I have just returned from an eventful week in the Maldives. I stayed at CHaaya Dhonvelli Island which has exclusive rights to the Pasta Point surf break. On day one conditions were pretty good...1m+ swell and cross off shore winds.. I went for 3 sessions first two at Pasta Point and last session at Sultans. Pasta limits numbers at the resort so that wasn't too crowded. Just loved it. Sultans was a different story. There were 40+ people at the main take area. Not a place for a SUP. I found a spot on the shoulder 50m away which was fantastic. Unfortunately late in the day on was on a nice wall doing a cut back from the top of a wave when the wave closed out, my board fell below me and I landed on the rail on my side chest wall. Very painful and difficult to breath because of pain. Ended up going to Male Island (capital) to E.D....confirmed a fractured rib and haemopneumothorax. (Lung was 20% deflated and blood in the chest cavity between the chest wall and the lung) It wasn't bad enough to warrant admission or a chest tube. The pain relief offered by ED was panadiene and an anti -inflammatory. Not enough for a soft westerner like me. Luckily some of the guys in our group had some Panadiene Forte. Next sufing trip I go on I will definetly take some heavy duty painkillers.
I did go out surfing again 3-4 times later during the week , loaded up with anti-inflammatories and Panadiene , however I struggled.
Of the 7 days there ..first 2 days were good conditions, then we had 4 1/2 days of unrelenting 15-20knt winds..Still surfable at some breaks but poor by Maldivian standards. As I left conditions were looking good for the next week
Despite my fractured rib I had a fantastic time in the Maldives. Magic place. My 25yo son came with me . He hadn't done much surfing before but got right into it. Food was fantastic. Snorkelling brilliant. Great group of friends.
I would love to go back...April apparently is less windy but not as consistent for swell. There seems to be plenty of breaks suitable for SUP.