Surfing In Maldives

Surfing in the Maldives began long time back. Maldivians have been surfing the waves using materials such as planks for a long time. However, modern surfing was introduced to Maldives in the late 1970s by late Tony Hinde. Tony Hinde, an Australian surfer who took a break from surfing in Sri Lanka and set sail with a friend towards Africa. Though, he was never to reach his destination. His ship dangerously off course and was shipwrecked on the shore breaks of Malé. Tony was exposed to the thrill of surfing on the Maldives reefs. He married a local woman, changed his name to Tony Hussein Hinde, opened his own surf agency and decided to stay for good. Late Tony Hussein Hinde died on a Tuesday afternoon in a freak accident while surfing at Pasta Point in Male' Atoll.

The recent O’Neil Deep Blue Contests held in the Maldives has positioned Maldives resolutely on the world’s surf map. As most of the known surf breaks are in Malé Atoll, there is certainly more to be exposed in the Maldives.

Most resorts offer boats (Dhonis) to transport surfers out past the breaks up to three times per day for two hour time periods while charters offer surfers the possibility to surf the reefs for much longer periods.

Related Topics:

• Popular Surf Sights of Maldives
  

Important Historical Events of Maldives

• 400 BC Buddhist Kingdom

Discovery of ruined temples on some islands indicate an early Buddhist reign.

• 1153

Conversion from Buddhism to Islam
Foundation of the first Sultanate
Islam becomes the national religion
The first Sultan of the Maldives was Mohamed Bin Ibnu Abdulla (1141 - 1156, he disappeared during a pilgrimage to Mecca)

• 1344

Ibnu Batuta, Arabian historian and scholar travelled around the Maldives and worked as a Judge.

• 1558

The Portuguese capture Male'. Sultan Ali VI falls in battle.

• 1573

Under the leadership of Mohamed Thakurfaanu and his two brothers, the Maldives frees itself after 15 years of Portuguese rule.
Sultan Thakurufaanu (from 1573 - 1583) is honoured as national hero.

• 1887

On December 16, 1887 the Sultan of the Maldives signs a Protectorate Treaty with England. The Sultan receives protective rights for the Maldives, and is obliged to pay a tribute to the English Crown.

• 1932

The first written constitution comes into force. (Constitutional Sultanate)

• 1947

The last tribute payment to England.

• 1953

January 1 - After 800 years as a Sultanate (between 1153 - 1953), the first Republic is declared. The first President is Mohamed Amin Didi who dies only one year later.

• 1953, August 21

Return to Sultanate.

• 1959

Secession of the Southern Atolls and deceleration of the Republic of Suvadhuva.

• 1965

On July 26, 1965 the Maldives becomes independent and in the same year, a full member of the United Nations.

• 1968

On November 11, 1968 the second Republic comes into force (Presidential Republic by plebiscite). The first President is Ibrahim Nasir.

• 1972

The beginnings of tourism came after Hans Hass with his boat Xarifa. Produced the first film on the Maldives, both over and underwater in 1957/58.

• 1976

Accepted in the group of Non-Aligned States. The British leave the airbase at Gan.

• 1978

The current President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is elected for the first time and is confirmed in office in 1983, 1988 and again in 1993.

• 1988

Failed attempted coup by Tamil separatists on 3 November 1988. The President asks for foreign support. On the same evening, 1600 Indian parachutists land on the main island and suppress the rebellion.

About Maldives...

The republic of Maldives consists of 1190 coral islands which form a chain in 820 km in length and 130 km in width, set in a territorial area of 859,000 sq. km. of the Indian Ocean. The total land area of the Maldives is approximately 300 square kilometers. Sri Lanka and India are the country’s closest neighbors, lying 750km and 600km north and north-east of Maldives, respectively.

The island of Maldives is formed into 26 natural atolls, which, for purposes of administration, are grouped into 20 administrative regions. Most of the islands are quite small and low-lying, with an average elevation of 1.6m above sea-level. The islands are surrounded by shallow, crystal-clear lagoons enclosed by coral reefs. Out of the 1192 islands, 199 are inhabited and 87 islands have been developed as tourist resorts.

The Maldives has a tropical climate. With two monsoons in the year, it is warm and humid throughout. Daily temperatures vary little. The annual mean temperature is 28.3˚C with temperatures ranging from 25.1˚C to 31.5˚C. The average relative humidity ranges from 78% to 85%.

The Maldivians are said to be racially homogeneous. It is a mixed race of predominantly Aryan and Dravidian origins. The estimated population of Maldives, according to national census 2006 is 298,842. The population is spread over 199 inhabited islands. The most populous of the inhabited islands and the center of commerce is the capital, Male’. The rest of the islands are largely uninhabited, except for 87 islands which have been developed exclusively as luxury resorts.

Maldivian society is very cohesive, with one language, one culture and one religion. The official language is Dhivehi, which is unique to the Maldives. However, English is spoken by a majority of the people, and is also widely used in business and commerce. The people are generally enterprising and very hospitable. Approximately 79% of the population is under 35 years of age, and the national literacy rate currently stands at a very impressive 98%, and is the highest in the region.