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.

October: The Transition Tension

October is a month of transition, with the Northeast Monsoon slowly re-establishing. Ideal wind still only 28%, but the wind roses show more spread, with W (23.9%) and WSW (22.3%) still dominant. However, a slight increase in NW and WNW winds hints at improving conditions. Swell averages 1.5m at 10.0s, with a mix of SSE (34.6%) and S (29.2%) swell. Wave height is solid, with 1.5-2m sets common, especially from SSW (8.8%). The swell remains powerful, but the surface often suffers from cross-shore winds. The best windows come when the wind swings to N or NW – usually lasting a few days.