Can this New Wetsuit Technology Protect Against Shark Bites?
Professor Charlie Huveeners, a leading shark scientist from Australia’s Flinders University, has successfully tested the Shark Stop wetsuit material on great white sharks. These ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene nanofibers show that Shark Stop’s fabric reduces the depth of a great white shark bite to more of a shallow laceration. This essential protection and bite reduction may help reduce femoral artery bleeding and in turn, save lives.
The Shark Stop wetsuit is manufactured to apply nanofiber protection to bio-based neoprene in key areas where the most fatal shark bites tend to occur. The resulting wetsuit is created to be around the same weight as an average neoprene wetsuit while remaining flexible. Through their peer-reviewed independent research, the Shark Stop teams have found that the fabric can not only reduce the force of a shark bite but also prevents large-scale blood loss to allow for first responders more time to arrive and treat their patients.
Shark Stop’s mission is to, “empower everyday ocean goers with confidence to live out their adventures freely”. With hopes to create a co-existence in the ocean, the team at Shark Stop is working toward creating the ideal suit for surfers and divers who desire a solution to feel safer in the ocean.