- With families heading to Cork’s beaches and pools this summer, choosing the right colour swimwear could be a life-saving decision, according to new water safety research.
As temperatures rise and Cork families prepare for summer swims at Inchydoney, Garretstown, and local pools, water safety experts are urging parents to ditch blue, white, and grey swimwear in favour of bright, attention-grabbing colours that could make the difference between life and death in an emergency.
Recent scientific testing by aquatic safety specialists has revealed that certain swimwear colours become virtually invisible underwater, making it dangerously difficult to spot swimmers in distress. The findings have prompted urgent warnings from Water Safety Ireland as the nation prepares for another busy summer season.
New research shows that neon pink, orange, yellow, and green remained highly visible underwater, while blue, white, and grey swimwear nearly disappeared against the water backdrop. The visibility issue becomes particularly concerning when considering Ireland’s drowning statistics.
According to Water Safety Ireland’s latest figures, an average of 10 people drown every month in Ireland, with males accounting for 70% of all drownings. Between 2017 and 2021, a total of 588 people drowned, with 61% of accidental drownings preceded by the victim being engaged in a land-based activity such as walking, fishing from land, cycling, or driving.
Dr Joanne Walsh, chief executive of Water Safety Ireland, emphasises the importance of constant supervision in the water safety message:
“People need to take responsibility for their own actions, they need to take responsibility for their children, the lifeguards are not babysitters. There should be constant, uninterrupted supervision of children while swimming.”
The research reveals that water absorbs different light wavelengths at varying depths, causing certain colours to vanish underwater whilst others remain visible. Dark colours such as black, navy blue, and dark green absorb light rather than reflect it, often appearing like shadows, leaves, or debris underwater. Meanwhile, pale colours like white and light blue blend seamlessly with the water itself.
Comprehensive testing conducted by Alive Solutions, a company specialising in aquatic safety, involved submerging 14 different coloured swimsuits in both swimming pools and open water environments. The most visible colours were “neon orange, neon green, bright yellow and hot pink,” with testing showing these “1980s colours” stood out best in various water conditions: Swimsuit Visibility Tests Prove It: Pick Bright Colors for Safety – Foss Swim School.
The testing showed particularly promising results for neon colours, which contain special dye molecules that absorb UV light and re-emit it as visible light, making them up to 300% brighter underwater than conventional fabric dyes.
Water Safety Ireland’s statistics reveal troubling trends that highlight the importance of every safety measure. In 2022, 78 people drowned across the State, with people aged in their 40s to 60s accounting for 61 per cent of drownings from 2018 to 2022. The organisation notes that in the last five years drowning accounted for 40 per cent of all combined road and water deaths, with 714 people dying on the road, while 449 died by drowning.
However, water safety experts emphasise that bright swimwear is just one tool in a comprehensive safety approach. Active adult supervision remains the most critical factor in preventing water-related accidents.