Antiques - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (December - March)

The Northeast Monsoon grips the Maldives from December through March, delivering a consistent stream of offshore winds from the N to NW quadrant to Antiques. With the beach facing SSE, these winds groom the swell perfectly, creating clean, lined-up waves. Average swell heights hover around 1.1-1.2m, but with periods often exceeding 10s, the waves pack plenty of punch. The dominant swell directions shift into the S and SSE window, wrapping nicely into the Antiques reef. This is prime time for rippable, fun-sized waves under sunny skies.

Fair Surf Season (November & April)

As the monsoons transition, November and April offer a mixed bag. November sees the tail end of the Southwest Monsoon, with ideal wind percentages climbing to 41% and a mix of S-to-WSW swell offering solid 1-1.5m waves. April marks the easing of the trade winds, with ideal wind still near 46% but swell becoming more S-dominated and a bit more powerful. Expect punchy, period-rich waves alongside occasional onshore breezes during these shoulder months.

Low Surf Season (May - October)

The Southwest Monsoon dominates from May through October, bringing persistent onshore winds from the WSW, W, and SW quadrants. While the swell pumps with average heights of 1.5-1.8m and periods around 10-11s, the wind often wrecks the surface, making conditions choppy and messy. The swell direction locks into SSE and S, which is perfect for the spot, but the lack of clean offshore wind lowers the quality considerably. Only brief windows of offshore flow (N to NW) provide the occasional clean, pumping session.

November: The Window Opens

November sees a significant improvement in surf quality as the Northeast Monsoon gains strength. Ideal offshore wind jumps to 41%, with increasing contributions from NW (22.1%) and WNW (15.5%). These winds groom the S and SSE swell, creating clean, lined-up conditions. The average swell height is 1.4m with a period of 9.6s – slightly less powerful than the peak months but still solid. Swell direction is more spread, including significant components from S (26.1%), SSW (17.2%), and SW (13.8%). The prevalence of 1.5-2m waves from the SW offers a different, faster line. November is a great month to catch clean, fun waves with fewer crowds.