What to wear on a Watamu glass bottom boat or snorkeling trip
September 4, 2026 · The East Living
What to wear on a Watamu glass bottom boat or snorkeling trip starts with swimwear under a quick-dry layer. Polyester or nylon is the fabric that still feels light once it is wet. A rash guard covers more sun than a loose beach shirt, both in the water and on the bench. Water sandals complete the walk from sand to hull.
What to wear on a Watamu glass bottom boat or snorkeling trip should also keep small things attached. A sunglasses strap stops a pair from leaving with the first wake. The Kenya Wildlife Service gate has changing space, so town clothes can stay in a bag until you switch. The East Living does not hand out kit, and the operator should still confirm sizes.
READ ALSO: Do I need to bring my own snorkeling gear to Watamu
Fabrics that survive a soaking
Wear the swimsuit first, then shorts and a shirt in polyester or nylon. Cotton holds water and gets heavy on the ride home. A long-sleeve rash guard is the better sun layer if you burn easily. Reef shoes or water sandals beat leather sandals that hate salt.
READ ALSO: Can you bring your own food and drinks on a Watamu boat excursion
Changing and the small extras
Use the changing space at the park gate so you are not swapping clothes on a rocking bench. Put the sunglasses strap on before you board. A light towel is useful and a heavy cotton cover-up is not. Leave jewellery you cannot afford to drop through the glass opening at the hotel.
Bottles the park does not want
Single-use plastic bottles are the item to leave behind. A reusable flask is the drink that fits the marine park rules. Fill it at the hotel before the gate. Food packaging that is also disposable plastic belongs in the same leave-behind pile.
READ ALSO: What to Pack for a Half-Day Watamu Marine Park Boat Trip
What the operator still provides
Clothing is yours, and masks are usually the boat's, so ask the quote to say so. A rash guard does not replace a life jacket. The marketplace does not pack your bag or run the trip. Operators subscribe from $29 to $149 a month for visibility, with no commission on the booking.
FAQs
What fabric works?
Quick-dry polyester or nylon over swimwear, with a rash guard and water sandals.
Can I change at the park?
Yes. The Kenya Wildlife Service gate has changing space.
Are plastic bottles allowed?
Leave single-use plastic bottles behind and carry a reusable flask. Operators subscribe from $29 to $149 a month to be found, and The East Living takes no commission.
Conclusion
What to wear on a Watamu glass bottom boat or snorkeling trip is swimwear under quick-dry polyester or nylon, a rash guard, water sandals and a sunglasses strap. Change at the Kenya Wildlife Service gate if you would rather arrive in town clothes. Skip single-use plastic bottles and bring a reusable flask. A listed operator can confirm the kit, and you still pack the clothes.
READ ALSO: Tours in Watamu