University of WA designs shark-repellent wetsuit
A project backed by the University of Western Australia has produced what is claimed to be a shark-repellent wetsuits.
Two Australian businessman came up with a pair of designs which are said to confuse a shark’s brain into thinking that a human in the water is not good prey.
A blue and white suit is said to make divers much less visible to sharks, and a black and white design draws on nature’s classic warning, advising a predator that the wearer is not good to eat.
On average, one person is eaten by a shark in Australian waters per year.
Design Craig Anderson told the AFP news agency that the suits created "confusion" for the shark's visual systems.
The University of Western Australia researcher, Shaun Collin, said the black-and-white design would ward sharks away from swimmers and surfers.
"Many animals are repelled by a striped pattern which indicates the potential prey is unsafe to eat,” he said.
In tests with dummies, Tiger sharks ignored those wearing the striped pattern wetsuits, attacking those in traditional black suits.