadors and hosts if you get them on your boat ,We drank many frothies caught many waves ,ate like kings .I would like to go back but just couldn't afford it this year .I loved being on the boat ,made some life time friends tried most of the sunova boards ,surfed many different breaks some small some big but all had good form ,You and your wife would love the boats they really are luxuries ,the local guys dropped you right on the wave grabbed and stacked your boards ...we had 12 surfers and they only ran over each other a few times .fishing was ok too .,i can't remember where this resort was ....take a hat .oh if there's four of you in a shout ,shout early ,as coming down a flight of stairs drunk and with 4 handles of beer and a rocking boat ,i ended up in a mess ,but only spilt one ,i was hanging onto the rail with my elbows and called for the barmen ,lucky he was one that could talk english and knew what help meant .

Stayed at Kandooma in shoulder season with a Sup, Oct school holidays 2019, pre Covid. Great wave, low crowd. Never saw another sup at the break.

Only crowd encountered was when I went on one of the boat trips to Riptides where charter boats were present. Lots of the surfers head out on the boats each day which thins the crowd even more. Supped twice a day apart from some onshore days early. Often only 3-5 surfers in the water.

Food was unbelievable but be sure to prepay as its incredibly expensive paying there. Just my wife and I, she had a ball and is hanging out to go back.

Kandooma Rights is a moderately fast R hander. If it's bigger it's easier to go to the end of the break where it goes in to deep water and just paddle around the back as it can be a mission paddling out through the break. I had an 8'6 Smik Hipster Twin

Definitely planning a revisit sometime