Beacons - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (December - March)

The North East Monsoon takes a firm hold over the Maldives during these months, driving consistent offshore winds from the northern quadrants that groom the swell to perfection. February and March stand out with the highest percentages of ideal wind (up to 72%) and a notable shift in swell direction toward the south, directly lighting up Beacons' south-facing reef. Expect clean, lined-up waves in the 1-1.5m range with long periods around 10-11 seconds, making for fun, rippable conditions that can turn firing when the right swell fills in. January and December also deliver excellent quality, though with slightly more easterly swell angles that still wrap in nicely under the offshore breeze. This is prime time for a Maldives surf trip.

Fair Surf Season (April & November)

These transitional months see the monsoon shifting gears, with the trade winds weakening and the onshore SW winds beginning to dominate. In April, the percentage of offshore wind drops to 28%, but the swell direction becomes almost ideal with a strong S to SSW component, averaging 1.3m and a long 11.6s period. November shows similar patterns with offshore wind returning to 29% as the NE monsoon starts to re-establish. Both months offer windows of opportunity when the right synoptic setup aligns – a passing high-pressure ridge can deliver a day or two of clean northerly winds, allowing the powerful, long-period groundswell to break in pristine form. Expect a mix of clean mornings and bumped-up afternoons; pick your sessions wisely.

Low Surf Season (May - October)

The South West Monsoon dominates from May through October, bringing persistent onshore winds from the W/SW quadrant that significantly degrade wave quality at Beacons. Ideal wind percentages hover between 9-18%, while average swell heights actually increase to 1.5-1.7m with periods of 11-12 seconds – all from the very directions that cause onshore conditions. The result is consistently choppy, messy surf with occasional moments of relief during rare light wind days or when a lull in the trades allows a brief offshore window. July and August are the thick of the monsoon, with swell often exceeding 1.5m but blown out by strong westerlies. October sees a slight uptick in ideal wind (16%) as the monsoon begins to relax, but consistent quality remains elusive until the NE monsoon fully returns in December. For the dedicated surfer, this period is best suited for testing the limits of windswell or seeking shelter, but expect very few clean sessions at Beacons.

March: Swell Direction Sweet Spot

March is the month where everything aligns at Beacons. The NE monsoon is still active, with ideal wind blowing 64% of the time – primarily from N (8.0%) through ENE (8.4%) but with more moderate speeds compared to January and February. What sets March apart is the dramatic shift in swell direction: the S quadrant dominates, with S swell at 34.8% and SSW at 14.0%, making for a combined 48.8% from the optimal directions. The average wave height holds at 1.1m, but the period reaches 11.3s – the longest of the year at this height, indicating a steady diet of long-period groundswell from distant Southern Ocean storms. The offshore winds groom these southerly pulses into clean, peeling lefts (and the occasional right bank) that are rippable and fun. March truly offers the best balance of favorable wind and ideal swell direction, making it the prime month for a dawn patrol strike mission.