How The Color Of Your Swimsuit Could Save Your Life | Weather.com

Your Swimsuit Could Save Your (Or Your Kid’s) Life

Not all swimsuit colors are created evenly – some are safer than others when a swimmer is in distress.

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How Swimsuit Color Choice Could Save Your Life

Summertime is here, and that means plenty of dips, dunks and dives into the pool, lake or ocean. But did you know that the color of your swimsuit could actually save your life?

Experts say that some popular colors disappear under the water, making a drowning child nearly impossible to spot. But there are some good, vibrant options out there that are much easier to see in a dangerous situation.

(MORE: Best Sunscreen Of 2025: Our Top 10 Picks)

Why Darker Colors Are Less Safe

Child swimming in a pool in Jupiter, Florida.
(Daniel Grill/Getty Images)

Darker swimsuit colors can easily blend into the water, making it harder to see a distressed swimmer. They can also be mistaken for rocks, piles of leaves, or debris when submerged in water.

Swimsuit Colors To Avoid

A woman floating on her back in a pool.
(PhotoLife94/Getty Images)

White, black and darker shades of blue and green can nearly vanish under water in pools and lakes. Red and pink swimsuits show well under pool water, but hardly at all when submerged in a lake.

Prioritize Neon Colors

A group of people jump into a pool on a sunny day.
(SolStock/Getty Images)

Yellow, orange and green are the best options, and are typically visible under all types of water. The contrasting colors can stand out more against the blue or green water, helping highlight their location if in danger.

It is important, no matter what color swimsuit is chosen, for parents and guardians to maintain constant supervision of little ones when they are in the water. Keep in mind – drowning doesn't look like it does on TV.

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