Gettin close to booking a boat trip for Sept 09, Can't decide on North Sumatra or the Maldives. Has any one out there been on a boat trip to either of these destinations during Sept in the last year or two? What were the waves/crowd like at this time of the year? Would appreciate any feedback as it's doin my head in tryin to decide.

Go Sumatra if on a boat trip.
Maldives (North Atoll) quite crowded.

North Sumatra is awesome.
Go overland if you have the time.

There are lots of spots dotted all along the exposed coast and on a few offshore islands that are less known.

Mentawis are difficult to get to if your not part of an organized trip but possible never the less.

Try Nias first easy to get to from Sibolga and the locals will charter you a boat to other neat islands, or used to. Been a long long time since i was there.

or uncrowded outer atolls...........maldives....................

Nice wave Synsies, Lookin at a boat that goes to uncrowded waves in the south and central Male atolls, Mulaku and Meemu atolls. Willing to sacrifice quality of waves for uncrowded line ups, a bit worried that North Sumatra's waves are heavier that Ment's and at 40 years of age can't afford to get flogged on the first day of decent waves and miss surf sessions.

showd my mates the photos when i got back last year, they went this year ,(all roughly 35-50 old). they got sick waves at outer atolls but scored big time when they spent the last couple of days around male.the skippers a full bottle which got them heaps of waves there..... and i'm not talking the known ones.
give me a message if you want the name of the boat to check it out.