SWIMWEAR VISIBILITY QUIZ
What would you choose?
- Neons, primary colours, bold or pastel shades?
- A solid block of colour, with dark or light stripes or a small or large pattern?
- In a swimming pool with a light or dark floor, or a lake, swimwear of which colour and fabric design would be most visible?
These were questions asked by Natalie Livingston, co-founder of Alive Solutions, a U.S. company providing public water safety education, training and resources. Although she had seen for herself which colours were most visible in water (working as a lifeguard/instructor, waterpark manager and pool and spa inspector), she wanted to put it to the test. She did so by comparing colours (in 2019) and fabric designs (in 2023) in the same depth (46 cm) of both calm and agitated water (= crowded pool, ocean waves) in a light-bottomed vs dark-bottomed pool and in a lake. Natalie explains: “Water is not like looking through air or a window – it can be very distorting with just the tiniest of surface movement”.
Make sure to check the Swimsuit Color and Pattern Testing Results charts on the Alive Solutions blog.
Seeing is believing!
RESULTS
In a swimming pool with a LIGHT FLOOR…
- The worst colours to spot are white, grey and light blue. They disappear when there is agitation on the water surface.
- Although bold or primary colours such as purple, green, red, bright blue etc, show up against the light pool bottom, they appear much darker. They often look like dirt, a shadow or a pile of leaves, so can be easily dismissed. A bright red object on the water’s surface can appear blue, even close up, when submerged to 5m.
- The best colours were all NEON – first pink, then orange, green, yellow.
In a LAKE…
Colours were tested both at shore level and at a slightly elevated position, as if from a boat or jetty.
- The best performers were NEON – yellow, green, orange but, surprisingly, not neon pink.
- White came next but could easily be mistaken for the reflection of light or clouds.
- The worst colours were all the rest, barely visible even in shallow water. Other factors (water and floor colour, weather, light, surface agitation, water clarity etc) will affect colour visibility.
FABRIC DESIGN…
In a swimming pool with a DARK FLOOR …
- The most visible colours were again neons – solid colours first, then with patterns, with a small print.
- Neons with light patterns contrasted against the dark floor. Lighter colours could be seen but could be mistaken for light on the water.
- The least visible were those with large dark patterns.
So, for a dark pool floor, choose neon, ideally solid, colour-blocked or with a small pattern. Much less visible is neon with large dark stripes (think of those camouflaging tropical fish!). Light pool floor fabric test results are pending.
Natalie Livingston reminds us how important LIFE JACKETS are to keep people on the water surface, anywhere.
And that however much bright and contrasting colours may help visibility, it won’t matter what swimsuits your children are wearing if you aren’t actively watching them!
Here are a few more tips that she shares, as an experienced water safety specialist :
Safety Briefings: Teach children to first ask permission to go in the water, which they can only do AFTER hearing a parent/guardian’s ‘briefing’ ie where they can swim, jump in, how they can jump in, consequences if they don’t follow the safety rules etc. A great time to do this is while applying sunscreen.
Depths of water vs. height: Teach children how to read water depth signs and understand how water depth relates to their own height and is different for each person. No more: “But mum, that’s not fair… s/he gets to go over there…”.
How to Get Away: Teach your child how to get away if someone in difficulty holds onto them. Even if your child is a good swimmer, it’s unlikely that they can tread water and keep their own body, as well as a struggling swimmer’s body, above the surface.
Teach them to ‘suck, duck, tuck’: “Suck in air if you can (get a breath), duck under the water (the struggling person doesn’t want to go there), and tuck (use your arms and legs to push away) – and then yell for an adult immediately to help the other person”.
Personal space: Teach them to be careful holding onto adults, as some may be weaker swimmers. Also teach them the ‘Foot-to-Foot’ rule. Have them touch your foot with their foot in shallow water and even on the ground. When the designated Water Watcher (you) is distracted or cannot see (applying sunscreen etc), they are reassured to feel the child’s presence and vice versa.
Distraction Reminders: Have the children remind a parent/guardian that, as a Water Watcher, their job is to watch them. Their goal is obviously constant supervision but it’s easy to get distracted. Set a repeat reminder notifications on your phone but, if the phone in itself is a distraction, even on airplane mode, then don’t use it at all.
Designate Breaks: Children are happy to spend hours swimming but they need designated breaks. Parents/guardians supervising them do too, whether it’s to go to the toilet or just keep their mind fresh every half an hour. Give time warnings and take swim breaks, also unscheduled breaks – if one gets out of the water, all must get out, every time.
Limited Trust: Don’t trust other people to watch your kids in the water. If they are swimming somewhere without you (camps, pool parties etc), they have to wear a lifejacket. If they complain, they don’t go. (Approved) lifejackets ARE cool! If possible, make everyone wear one, even adults, so that kids accept them more easily. Beware of inflatables (rings, arm bands, toys, boats etc) and floats (noodles, boards etc). They do not save lives. The warning labels on them are there for a reason!
Educate: Teach your children to be afraid of the water, that it is dangerous, that good swimmers can drown, that medical emergencies occur unexpectedly, that drowning can happen quickly, that they can’t breathe in the water. Tell them why we take breaks from swimming, why they enter the water feet first, why we don’t play breath holding games or activities. Give them real reasons to follow these rules.
Hey, Watch This…: Be alert to hearing such announcements. Tell your kids that they can have fun without taking risks, it is not worth it.
See Something, Say Something: Teach your children to be part of the safety team, alert to anyone else they see in difficulty. Often in drowning situations, other swimmers are nearby but assume that the person underwater is OK, that they are playing or doing it on purpose. Don’t assume. Teach them the ‘5 second rule’ (Mel Robbins says to physically move within five seconds of feeling an impulse or your brain will kill the impulse. Counting down 5,4,3,2,1 interrupts hesitation and prompts immediate action.). Teach your child to say something if they see something.
- Swim lessons save lives!
- Learn CPR – Drowning patients need oxygen – give air first!
- Designate A Water Watcher – who doesn’t get distracted
- Swim in a guarded zone where there is a Lifeguard
If there is no lifeguard on duty, make sure you have layers in place…effective supervision, ability and equipment to respond, lifejackets on…. - Enter the water feet first – misjudging depth when diving can be fatal or near-fatal.
- No running!
- Protect yourself from the sun & stay hydrated (but don’t drink the swim water!)
- No drugs / alcohol
- All water is dangerous – even centimetres
- Be aware of strong currents – take no risks
- Always swim with a buddy – don’t split up
- Lost / Missing kids – always check the water first!
By Alison Plater BCT Information Team info@bctbelgium.org
This article was first published in the 2025 summer edition of the BCT’s Small Talk magazine.
