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to surf. Because of the maze of reef<br />
passes, varying swell directions and<br />
changing winds, a world class of waves<br />
often occurs in secluded hideaways<br />
where surfers don’t come.<br />
By chartering a <strong>Maldivian</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Taxi</strong><br />
seaplane, these far away and normally<br />
difficult to reach surf-spots are suddenly<br />
accessible. And by going by seaplane,<br />
one is guaranteed to get some pristine<br />
surfing. While some surf breaks might<br />
be tiny, there are those that are six<br />
feet and pumping, all due to a more<br />
compatible swell direction.<br />
“I normally pick up the guests at their<br />
resort. We load their surfboards in the<br />
back and takeoff for the search. Upon<br />
arriving over the surf spot, I circle the<br />
break at lower altitude for a close<br />
inspection – if it looks sweet then I land<br />
the seaplane and taxi close to the break<br />
-as close as possible where Latheef<br />
then drops the anchor -so its only a<br />
short paddle to your own private surf<br />
spot,” explains captain Steve Pembo.<br />
Started surfing as<br />
teenagers<br />
Both Steve Pembo and Ibrahim Latheef<br />
started surfing as teenagers. But they had a<br />
MALDIVIAN AIR TAXI<br />
very different start to their surfing lives.While Steve Pembo was<br />
able to buy a used surfboard, Ibrahim Latheef had to make<br />
one himself out of a piece of wood.<br />
Ibrahim is from the Maldives island of Muli in Meemu atoll.<br />
Since he started surfing at the age of seventeen, his life has<br />
been about surfing and he dreams of being able to work as a<br />
professional surfer one day.<br />
Steve is from the ‘Gold Coast’ south of Brisbane in Australia.<br />
He started surfing when his parents took him on a surf<br />
vacations as a teenager. He got his first surfboard at the<br />
age of sixteen as a birthday present. Other than flying, it’s<br />
surfing that is Steve’s greatest passion. He even has his own<br />
company – RIPPING surf threads, at ripping.com.au – that<br />
makes surf apparel for surfers.<br />
Both agree that the best way of surfing the Maldives is by<br />
seaplane. And they both mentioned that Thaa atoll too is<br />
another spot to go when you want those perfect long straight<br />
tube sections. But when asked what the spot is called they<br />
both laughed and said “it’s a secret”.<br />
“One of the amazing things about going surfing by seaplane<br />
is that there is no one else around because we keep the<br />
spots a secret. It’s just our guests and us. And when we land<br />
it’s always the guest that has the first ride in the ‘untouched<br />
waves’ ”,explained Steve and Ibrahim.<br />
No uniform when going home<br />
During a normal surf charter-day, one will normally be<br />
flying around two hours of the day and visiting around<br />
4-6 different surf spots. The wind, tide and waves are<br />
................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.maldivianairtaxi.com 43<br />
photo: Tropic Surf
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