Article: Are orange swimsuits safe?

May 28, 2025

Are orange swimsuits safe?

Orange swimsuits are among the safest color choices for swimming. This vibrant color has excellent underwater visibility and helps you stay seen in most bodies of water. Parents who want to keep their kids safe and visible in the water will love how orange swimsuits stand out in any aquatic adventure.

Explore the benefits and safety of orange swimwear and learn how this bright color keeps you visible and protected during water activities.

What color swimsuit is safest?

Light swimsuit colors create a strong contrast with water environments. Water safety experts and underwater visibility research point to these top safety colors:

Neon orange wins the safety rankings for most water conditions. This fluorescent color pops against swimming pools, oceans, and natural bodies of water while staying visible at greater depths than standard swimsuit colors.
Neon yellow shines in clear water conditions. Yellow reflects a lot of light and stands out against blue water backgrounds.
Bright neon colors grab attention in most water environments. Neon pink contrasts sharply with natural water colors and catches the eye from elevated perspectives above water.
Lime green is visible in pool environments but may blend with algae in some natural waters. This bright color still beats darker options.
White swimwear blends classic style with practical visibility benefits. White contrasts against dark water but works best when paired with colorful elements.

SwimZip's high-visibility swimwear collection includes these safety-focused colors in styles for all ages and body types, keeping your whole family visible during water activities.

Why orange swimsuits excel at water safety

Bright orange creates a striking contrast against blue and green water environments. This neon color reflects most light, making swimmers easy to spot from the surface, shore, and underwater viewing positions.

Water absorbs light wavelengths as depth increases. Red light vanishes first, followed by orange, but bright orange wavelengths pierce water better than darker colors before fading. This gives orange swimwear a visibility advantage over popular swimsuit colors such as navy, black, or dark blue.

Rescuers must quickly spot swimmers in distress to prevent drownings. Our neon swimwear collection includes bright orange options that help lifeguards, parents, and other swimmers spot someone who needs help faster than dark-colored swimwear allows. Emergencies demand split-second decisions, which is why neon orange is the color of choice for emergency teams, flotation devices, and safety-conscious swimmers.

Orange swimsuit visibility in different water conditions

Different water sources change how orange swimwear appears. Here's what you need to know about keeping your child visible in their favorite swimming spots:

Swimming pools with light bottoms: The bright color pops against light pool surfaces, making it easy to spot your little ones, whether they're swimming on top or diving down below. Pool water gives orange the perfect backdrop to stand out.
Oceans: That gorgeous blue ocean water makes orange swimsuits glow. You’ll be able to spot your kids further than if they wore darker colors. Orange holds its own even when the water gets deeper.
Lakes and rivers: Natural water sources with brown and green tones help orange pop even more. While a pile of leaves might blend into the shoreline, your child in orange will stand out.
Cloudy days: Even when the sun hides behind clouds, orange wins. Patches of cloud reflections on the water surface keep orange swimsuits patchy and visible.
Choppy water and waves: When the surface gets rough with water agitation, orange maintains better visibility than darker swimsuit colors. Splashing makes everything harder to track, but bright orange gives you the best shot at keeping eyes on your swimmers.

Beyond visibility, UPF 50+ swimwear in orange provides essential layers of protection while keeping your child happy and visible.

What colors should I avoid when swimming?

Certain bathing suit colors blend with water environments or absorb too much light underwater. Avoid these colors when water visibility matters for keeping your child safe:

Navy and dark blue become nearly invisible underwater because they match the water's natural color. These darker colors blend into aquatic backgrounds and make swimmers difficult to spot beyond shallow depths, a real water safety hazard.
Black absorbs light reflection rather than reflecting it, making black swimwear hard to see in most water conditions. Black suits disappear quickly as depth increases and light decreases.
Dark green blends with natural water environments, particularly in lakes with algae or vegetation. This color camouflages swimmers against green water backgrounds, like a cluster of leaves floating on the surface.
Brown and dark red lose visibility rapidly underwater as these wavelengths are absorbed first by water. These colors become difficult to spot even at moderate depths.
Gray provides poor contrast against most water backgrounds and becomes harder to see as lighting conditions change throughout the day.

If you want to keep your kids visible and protected, kids' sun-protective swimwear in bright colors keeps your kids safe from the sun and surf.

A boy running on the beach in a SwimZip's short-sleeved orange swim shirt—Are orange swimsuits safe?

What color bathing suit is best for avoiding sharks?

Sharks don't hunt by swimsuit color. They rely on smell, electromagnetic sensing, and water movement to find prey, not color vision. Your bright orange swimsuit carries no more shark risk than yellow, pink, or any other color.

Drowning poses a much bigger risk than sharks. Focus on these proven shark safety practices instead of worrying about swimsuit color:

Swim with others.
Skip dawn and dusk when sharks feed.
Avoid fishing areas and bait zones.
Leave shiny jewelry at home.
Exit the water if sharks are spotted.

Shop SwimZip swimwear

SwimZip combines safety with style in every swimwear design. Our bright orange swimsuits provide excellent underwater visibility, comfort, and durability that the whole family will enjoy.

Our neon swimwear collection includes bright orange options that keep swimmers visible and protected during every water adventure. Browse our sun-protective swimwear collection featuring high-visibility colors for all ages and body types.

Each piece includes UPF 50+ fabric that blocks 98% of harmful UV rays. SwimZip proudly holds the Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation for superior sun protection, so you know you’re getting certified safety in every swimsuit.

Orange swimsuit safety FAQ

Can you catch anything from trying on swimsuits?

You can pick up infections from trying on swimsuits without underwear. Bacteria, yeast, and viruses can survive on fabric and transfer to your skin. Public dressing rooms see hundreds of people daily, which makes contamination likely. Always wear clean underwear when trying on swimsuits, especially around the crotch area.

Why is my bathing suit turning orange?

Orange discoloration usually comes from chlorine reactions with body oils, sunscreen, or fabric treatments. Pool water with high chlorine levels causes chemical reactions that create orange staining over time. Iron in some water sources also turns swimsuits orange. Rinse your swimsuit in fresh water immediately after swimming, especially in chlorinated pools. Use specialized swimwear detergent and avoid machine washing to prevent color changes. If you want to avoid this problem, choose orange swimwear to hide discoloration.

Is it OK to wear a bathing suit all day?

Wearing a wet bathing suit all day increases your risk of infections and skin irritation. Damp fabric facilitates bacteria and yeast growth, particularly in warm areas. Change out of wet swimwear within a few hours to prevent issues. Dry swimsuits are fine for extended wear, though tight-fitting suits can cause chafing. If you're spending summer swim days by the pool or at water parks, bring a change of clothes or at least dry underwear to stay comfortable and healthy.

What's the best color to wear in a swimming pool?

Neon orange and yellow offer the best visibility in swimming pools. These bright swimsuit colors create a strong contrast against light pool surfaces and blue pool water, making swimmers easy to spot from the shore. Light colors such as white are also highly visible, but they might blend into pool bottoms.

Why do lifeguards wear orange?

Lifeguards wear orange because color matters for instant recognition during drowning incidents. Orange creates maximum visibility onshore and in water, helping swimmers spot lifeguards quickly during emergencies. This bright color stands out against blue water, sand, and crowds, making lifeguards easy to identify from any distance. Coastal lifeguard training emphasizes visibility as one of the core water safety messages. The color of lifejackets and rescue equipment also follows this same principle, using bright orange for maximum safety impact.

How can I hide my belly in a swimsuit?

High-waisted bottoms and swim dresses cover and compress your midsection. Look for suits with ruching, wrap styles, or built-in tummy control panels that smooth your silhouette. Dark colors or busy patterns can minimize focus on your belly area. Layering with a rash guard adds coverage while providing UPF protection. Choose styles that make you feel comfortable and confident.