Important: Some beaches also use a red-over-yellow flag to indicate that lifeguards are on duty (but this is less common). Always check local signage, as flag systems can vary by region.Geographic Reference
What Does the Purple Flag Actually Mean?
The purple flag indicates that dangerous marine life has been spotted in the area.Geographic Reference
What qualifies as “marine pests”:
Jellyfish (various species, some highly venomous)
Stingrays (their barbed tails can cause painful wounds)
Sea lice (tiny jellyfish larvae that cause itchy, painful rashes)
Portuguese man o’ war (not a true jellyfish, but extremely painful)
Fire coral (causes burning rashes)
Sea urchins (their spines can puncture skin)
Weever fish (venomous spines)
Sharks (rare, but some beaches use purple to indicate shark sightings)
What the purple flag does NOT mean:
The water is closed (you can still swim)Bottled Water
The beach is unsafe (just be aware)
There’s a guarantee you’ll encounter marine pests (just a warning that they’ve been sighted)
