Breeze_Issue_007_That_Summer_Feelings

02 / COVER STORY
02 / COVER STORY
Wind surfers also benefit from the stronger winds that
blow from the southwest to navigate their boards with
greater ease.
Divers hesitant of the rougher seas can go diving on the
western edge of the atolls. While currents can get very
strong during Hulhangu, divers would mainly experience
incoming currents on the western side of an atoll, which
are buffered by the coral reefs. On a sunny and calm
day, these incoming currents even lead to better visibility
conditions.
For keen fishermen, the rougher seas of Hulhangu may
not immediately strike as an opportune time to partake
in this intrinsically Maldivian activity. However, there are
certain Nakaiy within the season that are good for fishing,
due to different reasons.
In fact, there is an old Maldivian saying surrounding the
Nakaiy Nora; if the first storm of this Nakaiy comes from
the East, then the fishing during this time will be generally
good.
/ROUGH SEA
GOOD FISHING
CALM SEA
GOOD FISHING
CALM SEA
GREAT FISHING
JAN
FEB
MAR
Hulhangu monsoon is the perfect time for farmers to
begin sowing seeds for field crops in the Maldives. The
dry season of Iruvai is usually too hot for a lot of crops
to grow properly, due to the direct sun the country is
exposed to along the equator.
The more frequent rainfall over this period leads to moist
and cool ground conditions, perfect for growing crops
such as sweet potato, cassava, millets, and corn. Even
during Hulhangu, the Maldives is fortunate to experience
enough sunshine throughout the day to allow these crops
to grow well.
Farmers begin to prepare for the agricultural season
during the first few Nakaiy of Hulhangu by hoeing the
land and cutting down trees to clear the area. By Roanu,
they begin to sow the fields and will continue to tend
their crops until Ahuliha at the end of July. The months
of August and September are spent harvesting these
important crops before the weather starts to shift back to
the dry season.
For example, during the Nakaiy Adha in June, fishermen
tend to find larger schools of fish with greater ease. Or
during Nakaiy Hei at the end of October, though strong
winds are said to blow from different directions, the
conditions are said to be ideal for fishing, especially for
catching prized yellow-fin tuna.
A good time to try your hand at fishing in the Maldives
during Hulhangu would be during a full moon. A full
moon casts more light on the water at night, affecting
feeding patterns of fish as they can see better, so they seek
food in greater ranges during this time. This increases the
likelihood of hooking larger fish. Additionally, the ocean
tides rise along with the full moon, which leads to stronger
currents. The theory is that these stronger currents lead to
more active baitfish, and their predators, giving fishermen
a greater opportunity to make a catch. With currents
already being stronger in Hulhangu monsoon, using the
lunar cycle is also a beneficial tool for planning your next
fishing expedition.
CALM SEA
POOR FISHING
ROUGH SEA
GOOD FISHING
ROUGH SEA
GREAT FISHING
ROUGH SEA
GOOD FISHING
CALM SEA
GOOD FISHING
NORMAL SEA
GREAT FISHING
ROUGH SEA
GOOD FISHING
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
The Maldives is famous for its sunny, cloudless skies
and tranquil seas. While we proudly cherish this image
of endless sunshine, the metamorphosis the country
undergoes over the Hulhangu monsoon is a stunning
testament to the unique appeal of the Maldives. The
months of summer are an exciting time to experience this
island nation in an all new light.
CALM SEA
GREAT FISHING
ROUGH SEA
GOOD FISHING
NOV
DEC
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