The shark mitigation wetsuits aka 'look like a surfing zebra instead of a seal' seem to have disappeared from the media and from the lineups.

I tried for a year to buy one but they were out of stock.

Were they shown to be ineffective?

Pretty sure they all have been eaten...

As I remember the color and pattern were based on the toxic sea snake, which sharks avoid, but a wetsuit or surf board bottom with that color and pattern probably did not fool sharks.

The shark deterrent westuits were trialled with sharks, or at least a fish filled container covered with the pattern was trialled, because you are not allowed to put a human shape in a trial with sharks, and the sharks did avoid the stripey patterns even though there was a fish meal on offer.
They did a lot of research on the best width of stripe based on the shark's visual discrimination.
I think the problem was the public felt silly wearing stripey wetsuits.
I don't. My swimsuit has broad stripes on it.

Sharks don't normally eat neoprene rubber or Zebras so these suits may be effective. Some sharks eat nearly anything, including metal number plates. Therefore, we should avoid any shark that is hungry or grumpy.

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MarkSSC said..
Sharks don't normally eat neoprene rubber or Zebras so these suits may be effective. Some sharks eat nearly anything, including metal number plates. Therefore, we should avoid any shark that is hungry or grumpy.

I saw a video of a shark hitting a scuba diver in a wetsuit at full speed, blood exploded everywhere, it was when they were feeding sharks for scuba divers entertainment in Florida, government banned it after a while.

Radiator (diving - hence shark masking - not zebra) 5mm wet suits were around $500. I tried one on, and didn't really feel comfy. I believe in the idea and the research, but I think they didn't invest enough into marketing, after the initial videos were published.

I see foils with stripes these days.

I think the striped shark mitigation wetsuits may work but I prefer the black wetsuits which are also cheaper, classic and look better and there is far more consumer choice at this time for the style and cut of wetsuit of the latter variety. I guess if in the water surfing at a shark infested location you would want many shark deterrents not just a wetsuit.
www.sharkbanz.com.au/products/sharkbanz-2?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpvP7p6aT7wIVAw4rCh0yKwTYEAAYASABEgKlzPD_BwE

Works well for stopping bull and whites but the opposite effect on tigers

Are there known shark related windsurfing fatalities/attacks? I cannot recall having heard of one.

Thoughts?

There was one in Geraldton many years ago.
It's in this list on Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_shark_attacks_in_Australia#Western_Australia

I'm not aware of anybody being eaten wearing one so clearly they work perfectly well. Get one and let us know how you go.

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f2f2f2 said..
Are there known shark related windsurfing fatalities/attacks? I cannot recall having heard of one.

Thoughts?

There was this famous one in WA about 15 years ago apparently while the guy was planing.

discussed here:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Shark-attack-at-Gnaraloo?page=1

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f2f2f2 said..
Are there known shark related windsurfing fatalities/attacks? I cannot recall having heard of one.

Thoughts?

On 29 May 1999, 22-year-old Tony Donoghue was attacked and killed, believed to be by a Great white shark while windsurfing at Hardwicke Bay.
www.sharkattackdata.com/attack/australia/south_australia/1999.05.29

www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/3709568/windsurfer-escapes-shark/

Shouldn't have asked!

The legendary shaper Tom Hoye, when I met him at the Precision Equip factory in Margarets , Industrial Zone in 1983 or so, proceeded to tell me a great story. He told me about this great white shark he encountered, when he was windsurfing his 8'6" PE waveboard between North Pt and South Pt, Cowaramup on the outside, not much wind. It was deep water and a pretty scary story but really dramatic too. An encounter with a 4.5 m shark. Fantastically as it was, obviously he lived to tell the tale: surfingdownsouth.com.au/.../1983-cowaramup-bay.../

I have one, the striped radiator steamer, and I love it. Admittedly I don't wear it a lot, but the reason I got it was because being in the water at the Abrolhos on my own was freaking me out. So many sharks around. I feel a lot better there when wearing it. I don't use it it the water at home though. It's a really comfy suit and I don't have a problem with the way it looks.

Silver duct tape on your wetsuit?

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GeorgeyG said..
Works well for stopping bull and whites but the opposite effect on tigers

I think the real question we should ask ourselves is:

a) is the shark attack on human a case of mistaken identity for the seal because shark did not use vision as the primary sense receptor but vibration, hearing, electroreceptors, lateral line due to murky water?

or

b) was really relaying on vision ?

I encourage you to first examine how the sharks detect their prayer (or competition as GeorgeyG may be pointing at above).

dlnr.hawaii.gov/sharks/about-sharks/senses/

I personally have observed how Shark Cousins and Manta Ray Cousin called "Chimaeras" the "Spotted Rat Fish" detect crustaceans hiding in the mud by their heartbeat and pound precisely.
Here is more details on my website:

mareksk.smugmug.com/Underwater-Photography/Puget-Sound-Critters/Fish/Sharks-their-cousins/Spotted-Ratfish/

Fortunately in Puget Sound / Salish Sea (Western USA/ Canada) even some of the largest Sharks: Six Gill Sharks are not interested in humans (scuba divers can swim along). There is a documentary about it:

www.pbs.org/video/kcts-9-documentaries-searching-mystery-sharks-seattle/

For me personally even swimming or windsurfing with any sharks is fine.
There are much more intimidating creatures even for the Mature Great White Sharks. You would be surprised. I am not talking about Killer Whales / Orcas. I am talking about Mature Steller Sea Lions:
More reading on that:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2442406/Sea-lion-taunts-GREAT-WHITE-SHARK-biting-tail.html

Steller Sea Lions can be protective of their harems, haulouts, I have personal story, photos and research about them:
I posted more for Windsurfers on NW Windtalk:

groups.io/g/nw-windtalk/message/69488

and also NWDiveClub with pictures & more research:

Bizarre encounters with Steller Sea Lion at Possession Pt Pk Oct 23rd 2014

www.nwdiveclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=23569

This is an interesting read (albeit a few years old now).

www.washarkattacks.net/sprivulis-shark-paper.pdf

Great white attack increase correlates well with the rebounding whale population. Some usefull insights on risk, seasons and location.
On the face of it, it would seem as if the wind season and shark season does not coincide.

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f2f2f2 said..
This is an interesting read (albeit a few years old now).

www.washarkattacks.net/sprivulis-shark-paper.pdf

Great white attack increase correlates well with the rebounding whale population. Some usefull insights on risk, seasons and location.
On the face of it, it would seem as if the wind season and shark season does not coincide.

I think you are right about the whale migration numbers. The trouble with our larger, more dangerous shark species is their ability to travel great distances. It would be easy for them to turn up in the most unexpected places.

Reunion Island, in the Indian Ocean, experienced a large rise in fatal shark attacks over recent years. They have large numbers of big bull sharks, which were protected. Because of that problem, very extensive and elaborate measures are now being implemented to protect swimmers and board riders.

Another interesting bit of info. If you cut your foot on the fin should you be worried?

I remember reading about this one in a magazine in the early 1980s; here it is:
www.sharkattackfile.net/spreadsheets/pdf_directory/1982.06.13-Shoemaker.pdf