Thursday, August 16, 2012

Maldives Epic Surf: Privatized Soon?



Maldive surfers are organizing around a potential threat to surf access on Thamburudhoo Island, home to two of the area's best surf spots in the Maldives.

The Government of Maldives represented by the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has proposed to develop a tourist resort on the island of Thanburudhoo through a lease to a third party. Thamburudhoo is the only island with two world class waves - the left, popularly known as “Honky's” and the right known as “Sultans”.

The surf points at Thamburodhoo have been pivotal in the development of surfing in the country and have for many years been an integral part of the businesses of many small live-aboard safari vessel operators and surf excursion organizers. 

If the development goes ahead the local surfers, the live-aboard surf safari vessel operators, local guest houses that organize surfing excursions and the tourists staying at other resorts will completely lose access to the last accessible surf location with both a left hander and right hander. 

Read a news report about the issue here and stay tuned as Save The Waves develops more action to save these waves in the Maldives. 


1 comment:

bernie said...

Thanks for alerting us Bomb mag. What a pity it would be - already access to each island's break is limited to some extent, but the locals and the surf boat agents seem to have worked out ways of shring without overcrowding the breaks. Pasta point is already completely out ofbounds to anyone not staying at the resort and I have an idea that Lohis has a similar restriction.