Kandooma Maldives
Anyone been?. I booked for 10 days this July. Feedback appreciated
Cheers Udo, I looked first on the forums but didn't find it
They have some good bands visiting, Birds Of Tokyo played in April
Missy Higgins in June
2 or 3 boards, I'm 50/50 each way
Look S - it is a fair wave, good on a good swell. It is not the best right in the Maldives if you are a good intermediate or above - if you are that level you would call in generally fun and most times you would surf it on a fish or something similar. I'd say it is a pretty easy and softish wave, so if you are not that competent and want to cruise it would be great. It is not in the league of Sultans or the like. Generally does not pick up as much swell as say Lohis (exclusive) or the main breaks (not exclusive). On most days if there are 10 guys out it feels a bit crowded, but if it gets bigger you find a lot of the crew don't go out or sit wide. Brazzo's in the crowd can suck and I understand Israelis are currently banned from Maldives. It's all done well though in terms of accom, surfing, food etc.
seaslug wrote:2 or 3 boards, I'm 50/50 each way
If you can fit them in I always suggest 3. If you snap one at least you've then got another two. If you just take two boards and damage one, you're left rather tentatively surfing on the remaining one.
FrazP wrote:Look S - it is a fair wave, good on a good swell. It is not the best right in the Maldives if you are a good intermediate or above - if you are that level you would call in generally fun and most times you would surf it on a fish or something similar. I'd say it is a pretty easy and softish wave, so if you are not that competent and want to cruise it would be great. It is not in the league of Sultans or the like. Generally does not pick up as much swell as say Lohis (exclusive) or the main breaks (not exclusive). On most days if there are 10 guys out it feels a bit crowded, but if it gets bigger you find a lot of the crew don't go out or sit wide. Brazzo's in the crowd can suck and I understand Israelis are currently banned from Maldives. It's all done well though in terms of accom, surfing, food etc.
I've never surfed it so the following is just from what I've seen online but I thought it's a fairly fast righthander, particularly the outer section?
But yes it needs a reasonable component of east in the swell, given it's shielded somewhat from Sly swells. But July should be fine for SE swells. Winds could be a little strong (offshore) that time of year.
Went there last year with the wife in august Got skunked surf wise. Cost a bomb and was disappointed with the food and accommodation. Sorry to sound so negative.
No doubt it would have helped if the surf was good. And yes it came up as we left.
Any suggestion on somewhere to stay with the misses that doesn't cost a bomb.
Not sure cd. In addition to my last comment, friends of mine thought kandooma was pretty good .
cheers
I think I arrived just after you Greyhound. Went to Lohis - we scored for 2 weeks with 3ft+ (head high plus) the smallest day. Heard the guys before us got zilch.
If you are just going to Kandooma, and surfing that wave you would get away with 2 boards, 3 is always better if you don't mind lugging them. A fish to surf the small days and your normal board. You don't really need a step up for Kandooma itself generally.
Lohis nice to stay with your Mrs CD but my wife got pretty bored after a few days. Been there 3 times and once for 3 weeks and had everything from 1 foot to 8 foot. Kandooma i haven't stayed at but have had lots of mates go there and it's definitely smaller than Lohis Sultans area. The currys got to me after a while too at lohis but I really enjoyed the punchiness of the wave. My last ever soccer game was at lohis staff versus surfers one afternoon. Hard out nuked me trying to outrun the maldivians. I couldn't walk that night. Fun island but Mrs might get bored after a few days
Yeah and take 3 if you can. You'll end up surfing small wave boards lots
Thanks for the info @poo-man, appreciate it.
I went last year. It’s ok. Decent for a family trip. Nice that diving is included the mrs loved that. Good for kids with the kids club etc.
Wave wise it was pretty disappointing. I was really surprised how much swell it didn’t get. The 10 days or so I was there indo was triple over head and Kandooma was flat. You could go to sultans etc which were a good drive away and you have to pay extra to go that far, their day trip boat is really nice so at least it’s comfortable. But yeh unless there is a blocking pattern which sends in a separate SE swell many of the breaks around Kandooma are small most of the time.
That said if you score them they are all really fun breaks but it’s not consistent.
Barrel Daithwaite wrote:I went last year. It’s ok. Decent for a family trip. Nice that diving is included the mrs loved that. Good for kids with the kids club etc.
Wave wise it was pretty disappointing. I was really surprised how much swell it didn’t get. The 10 days or so I was there indo was triple over head and Kandooma was flat. You could go to sultans etc which were a good drive away and you have to pay extra to go that far, their day trip boat is really nice so at least it’s comfortable. But yeh unless there is a blocking pattern which sends in a separate SE swell many of the breaks around Kandooma are small most of the time.
That said if you score them they are all really fun breaks but it’s not consistent.
What time of year did you go?
Anyone been?. I booked for 10 days this July. Feedback appreciated.