Antiques seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (December - March)
The northeast monsoon is the engine of Antiques' best surf. From December through March, the Asian landmass cools and a strong high-pressure system settles over the subcontinent, driving steady offshore winds out of the north, northwest and west-northwest through the Maldives. At the same time, fetches in the central Indian Ocean and the southern hemisphere storm track send a consistent stream of ESE, SE and SSE/S swell into this south-southeast-facing reef. Average surf hovers in the fun 3.5-4ft (1.1-1.2m) range, periods climb from 9.4s up to 10.6s, and favorable wind frequencies peak at 62-65 percent. The result is a prolonged window of clean, rippable, lined-up reef waves. It is the most reliable and highest-quality surf of the year.
Fair Surf Season (April and November)
The transition months of April and November are the classic shoulder season. April still picks up strong S/SSE groundswell as the southern Indian Ocean remains active, but the monsoon is beginning to flip, winds swing more westerly, and the percentage of ideal offshore flow drops to around 46 percent. November sees the southwest monsoon retreat, with favorable wind frequencies climbing back to 41 percent and WNW/NW flow becoming more common, but average swell period is still a bit short at 9.6s. Both months offer workable surf for the keen traveler, but you need to pick your windows carefully and chase the mornings when offshore NNW/NW winds beat back the residual west/southwest breeze.
Low Surf Season (May - October)
From May through October, the southwest monsoon locks in over the Maldives. A broad low-pressure trough and strong cross-equatorial flow from the southwest push persistent west, southwest and occasional south winds across Antiques, exactly the wrong directions for this SSE-facing break. The swell actually becomes larger and more powerful-average heights build from 5ft (1.5m) up to 6ft (1.8m) and periods sit in the 10.5-10.9s range-but it arrives with heavy, windblown surf. The spot's exposed position means the quality quickly becomes lumpy, sectiony and hard to surf. While the bigger days can be spectacular if a rare NW offshore wind lines up, the default conditions are far below the standards of the northeast monsoon season. Expect a lot of rain, warm humidity and marginal surf; this is the season for the surfari to look elsewhere.