Tiger Stripes got its name from the narrow (tiger like) gouges in the reef and is touted one of the most consistent waves in the Southern Atolls, spitting out wide open lefthand walls perfect for all levels. Although more powerful than other waves in the area, it doesn't get as hollow, and cruisy long walls are usually what you get to work on your cutbacks, carves or backhand snaps. Tiger Stripes is ultra reliable and works in all tides and never gets too shallow. Pretty unimpressive when it's small, Tiger Stripes really turns on when the swell hits 3ft+ and a prime option when other spots tend to shut down. 3 main sections define Tiger Stripes. A quick and tricky take-off at the outside corner of the wave turns into a super rippable wall that increases in speed as it runs towards the inside with an end section that throws out the occasional tube vision before a mellow exit into the channel. It handles North winds and loves a Southeast swell. Keep an eye out for the current that seems to turn on and off without warning.

A comfortable 5-minute boat ride from Ayada Resort, this ultra-consistent lefthander turns on the charms on a medium, southwesterly swell and N / NE winds. An instant love affair for every goofy footer, Love Charms is a long beautiful wave with two sections. An easy take-off slingshots you into a nice steep wall for a few nice turns before the little kink in the reef hollows out the wave through the inside for some fantastic little tubes. Although more almondy than round in shape, it's a fairly easy barrel that ends in a shallow-ish bowl, and the spot you should be kicking out. Depending on size the break can change in an instant. On bigger days the first section links up with the reef as it draws more water and you can tuck under a zipping lip upon take-off. The two sections that are so mechanical on smaller swells somewhat disappear, and you have to watch out for the wide cleanup sets or the straight up closeouts that can drag you to the wrong side of the reef. Prepare your paddle muscles too as there always seems to be a rip trying to pull you out of position.

Five Islands is a heavy righthander that throws hard and hollow over a shallow reef. It's a pretty sectioney wave, and you might want to watch it for a while, but it produces some of the longest barrels in the Southern Atolls. Well protected from south to southwest winds, Five Islands is less forgiving than nearby Blue Bowls with a pretty steep take-off and a fast mid-section. Angle your take-off and sit a little deeper than you usually would to not only get yourself over the crease of the wave but to set you up for the main attraction of the wave. The fast but super hollow mid-section is why surfers keep coming back for more. It's a quick wave so don't draw out your bottom turns and angle your take-off, so you are already going in the direction you are about to get slotted. Five Islands handles size pretty well, and it works on all tides with a mid to high tide and a swell from the south, primed to score the barrels of your life. Paddle wide to not get caught inside or to be in someone else's way.

The name kind of gives it away but this righthander bowls up so nicely for a variety of tricks. It has a pretty shallow inside section which bottoms out for amazing barrels when the swell has some south in it, and the winds blow from the west. Works on all tides and gets better with size but is actually a really fun spot when it's small as it slows down and offers a really nice, long and consistent high-performance wall to shred away. The end section gets pretty shallow so watch out before you kick out that there are no exposed rocks nearby. The section after the take-off is money, and you can actually backdoor it as it wraps around the reef and doesn't close out.

Antiques is the ever so perfect alternative to Tiger Stripes but smaller and less powerful. The wave breaks over a perfectly flat reef bed that has no kinks or imperfections you have to deal with. Really consistent and breaks across all tides pumping out perfect little peelers especially popular among longboarders, regular footers, and intermediate surfers. It has two main peaks to keep the crowd at bay and really fires on a solid south swell. No bueno on a low tide as it gets too shallow.

Castaway has probably the most amazing backdrop of all waves in the Maldives. The spot backs onto a large, lively reef formation that separates the break from a chain of little, uninhabited islands. It has a pretty soft take-off, but has a super shallow inside section that needs some navigating. Really idyllic vibe here with cruisy waves, plenty of marine life and usually not too many people but watch out for the super shallow reef along the inside of the wave! Works best in a mid to high tide and a swell bigger than 4ft. On it’s days, it can throw square barrels over the shallow reef, so don’t let the gentle take-off fool you, it’s tricky. It’s dangerous. You better bring your A-game.

Probably the heaviest break when it's on and not a wave you want to mess with unless you are an expert in the barrel. A super exposed reef break that is both fierce and fickle. Only really works in a clean southwest swell and any other direction almost always causes the wave to close out. A prime summer months destination with S -SE swells coming through pretty consistently. Although the barrel is perfect in the right conditions, the reef is not. It's an uninvitingly shallow, coral reef formation you do not want to come in contact with and best surfed on a mid to high tide. It has one distinct take-off spot with a pretty challenging drop but a beautiful and hollow barrel section that follows. Take the drop with commitment and then it's off to the races before the wave slows down over a bowly end section. Watch it a few times before you get into position and watch out for the straight closeouts that, unfortunately, come through every once in a while.