New wetsuit designs offer a layer of protection against shark bites

These wetsuits come with a built-in shark shield.

New bite-resistant wetsuits reduce damage from the multirowed chompers of white and tiger sharks, researchers report September 25 in Wildlife Research. The materials block large lacerations and punctures — the types of cuts that lead to fatal blood loss during shark attacks.

Sharks generally leave humans alone. In 2024, there were 71 shark bites globally, with only seven fatalities. While bite numbers have remained stable or decreased in some regions, the overall number of shark bites has increased over the last four decades. “That leads to more concern from the general public about these shark bites and what could be done to reduce the risks,” says Charlie Huveneers, a marine biologist at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia.

Existing technologies, such as devices that disrupt a shark’s ability to sense their prey’s electric fields, can help repel sharks. Traditional shark-resistant suit designs, such as full-body chain mail, are heavy and make swimming difficult. The updated wetsuit materials aim to maximize protection without compromising functionality.

Huveneers and his colleagues tested four different bite-resistant materials to enhance traditional neoprene against the creatures’ powerful clasp. One style features small sections of chain mail integrated into a standard neoprene wetsuit with protective pads, covering vulnerable areas such as main arteries in the limbs. Other designs incorporate Kevlar, used in bulletproof vests, or polyethylene nanofibers, strong yet lightweight fibers commonly used in sailboat ropes.

To test the designs, the researchers lured white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) and tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) to their boat using bait balls. These species are responsible for most unprovoked bites in Australia. Once the sharks showed interest, the scientists replaced the bait with either bite-resistant or traditional wetsuit material attached to buoylike “bite packages.”

All four materials nearly eliminated severe damage — even after the sharks clamped down, thrashed or dragged the bite package underwater. The standard neoprene suits had deep puncture marks. But the bite-resistant materials were left with shallow indentations, more like a household pets’ teeth imprints. The innovation may prevent unsuspecting ocean recreators from bleeding out, which is the main cause of death in the rare event of a shark attack.

Huveneers notes that these materials cannot prevent crushing injuries and are not a silver bullet. They should be included alongside other shark mitigation strategies, including education, technology and beach safety practices.