I am, admittedly, a very weak swimmer, and at this point in my life I don’t see myself signing up for swim lessons. So I completely endorse this alternative approach to getting comfortable in the water: building a jet-powered wet suit that lets you cruise faster than Michael Phelps.
On land, the suit is heavy and bulky, with an electric motor-driven propeller attached to all four limbs, and a hefty set of batteries strapped to the swimmer’s back. But once you slide into the water, the setup can propel even the worst of swimmers at impressive speeds. It might be as close as you could ever get to a real-life Iron Man suit, as long as you can hold your breath while battling the baddies under the sea. [YouTube via Likecool]