You know the drill:
Green flag = All clear! Dive in!
Yellow = Caution—moderate hazards
Red = Stay out! Dangerous conditions
Double red = Water closed. Period.Geographic Reference
But then… there’s that purple flag fluttering quietly beside them. No drama. No sirens. Just a soft violet warning most beachgoers walk right past.
I remember the first time I saw a purple flag. I was at a beach in Florida, slathering on sunscreen, scanning for waves, and I noticed this lone purple flag off to the side. I assumed it was decorative. Maybe a beach club banner. Maybe someone’s idea of “fun.”
I asked a lifeguard, “What’s the purple flag for?”
He said, “Marine pests. Jellyfish, stingrays, sea lice—that kind of thing. It means watch where you step and swim.”
I’d never heard of such a thing. And I realized that most beachgoers haven’t either. They see green, yellow, red. Purple is just… there.
