Beachwear: The Complete Guide by Activity

Beach days offer a thousand different moods. Surfing a good wave in the morning, diving into the lagoon at noon, sunbathing on the sand in the afternoon, then finishing up on a terrace as the sun sets. Each moment has its own rules — and its own clothing. This guide gives you the right pieces for each activity, with a special focus on UPF50+ sun protection and technical fabrics that last in water and salt.

🏄♀️ Surfing — prioritize protection and freedom of movement

Surfing is the activity that demands the most from your outfit. Salt, UV, friction against the board, paddling… Your gear must perform on all these fronts at once.

For women: the women's UPF50+ surf suit is the obvious choice. It protects the back, shoulders, and arms from UV rays and board chafing. Look for integrated push-up support so you don't have to manage a bikini during your session. Our Women's UPF50+ Surf Suit range is designed for this — quick-drying, anti-chafing, 4-way stretch lycra.

For men: the men's UPF50+ rashguard with technical boardshorts is the winning combo. Long sleeves for extended sessions, compressive material to reduce muscle fatigue.

What to avoid: simple bikinis or cotton t-shirts. Cotton absorbs water, gets heavy, and chafes. Technical fabrics (polyester/elastane) dry in 20 minutes and don't sag in the waves.

Recommended product: MITI Long-Sleeve Cami Surf Suit UPF50+ — our best-seller, available in several Pacific-inspired designs.

🤿 Snorkeling — see underwater without getting burned

Snorkeling is a tricky activity when it comes to UV: you spend hours with your back exposed to the sun, often without realizing it. Water amplifies the rays — sunburns happen faster than on the beach.

The ideal outfit: a long-sleeve rashguard + swim leggings or technical shorts. This combination covers the back, shoulders, and thighs — the areas most exposed when snorkeling.

For women: a long-sleeve surf suit or a rashguard + leggings. Certified UPF50+ Lycra = sunscreen for covered areas (no need to reapply under the fabric).

For men: long-sleeve rashguard + boardshorts or leggings. Avoid simple swim shorts — your lower back and shoulders will suffer.

💡 Good to know: a UPF50+ fabric blocks 98% of UV rays. Sunscreen, on the other hand, dilutes in water. For long aquatic activities, clothing offers better protection.

🏊♀️ Swimming — comfort, support, freedom

For pure swimming — pool, lagoon, calm sea — the priority is support without discomfort. You want to swim freely, dive, and play in the water without adjusting your outfit every two minutes.

For women: a one-piece swimsuit or a cami suit remains the most practical choice. Wide straps, cups with support, no ties that come undone. If you swim regularly, opt for chlorine-resistant Lycra.

For men: fitted swim boxer briefs or short boardshorts. Long boardshorts slow down swimming — for laps, technical boxer briefs are more efficient.

What to avoid: tie-bikinis for active swimming (they come undone), and overly thin fabrics that become transparent when wet.

☀️ Sunbathing — protect yourself while enjoying the sun

Lying on the sand, we often forget that this is where we get the most severe sunburns. Sand reflection amplifies UV rays — and between 10 am and 2 pm in the tropics, a few minutes are enough to mark the skin.

The essentials: a good swimsuit, sunscreen on exposed areas, and quick access to a tunic or surf poncho when the heat is too intense.

For women: bikini or one-piece swimsuit depending on your body shape and preferences. Add a crop top or a light tunic for moments when you want to cover up without getting hot.

For men: boardshorts + technical t-shirt if you're sitting for a long time. A short-sleeve UPF50+ rashguard is an excellent alternative to sunscreen for the torso.

💡 Even under an umbrella, diffuse UV rays reach the skin. Protection is still necessary.

🌅 After-beach — from water to terrace in one change

Real beach life also includes the transition: getting out of the water, rinsing off, going for lunch or ice cream in town. You want an outfit that goes from the beach to the street without looking out of place.

Versatile pieces:

• The surf poncho — to throw on directly over a wet swimsuit, absorbs water, protects from wind. Perfect for an immediate transition.
• The light beach dress — over a dry bikini, it works anywhere. Gauze or viscose fabric = lightness and style.
• Surf shorts / boardshorts — for men, good boardshorts can be worn directly on a terrace if the cut is clean.

What makes the difference post-beach: quick-drying clothes. Get out of the water, put on your dress or surf t-shirt — and be presentable in less than 10 minutes.

🌊 Why UPF50+ changes everything at sea

The UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) index measures a fabric's ability to block UV rays. A UPF50+ fabric blocks 98% — which is twice the protection of a standard SPF30 sunscreen applied correctly (which is rarely the case in practice).

Why it's crucial in an aquatic environment:

• Water reflects up to 25% additional UV rays
• Sunscreen dilutes in 40 to 80 minutes in water
• Light surfaces (white sand, lagoon bottom) further amplify reflection
• In the tropics (New Caledonia, Polynesia, Reunion Island), the UV index can reach 12+ in summer

Technical UPF50+ fabric protects continuously, without reapplication, without forgetting. For surfing, snorkeling, or long days at sea, it's the most reliable protection available.

The entire Couleurs Lagon range is UPF50+ certified — from women's surf suits to men's rashguards, as well as swim leggings and crop tops.

Summary — what outfit for what activity?

The Pacific Anchor — why it matters

Couleurs Lagon was born in New Caledonia, on the edge of a UNESCO-listed lagoon. Our products are not designed for a catalog beach — they are created for the salty waters of the Pacific, sunrise surf sessions, and snorkeling days on vibrant coral reefs.

This origin is reflected in the chosen materials, the Oceanian-inspired patterns, and an eco-responsible approach: fewer disposable synthetics, more durable technical pieces that last through seasons without wearing out.

→ Discover the Women's UPF50+ Surf Suit range
→ Discover men's UPF50+ rashguards