THIS sexy chain mail suit could be the perfect swim attire this summer as beach patrols report record numbers of sharks off the coast.

The Neptunic C Suit made from steel mesh, high-tech fibre, titanium and hybrid laminates can withstand shark bites — but will make a $23,000 hole in your wallet.

The US-made suit is a modern version of a steel shark suit first tested by famed Australian shark expert Valerie Taylor in the early 1980s. Her husband, Ron, paid $2000 to have a suit made from the steel mesh used for butchers' gloves.