Most snorkeling trips go wrong in the same way: a great day on the reef, then a sunburned back so bad you can't sleep, let alone snorkel the next morning. When you snorkel you float face-down for an hour or more, with your back, shoulders and the backs of your legs pointed straight at the sun and cooled by water, so you don't feel the burn until it's too late.
So the real question behind "what to wear snorkeling" is simple: what keeps you covered, comfortable and warm enough, without dragging you down in the water? Here is what we wear and recommend, from a team of divers and snorkelers.
The short answer
- A swimsuit as your base layer.
- A long-sleeve rash guard on top, to cover your back, shoulders and arms.
- Leggings, a dive skin or a shorty wetsuit for your legs, depending on the water temperature.
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen only on the skin that stays uncovered.
- Something for the boat or beach: a hat, a neck gaiter and a dry layer for after.
1. Start with a swimsuit that stays put
Wear a swimsuit you can kick and climb a boat ladder in. For women, a one-piece or a sporty bikini that won't shift when you dive under a wave. For men, swim trunks or jammers. Long, baggy board shorts look the part but act like a parachute when you kick, so shorter or close-fitting is better.
2. Cover your back with a long-sleeve rash guard
This is the piece that matters most. A rash guard is a close-fitting stretch top made for the water. It protects the exact spots that burn first when you snorkel (the back, the shoulders and the back of the neck) and it doesn't wash off like sunscreen does.
Why long sleeves? Your arms sit right at the surface for the whole swim. A short-sleeve top still leaves your forearms and the backs of your arms to burn.
What to look for:
- A snug fit. A loose top fills with water and balloons up around you. It should feel like a second skin, not a T-shirt.
- Quick-dry, four-way stretch fabric, so it moves when you kick and doesn't stay heavy and cold on the boat.
- Flat seams, so nothing rubs under a life vest or snorkel vest.
All our rash guards have built-in UV protection, quick-dry four-way stretch fabric and flatlock seams. A few that snorkelers love: the Purple Ray women's rash guard, the Dive Stingray men's rash guard and the "I Breathe Under Water" men's rash guard. The print runs across the back, which is the part everyone sees while you float. See every style in our snorkeling rash guards collection, or shop women's rash guards only.
3. Don't forget your legs
The backs of your thighs and knees are the second-worst place for snorkel sunburn, and the one people forget. Sunscreen there washes off quickly from kicking. Options:
- Swim leggings or surf leggings: light, cheap, and they also protect from jellyfish stings and reef scrapes.
- A full dive skin: one thin suit from wrists to ankles. Great sun and sting cover with almost no warmth. We compare the two in dive skin vs rash guard.
- A one-piece long-sleeve suit, like our Sea Turtle bodysuit for women, which zips at the front and covers the whole upper body in one piece.
4. Match the layers to the water temperature
You lose heat in water many times faster than in air, and snorkeling is slow. Even in the tropics, many people start to shiver after 45 minutes. Use this as a rough guide:
- Above 84°F / 29°C: swimsuit + long-sleeve rash guard + leggings. Sun is the main problem, not cold.
- 79–84°F / 26–29°C: rash guard or dive skin. If you get cold easily or stay in over an hour, add a 1–2 mm shorty or a neoprene top.
- 73–79°F / 23–26°C: a 3 mm shorty or full wetsuit. Wear a rash guard underneath so the suit slides on and doesn't rub.
- Below 73°F / 23°C: a 3–5 mm full wetsuit, and think about a hood and gloves.
Kids, thin people and anyone snorkeling in the morning or on a windy day get cold faster. When in doubt, bring the extra layer.
5. Sunscreen: less, and the right kind
Clothing does most of the work, so you only need sunscreen on your face, neck, hands and any skin still showing. Choose a mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide). Some popular dive spots, such as Hawaii, ban sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate because they harm coral.
Two tips from experience: put it on 20–30 minutes before you get in so it doesn't slide off, and keep it off your forehead right above the mask. It runs into your eyes and stings for the rest of the swim.
6. What to wear on the boat and beach
A snorkel day is often half on a boat. Bring:
- A hat or cap and sunglasses for the ride.
- A neck gaiter. It covers your neck and face from sun and spray and dries in minutes. Try the Shark neck gaiter.
- A dry layer for after: a towel and a warm top. Wet skin plus wind on a fast boat gets cold, even in summer. A long-sleeve sun shirt such as the UPF 50+ polo shirts works well for lunch on deck and the ride home.
- Water shoes or fin booties if you enter from rocks or coral sand.
What not to wear snorkeling
- A cotton T-shirt. It gets heavy, drags in the water, stays cold on the boat and still lets the sun through when wet.
- Shiny jewelry. Flashing metal can attract curious fish, and rings and chains slip off easily in cold water. Leave them in the room.
- Loose board shorts or a baggy top that balloon and slow you down.
- Thick sunscreen everywhere. Cover up instead. It's better for your skin and for the reef.
Quick answers
Can I snorkel in a regular T-shirt?
You can, but it's the worst option. Cotton soaks up water, drags, gives weak sun protection when wet and keeps you cold afterwards. A rash guard does the same job much better.
Do I need a wetsuit for snorkeling?
Not in warm tropical water. A rash guard and leggings are enough above about 79°F / 26°C. Below that, or for long sessions, a shorty or thin full wetsuit keeps you comfortable.
Should a rash guard be tight or loose for snorkeling?
Snug. It should fit like a second skin so it doesn't fill with water. If you're between sizes and will wear it mostly on its own, pick the smaller one. Our rash guard guide explains sizing in detail.
What should kids wear snorkeling?
The same layers, with extra warmth: a long-sleeve rash guard, leggings or a thin suit, and a shorty earlier than adults would need one. Kids get cold and sunburned faster.
Ready for your next reef day?
Browse our snorkeling rash guards for men and women: original ocean prints (rays, sharks, turtles, octopus and reefs) on long-sleeve rash guards designed by divers and made to order in your size.
The DiverBubbles team