26 July 2013

Australian Company Designs Anti-Shark Wetsuit

[Click here to view the video in this article]







Australian company Shark Attack Mitigation Systems and researchers from the University of Western Australia have collaborated to create wetsuits designed to deter shark attacks.



Sharks rely on their vision when going in for the kill, so the two new designs work to confuse and counter a shark’s dependence on its vision.



The first design, the ‘Cryptic Pattern’, is meant for divers and swimmers. Researchers say that “sharks have trouble seeing this pattern because of its disruptive coloration blends into the background”.



The ‘Warning Pattern’, designed for surfers, warns the shark against the wearer by imitating the warning patterns of fish that send out a “stay away” message.



The wetsuits may not guarantee a shark from attacking, but it has a “strong probability of getting one to hesitate, giving the wearer a chance to escape”.



The company also plans to apply the technology onto things like surfboards, kayaks and scuba tanks.



Click to watch the video below:

















The Warning Pattern





The Cryptic Pattern





[via Gizmag]