Researchers at the University of Western Australia teamed with Shark Attack Mitigation Systems, known as SAMS, to develop two wetsuits designed to boost swimmer safety in ocean waters. The collaboration fused marine science with protective textile engineering, turning laboratory insights into practical gear that could change how people experience the coast, whether they swim, snorkel, or surf. The project reflects a clear appetite for real world safety tools that work when it matters most.
The first suit, Elude, is built on a key finding about shark vision: many species see colors poorly and rely on contrast to locate movement. When worn, Elude reduces detection by blending with the watery backdrop, making a swimmer harder to spot in open water. The second suit, Diverter, uses bold black and white stripes that resemble nature’s warning patterns. The contrast is meant to prompt avoidance in nearby sharks and steer them away from a person in the water.
The suits were released for sale for 495 dollars each, offering the public a tangible way to apply science at the beach.
<p Western Australia has faced years of shark activity along its coastline, and researchers say the combination of high visibility and real world testing in local waters helped propel the project forward after a cluster of serious incidents.
Designers, including Hamish Jolly, emphasize that current understanding of how large predatory sharks see the world underpins the hardware choices. The team has translated core biology into a marketable product, aligning safety goals with consumer demand.
Assessing effectiveness will require independent testing and real world trials, but the project illustrates how science and design can collaborate to reduce risk at the water’s edge. Opinions vary, and readers may weigh the potential benefits against the uncertainties.