There’s no doubt that the best way to spend hot summer days is near water. While you shouldn’t let worry spoil your vacation, taking some simple precautions is smart. By August 1, 2019, the water police at Lake Balaton had rescued 204 people in 93 incidents—yet sadly, they couldn’t save five others.
Watching storm warnings, swimming only in designated areas, avoiding deep water without solid swimming skills, and never leaving kids unattended near water are essential safety steps. But there’s one more thing you can do to boost safety: choosing the right swimsuit color.
The Right Color Could Actually Save a Life
When a child or adult goes missing in the water, every second counts. Wearing colors that stand out can make all the difference.
In 2019, a team of American lifeguards ran a test to find out which colors are most visible both on and under the water.
They submerged fabrics in colors from lipstick red to fluorescent green one meter underwater under different conditions—dark and light pool bottoms, as well as calm and stirred lake water. When the water was stirred—like in a crowded pool or ocean waves—many colors became very hard to spot.
The Most Dangerous and Safest Colors
Blue, gray, and white performed the worst. Dark colors also didn’t fare well. While not all pastels were tested, they likely wouldn’t be very visible either. Water absorbs and scatters light differently than air, making many colors look muted. Water quickly filters out longer wavelengths, so reds and similar hues become hard to see just a few meters underwater.
Even the brightest colors—neon pink, neon orange, neon green, and yellow—were surprisingly hard to spot.
In May 2023, another test compared solid-colored and patterned swimsuits. The best visibility came from solid swimsuits, followed by those with very small prints. Larger patterns reduced visibility even if the base color was light. For example, fluorescent orange—the top visible solid color—almost disappeared underwater when patterned with white stripes.
Based on these tests, lifeguards recommend neon shades in solid colors or with minimal patterns to help you stay safer in the water.
