Maldivian President spares Thanburudhoo from development
Eight years after the fight began, Maldivian surfers have finally won protection for two of the Maldives best waves.
In 2012, it was announced that a foreign development company named Telos Investments had paid USD $5 million for the lease of Thanburudhoo Island at Kaafu Atoll, which included exclusive access to the waves breaking off its southern tip, Honkys and Sultans.
Thanburudhoo Island with Honkys and Sultans breaking off its southern tip
Over the next three years, Maldivian surfers fought that battle, till in 2015 then-President of the Maldives Abdulla Gayoom suspended the development. For the next five years a cloud of uncertainty hung over Thanburudhoo. As foreign investment turbocharged development in other parts of the island chain, local surfers waited for the next proposal at Thanburudhoo.
Last Thursday, however, they woke up to great news; local activist Ahmed Aznil saying it was, "one of the craziest things that has happened in my life."
Aznil was referring to the announcement from President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih that Thanburudhoo Island had been granted protected area status. The announcement doesn't protect Thanburudhoo from all development, though if any were to proceed they'd have to meet more stringent environmerntal guidelines.
Almost certainly, however, the two waves, Honkys and Sultans, will remain accesible to local surfers.
“The Maldives have hundreds of waves," Aznil told Swellnet back in 2016, "but truth is locals can only surf about four or five."
Last week's announcement ensures they always have access to Honkys and Sultans.
The Maldivian government has now declared 24 sites in seven atolls as protected areas. They plan to designate at least one island, one reef, and one mangrove, in each atoll as a protected area.
Comments
well done to all those that stood the test of time (8 years) to get this win. perserverance pays off - for a change
Telos Investments hey, looking to capitalise on something Mother Nature gifted the world for free by buying it and making it expensive - fuck that!
couldn't have said it better or more simply wax-on
Exactly!
Well, you’d need to take a long hard look at yourself (as a surfer) if you were delving into the area of ‘wave exclusivity’ and merely propagating more tension amongst kin and more to the point reinforcing the directions of a developer. For me and many more ‘exclusive’ and waves just don’t gel. Share and share a like.
Shame Chickens wasnt on that list!
First went there over 35 years ago, lucky if a couple of surfers from Dohnveli’s pasta point would come over. Went again a decade later and the boats were there. Anyone been lately, what’s it’s like now? From what I recall , Pasta point, which was only half a km to the east of Sultans is exclusively for paying surfers on that island, no visitor boats allowed . Tony Hussein Hinde helped them snag that one way back in the day, guess it’s still the same today ?
yeh there is a number of private waves still - Pasta, Lohis, Kandooma and some in the southern area too I think.
Don’t go there it’s so overcrowded and not unusual to see 100 guys out at jails or sultans when the lefts aren’t working
It’s a shame because it’s got world class waves
Spent 2 weeks at Pasta Point 20 years ago now, was exclusive then and pretty sure it still is. First day got there at lunch had a feed and surfed Jails for 4 hours 4-6ft with 6 guys. Had to pay $50 for a licence to surf it back then.
Was 4-8ft the whole trip in July. Went back in March the next year and did a Southern Atolls boat trip, untouched paradise no one but 4 of us.
Good old days lol.
Was there last year in November , very popular wave at Sultans with many boats turning up and staying for the day
Maldives still has epic waves equal, or and in many cases, better than those around the well known areas. Have surfed by ourselves countless times. Regardless, the tenacious efforts of Anzil and the band of dedicated locals to protect these 2 waves from more exclusivity should really be commended. Amazing work and a victory for all surfers !
Had a couple of meetings with Gunnar in Singapore, back when he was in his planning stages to develop Thanburudhoo - nice guy; quite American, from California.
Didn't understand why there was so much opposition from Maldivian and visiting surfers, he figured they would be stoked with his plans. They were not.
Pumped me for info on other locations in Maldives with high quality waves, where he could develop without so much resistance - I just laughed.