You’ve probably heard some version of this warning before: “Don’t wear a white swimsuit in the ocean unless you want to attract sharks!” A widespread belief that has caused many beachgoers to avoid wearing white (or even yellow) when swimming in the ocean — supposedly because it resembles the flash of fish scales to hungry sharks — the idea that these swimsuits in particular can make you a target has somehow become common beach knowledge. But is there really any truth to this beach safety tip, or is it just another seaside myth that needs debunking?
To get to the bottom of this question, Explore spoke exclusively with Kristyn Plancarte — a marine biologist with over a decade of experience who shares her expertise on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. According to Plancarte, albeit widely considered a “beach safety essential,” this over-shared piece of beach wisdom actually lacks any scientific support. “Sharks, like most marine life, have very limited color vision and most are effectively color blind”, she explains.
So while sharks are highly sensitive to light and contrast, your swimsuit color actually ranks pretty low on the list of things that might attract their attention when you’re enjoying the ocean. Instead of focusing on swimwear color choices, actually understanding how sharks perceive their environment can help you make much smarter decisions to help you stay safe in and out of the water.
What sharks actually notice in the water
The chances of a shark attack are lower than you think
Before you throw out your favorite white swimsuit and avoid ever getting back in the water, consider this: Your chances of running into a shark, let alone getting attacked by one, are extraordinarily small. According to Kristyn Plancarte, “the odds are 1 in 12 million that a beachgoer in the U.S. will be attacked by a shark, and less than 1 in 200 million that they will be a victim of a fatal shark attack. Pencils and buckets are statistically far more dangerous than sharks.”
Despite their fearsome reputation — made even more exaggerated by blockbuster movies and typically sensationalized news coverage — sharks rarely attack humans and almost never hunt them as prey. In fact, most shark attacks usually happen due to a case of mistaken identity or curiosity rather than predatory intent. That said, the best thing to do if you see a shark while swimming is to remember that panic is your own worst enemy. Your best bet is to always stay calm and try to get out of the water without splashing around too much.
Another effective way to protect yourself from sharks while swimming at the beach is to follow some simple precautions. This includes things like swimming in groups rather than alone, avoiding getting in the water during dawn or dusk when sharks are most active, and staying away from fishing areas where bait might attract sharks. Also, if you’re bleeding from an open wound, it’s always best to stay out of the water entirely given sharks’ acute sense of smell.
