Most scuba gear is black because the manufacturing process leans towards black coloration. There is not a great demand for other colors, and black works well in terms of durability and resilience, so there is no great need to change this.
You may not have thought much about the color of your scuba gear, but there are some details that might change your mind. Keep reading to learn why most gear is black and dig deeper into the myth that sharks are attracted to certain colors. We’ll also point out what color gives you better visibility when diving.
The Reasoning Behind Black Scuba Gear
The driving forces behind black scuba gear remain:
- Manufacturing process that turn out items black
- Little to no demand for any other colors
- The durability and resilience of black gear
Even if you don’t want black scuba diving gear, this might answer some of your questions while you’re trudging through a sea of it.
Manufacturing Process
When making neoprene used for wetsuits and drysuits, it comes out black.
While it’s being made, manufacturers add a carbon filler material that increases UV resistance, and it strengthens this black color. While it can be colored, the minimal demand for it (which we’ll talk about in the next section) is rarely high enough to merit the change.
You may see different colors for the two protective layers that improve tear resistance and make the suits easier to put on and take off. These are usually made of synthetic materials that are easier to color.
Demand
Black has always been a safe and popular color, and it probably will stay that way. Manufacturers future proof their designs by keeping them predominantly black, and they reduce waste from following flashy fashion colors or trends.
If you look at diving suits from the 1980s, you may notice a greater variety in color, but this quickly died out along with public interest.
Black gear streamlines manufacturing, keeps up with demand, and won’t go out of style. People usually appreciate the lower price point, and those that don’t are willing to pay more for some color.
Durability
All diving suits are resistant to wear, but colored suits are more likely to fade in this sun. Even with proper care, you’ll notice discoloration and wear lines of colored gear before you notice it on black scuba gear of the same age.
Black gear is also less likely to show dirt, so it may be more comfortable to wear from a visual standpoint. Minimal dirt is unavoidable, but it can be uncomfortable to see it on you.
Are Sharks Attracted to Black Wetsuits?
There is no reliable data to back up shark attraction to any single color, including black. Yellow also has a bad reputation for this, but this is moreso because sharks are attracted to contrast, not color.
(Let’s take a minute to remember that your chances of being attacked by a shark while scuba diving are quite small, only about 1 in 136 million.)
Sharks are more sensitive to contrast, but they’re also using their other senses before vision, including smell and special sensing organs that have nothing to do with what they see.
What Color Is Best for Scuba Diving?
Black is a safe choice for scuba diving, but other favorites include blue and yellow.
Black and blue are great for visibility at depth, and they won’t get dirty as easily. Yellow is a vibrant color that offers great visibility, both at depth and at the surface for boats.
You should focus on function, comfort, and ease of use before falling in love with a single color.
What Color Disappears Last Underwater?
Colors at the bottom of the rainbow (i.e. violet, blue, green) disappear last underwater. These colors have higher energy wavelengths that travel easier in the density of water.
That said, bright colors are often easier to distinguish through their contrast, and this is why you see more dive gear colored yellow. This brighter color also has longer wavelengths that hold up better underwater.
References
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-color-for-scuba-diving-gear
https://ninjashark.com.au/blogs/topic/what-is-the-first-colour-to-disappear-underwater