Video summary

A shark-deterrent wetsuit (and it's not what you think) | Hamish Jolly

Main summary

Key takeaways

Science and Nature

Scientific Concepts, Discoveries, and Nature Phenomena

Shark attack mitigation via shark visual perception

  • Sharks rely heavily on vision (sight sensor) to identify targets, especially in the final meters before an attack.
  • The project’s core idea is that altering visible patterns/contrast on a wetsuit can make a human appear less like prey and/or harder to see.

Biomimicry from warning patterns and natural banding

Many marine organisms use banding/patterning for:

  • Aposematism (warning)
  • Disruptive camouflage
  • Cryptic concealment (being hard to make out)

Examples cited

  • Pilot fish (often found near sharks)
  • Various marine species with banded warning or camouflage patterns

Human cultural anecdote

  • Pacific island tribes reportedly painted bands in a sea-snake ceremony to ward off a shark-related deity.

Sharks’ vision characteristics

  • A key scientific finding from collaborators: predatory sharks can see in black and white / grayscale, meaning their sensitivity supports detection of contrast and luminance patterns.

Three major shark species targeted by the design and modeling

The design and modeling focused on:

  • Great white
  • Tiger
  • Bull shark

Their eye characteristics were mapped to model what sharks can resolve under different conditions.

Optics and computer modeling of what sharks “see” in different water conditions

Using complex computer modeling, the team estimated visibility outcomes across:

  • Depths
  • Distances
  • Light conditions
  • Water clarity

Two design targets were derived:

  • Cryptic / hidden appearance in the water column
  • High contrast + disruptive profile to prevent prey-like recognition

Methodology / Development Process

Observation and hypothesis formation

  • Begin with observation of:
    • anecdotal cultural/personal claims, and
    • natural-world patterning
  • Form a testable hypothesis: patterned wetsuits can reduce shark targeting by exploiting grayscale vision and contrast.

Scientific characterization

  • Map eye physical characteristics of major predatory sharks (genetically and anatomically).

Vision simulation

  • Use computer modeling to predict how different patterns and shapes appear across:
    • depths/distances
    • light levels
    • water clarity
  • Identify patterns that either:
    • blend into the background (cryptic), or
    • break up the wearer’s outline (disruptive) while maintaining contrast.

Translation into wearable design

A wetsuit/industrial design expert collaborated to convert model outputs into two wetsuit concepts:

  1. “Don’t eat me” (banded) wetsuit

    • Black base with yellow striping
    • Mimics natural warning systems (e.g., a “bumblebee” banding idea)
    • Built for a highly disruptive profile
    • Example described: a surfboard configuration emphasizing backlit surface conditions

  2. Cryptic wetsuit

    • A three-panel design intended to match the reflective spectra of water, allowing the wearer to disappear partially or fully depending on conditions
    • Remaining panel(s) contribute disruptive profile
    • Suited to dive configuration (greater depths)

Behavioral testing with shark-baited rigs

  • Ethical constraint: humans cannot be tested in this manner; no humanoid baiting shapes.

Testing approach

  • Use a bait rig: a perforated drum filled with bait, wrapped in neoprene
  • Place the wetsuit design elements onto the rig
  • Record shark behavior with two stereo underwater cameras

Control rig

  • A black neoprene rig representing a typical black wetsuit appearance

Comparison and evaluation

  • Compare engagements statistically and empirically (e.g., approach angles, timing, and behaviors)
  • Test sequence: start with tiger sharks, then great white sharks (as testing progressed)

Nature Phenomenon / Real-World Context

Shark attack escalation

  • Western Australia experienced five fatal shark attacks in a 10-month period over roughly the previous three years, followed by heightened attention afterward.
  • Broader claim: shark engagements on humans are escalating worldwide.

Listed Researchers or Sources Featured

  • Hamish Jolly (speaker/host of the research story)
  • Harry Butler (naturalist; mentioned for the “black wetsuit with yellow bands” idea)
  • Steve Irwin (referenced as a comparison point to Harry Butler; not presented as a direct researcher)
  • Walter Starck (oceanographer; mentioned regarding wetsuit painting since the 1970s)
  • Professor Nathan Hart (University of Western Australia Oceans Institute; author of the referenced paper on shark grayscale vision)
  • Nathan Hart’s team (collaborating group; unnamed individuals)
  • Ray Smith (surfer, industrial/wetsuit designer; consulted to translate science into wetsuit aesthetics; also associated with designing the original Quiksilver logo)
  • University of Western Australia / Oceans Institute (institution conducting independent testing)
  • Shark Attack Mitigation Systems (SAMS) (collaborating organization; described as a biotechnology licensing company)

Original video