Anti-Shark Wetsuit Could Help Save Lives

I am quite sure that Steven Spielberg’s Jaws did scare an entire generation (or more) of beach going folk into thinking that sharks are bad, even though more sharks die at the hands of humans every year compared to the other way around. In fact, the chances of you leaving for the netherworld is far higher when you are on the road than when you’re swimming in the sea. Of course, peace of mind is something that us humans always look forward to, so how about an invisibility cloak for those who take to the seas? I am referring to this “Anti-Shark” Wetsuit that is made possible thanks to the joint effort of entrepreneurs Hamish Jolly and Craig Anderson and the University of Western Australia’s Oceans Institute. This wetsuit was not developed out of random calculations, but rather, it relied on scientific data concerning sharks’ eyesight in order to prevent life-threatening attacks on humans.

The first suit is aptly named “Elude,” and since sharks are color-blind, it will help camouflage a swimmer or diver in the sea – sort of like how the stripes of a zebra can fool its predators among tall grasses. Another suit is known as “Diverter”, where it is supposed to ward off potential shark attacks – not something that I would like to put to the test, mind you. Either suit can be purchased for AUS $429 (US$392) a pop.

Edwin Kee
Categories: Gadgets