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A man in red shorts joyfully runs on a Maldives beach carrying a surfboard.
📷 Asad Photo Maldives · Pexels

Raalhugandu

4.0 — based on 21 community signals
4.3 12 species 41 contributors

Raalhugandu in the Maldives offers year-round surf with a small but active local community documenting breaks and conditions.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Visibility
25 m
Water temp
26–29°C
Shore entryPhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
surf
Difficulty
beginner
Visibility
25 m
Water temp
26–29 °C
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

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Map

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Raalhugandu location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
9.4 kn
Wave
0.7 m
Water
29.5°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: WSW (50%)
Now: W (275°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.66m

Next: High at 05:00 (+0.55m)

+0.8 m+0.1 m
▲ 05:00 · +0.55m ▼ 10:00 · +0.37m ▲ 15:00 · +0.5m ▼ 22:00 · +0.13m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV9.25 · very high Air PM2.54 · good 05:55 18:03
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 12.1 0.8 9 0mm
09-20 15.2 0.9 9 9mm
09-21 14.4 0.98 9 5mm
09-22 15 0.96 9 5mm
09-23 13.9 0.98 8 1mm
09-24 18.6 1.14 8 10mm
09-25 16.4 1.14 8 10mm
🌡 Water temp: Normal for Sep (26–29°C)

About this spot

Raalhugandu is a surf destination in the Maldives accessible to travelers seeking warm-water waves. The spot operates outside a marine protected area, giving surfers straightforward access without permit restrictions. While specific difficulty ratings and water conditions aren't formally documented, the 12 recorded species observations and 3 community videos indicate an established local presence and regular activity. The year-round window means you can plan a trip almost any month, though local knowledge from the community videos will help you pick optimal swell windows and seasonal patterns. Being in the Maldives, expect tropical conditions and coral-rich waters—respect the environment and stay aware of marine life in the area. Your best bet for current intel is connecting with local surfers and checking recent community uploads. The Maldives' remote island setting means self-sufficiency and advance planning matter; arrange transport and accommodation early. Wave quality and consistency vary across the atolls, so detailed local beta beats generic seasonal forecasts.

📖 Guide: Diving in the Maldives: 156 Sites, Mantas & What to Know

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 🤿 Pack: 3/2 mm shorty
  • 🏄 Surfboard or rental confirmation
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type D/G/J/K/L · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • 🤿 Wetsuit 3/2 mm shorty
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 8539km · ~1964kg · €35

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 54/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 11h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 10h east · 7 days recovery

FAQ

What's the best time to surf Raalhugandu?

Raalhugandu works year-round, but swell patterns vary seasonally across the Maldives. Check community videos and local reports to confirm peak months for your skill level.

What's the difficulty level and what depth do I need?

Specific depth and difficulty data aren't documented for this break. Review community videos and contact local guides to assess if the spot suits your experience.

What marine life should I expect?

Twelve species observations have been recorded at Raalhugandu. The Maldives' tropical reef environment hosts sharks, rays, turtles, and reef fish—stay alert and respect marine habitats.

Do I need permits or visas to surf here?

Raalhugandu is not in a marine protected area, so no diving or snorkeling permits apply. Verify entry requirements with the Maldives immigration authority for your nationality.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

MA Services

0.7 km
Dive centre

Ocean Junkies Dive centre

4.7 km
4.6 (99 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified Booked 40+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM

Dive Club Maldives

5.6 km
4.6 (89 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Booked 39+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Dive Center

5.8 km
Dive centre

Vaadho Caves

8.5 km
Dive centre

Embudu Channel / Embudu Express

9.5 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Raalhugandu#maldives #surfing #raalhugandu

ForexRsMv

Maldives Surfing raalhugandu

Espy Rasheed
💬 1 top comments
  • Good day! Unang Hirit is GMA7’s flagship morning show that presents news, information and entertainment to jump start every Filipino’s day. UH airs Monday to Friday from 5:30am to 8:00am. As we aim to continuously make mornings special, we regularly feature various establishments/ products/ services that we think will be interesting and relatable to the viewers. We are currently working on a se

    @laurenmikhal · 👍 1

Varunulaa Raalhugandu

mutenostrilsyndrome
💬 2 top comments
  • this is a classic! woohooo

    @infamoushambe · 👍 0
  • awesome work dude

    @AhmedKaram1984 · 👍 0

Local knowledge

OpenStreetMap Notes
  • "This roundabout should be updated when newer aerial imagery is available to trace it better."

    City2368 · 2026-03-06
  • "This roundabout should be updated either using updated aerial imagery where the roundabout is visible or using GPS traces. Currently it's just an estimated outline of the roundabout."

    City2368 · 2026-03-06
wind peaks May-Oct-Jun, calmest Nov-Apr-Mar, dry Feb-Jun, water 26-29°C.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)

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