Join the National Park Service’s 2016 centennial celebration to explore stunning scenery and intriguing underwater treasures. Swimsuits Direct makes packing easy by recommending plus-size swim fashions for travelers going scuba diving and snorkeling at four historic locales along inland and island shores. 
Ideal Swimsuits
Scuba diving: Choose scuba swimwear styles to go under wetsuits carefully. Skip strapless, loose-fitting, string-tie, and embellished options. You may pull off a strapless top accidentally while removing scuba gear. Any unrestricted fabric that shifts, wrinkles, or bunches up beneath your protective outerwear might cause chaffing. Strings can jam zippers. Wetsuits may compress knotted, metal, beaded, or wooden detailing into your skin, causing discomfort.
Select plainer swimwear over fancier ones. Diving gear will slide right over this one-piece patterned swimsuit, thanks to its sleek, body-hugging fit. This one-piece sweetheart body smoother is another close-fitting version that’s free from potentially bothersome adornments.
Snorkeling: Vivid and neon colors in the red, orange, and yellow families will increase visibility and safety. When water sports don’t require wetsuits, you can brandish decorative beachwear with extra frills that scuba gear can’t accommodate. To avoid sunburns while snorkeling, skip bikinis that bare your midriff. Longer skirt, short, skort, and swimdress styles can shield your tender upper thighs from excess sun exposure.
Two vivid coral styles, a tie-strap tankini with medallion buckle and a ruffled tankini with swimskirt, are bold fashion statements that satisfy the above criteria. If you burn easily, also wear this vibrant floral cover-up that protects multiple areas like your shoulders, chest, back, arms, and thighs.
1. Wisconsin: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Ideal vacation season: Summer Adventures await along Lake Superior’s 12-mile coastline with 21 interspersed isles. The Wall, a popular scuba diving site on Stockton Island’s southwest side, features sandstone ledges submerged 100 feet under water. Explore legendary and mystifying shipwrecks dating back a century or more. Visit park headquarters to apply for a free required diving permits.
Adventures await along Lake Superior’s 12-mile coastline with 21 interspersed isles. The Wall, a popular scuba diving site on Stockton Island’s southwest side, features sandstone ledges submerged 100 feet under water. Explore legendary and mystifying shipwrecks dating back a century or more. Visit park headquarters to apply for a free required diving permits.
Centuries of waves, ice, and wind have carved passageways and arches into enchanting sea caves’ sandstone. View those formations in summer by boat. Starting in June 2016, Apostle Island Cruises will launch daily trips from nearby Bayfield. Or join a mainland guided tour by kayak.
2. California: Channel Islands National Park
Prime tourist time: Fall Nicknamed the North American Galapagos for its rare wildlife, this Southern California coastal chain of five islands is accessible by ferryboats departing from Oxnard and Ventura harbors. Or charter a flight in Camarillo. Increased visibility and water temperatures hitting 70 degrees make fall the perfect season for diving and snorkeling. Whale watching is best in summer, but humpbacks might be visible through October.
Anacapa, the mainland’s closest island, boasts natural bridges including the famed 40-foot Arch Rock along with cliffs and caves. Hike up Inspiration Point to marvel at incredible vistas. At Santa Cruz, visit Scorpion Beach’s 1800s ranch. Then climb up Cavern Point to its impressive coastal overlook. Lastly, pop into Scorpion Anchorage for amazing snorkeling.
3. Florida: Dry Tortugas National Park
Ultimate getaway schedule: Winter Water covers 99 percent of this 100-square-mile recreational area, offering a mesmerizing abundance of colorful coral and marine life. Reach seven remote islands in the gulf 70 miles off Key West by seaplane or boat. Winter’s reduced rainfall, milder temperatures, and lowered humidity are favorable for water sports, fishing, kayaking, and hiking.
Ample diving and snorkeling sites suit all levels. Laminated underwater maps provide guidance through buried treasures like fascinating shipwrecks, protected reefs, and a moat’s remaining wall. “Tortuga” means “turtle” in Spanish, so you’re sure to spot namesake leatherbacks, loggerheads, and hawksbills. Immerse yourself in the past at Garden Key’s Fort Jefferson, an authentic and imposing Civil War prison.
4. Florida: Biscayne National Park
Best visiting period: Winter Close to Miami’s bustling downtown, this 172,000-acre park lies underwater peacefully. Four marinas provide boat access. Sail to the Maritime Heritage Trail to find a lighthouse and six shipwrecks that are prime diving and snorkeling spots. Enjoy guided excursions via canoes, kayaks, or private charters. Boca Chita, the most frequented key, features a 1930s ornamental lighthouse with observation deck allowing vast city skyline and ocean views.
A boat trip to Biscayne Bay’s Stiltsville shacks will uncover Prohibition-era tales of banned alcohol and gambling. Although hurricanes demolished many original houses, you can admire the seven enduring ones from your vessel. The park issues required permits to tour structures.
