In Australia, Shark Stop has developed shark-bite wetsuits made of biobased neoprene—a welcome innovation as warming waters brings sharks closer to coastal waters. The material took four years to develop and is “scientifically proven” to reduce the depth of a Great White shark bite.
According to Shark Stop, the suits are “ideal for surfers and divers who want flexibility combined with protection.” The material reduces the risk of fatal injuries due to blood loss from femoral artery damage.
The wetsuits are not, however, designed to reduce crush injuries; such materials would not be flexible enough to move in. “[But a] Shark Stop user with a broken leg (crush injury) but still alive to tell the tale, is always better than the alternative (blood loss fatality from femoral artery damage),” the company said on its website.
It also noted that the suits were tested on Great white sharks, which “barely” left holes in the suits.