Handhu Post Card

Working for World Surfaris has offered me a lot over the years, never more so than when

I was invited along to the boss’s yearly Maldivian pilgrimage.

Working for World Surfaris has offered me a lot over the years, never more so than when

I was invited along to the boss’s yearly Maldivian pilgrimage.

Not only did I get to be part of a voyage of discovery to remote parts of the Maldives and

surf waves few have done before. The remoteness and flexibility of our itinerary enabled

us to roam with a sense of freedom and enjoy the sprit of travel few of us would feel again.

The vastness of the journey still lingers in my mind and I find myself day dreaming about

the deserted perfect set ups. Not a reef pass went by un-scrutinised on our charts, as

our aim was to find a hidden jewel we would claim as our own.

Shaun Levings, Managing Director of World Surfaris and a surf veteran of the Maldives

(this trip being his 12th visit), planned the voyage. He invited along a band of misfits

and before we knew it we were touching down in Addu Atoll where the good ship

‘Handhu’ and crew where waiting our arrival.

Our first surf wasn’t all time but the sun was out, the water was translucent and not

another surfer for 1000 miles. We couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. We surfed a

right and a left off the island of Villingilli as they were the best on offer. Then the

conditions led us towards Gaaf Dhaal Atoll. With a six hour crossing under our belts

we arose the next morning to 3’ Blue Bowls, our surf guide vowing it would be better

on the mid tide. A quick steam to Tiger Tracks, a consistent left was in order. Tiger

Tracks, has a unique wave pattern with strips of reef with stripes of white sand run

adjacent to each other giving a tiger stripe effect that stops you mid paddle to gaze

in awe. As our surf guide predicted Blue Bowls was pumping. 3’ to ‘4 foot magic.

Again ‘Handhu’ anchored in the channel.

After a few days in Gaaf Dhaal we were steering north again. Back in search of the

unknown and with not much swell predicted morale was still high. Until it became

evident we were nearly out of beer only a few days into the voyage. To cut a long

story short Shaun managed to get a fresh supply flown in, which was no easy feat.

To the Maldivian crew it might have seemed a little eccentric, but what’s a surf trip

without a few arvo beers! We passed amazing set ups, if only the swell and wind

would be in our favour. “World class” and “potential” were among a few words thrown

around. We could only imagine what might have been as we cruised through the narrow

reef passes.

Fishing was a highlight onboard and there was always a line or two out as we cruised

between atolls or breaks. Some memorable catches were landed from Wahoo, Barracuda,

Yellow Fin Tuna, Coral Trout and many more varieties of fish even the odd small shark.

As we continued north a further assessment of conditions was made and we needed

to head northwest to Thaa Atoll to squeeze the most of the predicted one meter

southwest swell. A blessing in disguise, as it was flat everywhere else on the East side

of the Maldives at the time which was totally unseasonable.

We were the only surfers in the Maldives at the time on track to catch the small southwest swell.

Thaa Atoll became home for the next couple of days.

We held anchor at a wave we named Handi (Ghost wave). Named after our Captain

Igay who claimed he saw a ghost while we were anchored there. We surfed Handi at

3’ to 4’ and a fraction bigger on the low tide pulse. Not another surfer in sight just

the odd passing fishing boat on the horizon. The wave was similar in characteristics

to Point Cartwright and walled up for over 100 metres into a classic little tropical bay.

As the swell was almost gone and the trip was nearing its end we were treated to a

few unexpected moments.

We visited a small remote fishing village which had been hit hard by the Boxing Day

Tsunami. The villagers faces told stories of hard times, mine must have looked like a

blank canvas in comparison. We were granted permission to go to the village school

where we received a celebrity style welcome.

A final throw of the dice and we ended up in Dhaal Atoll and surfed a right later to be

named Mauroof after Martey our surf guide. Martey managed to get a couple of barrels

in the 2’ waves. The place has huge potential.

Even though we were not blessed by Huey with epic swell, it’s all part of the adventure

of surf travel. It was an amazing situation to be in, leaving it totally up to Mother Nature.

As she supplied us with waves for our soul, fish for our belly, good weather to travel in

and memories for a lifetime.

For more info go to www.worldsurfaris.com