The Deadly Secret Fluttering Above Your Head: Why Ignoring Those Colorful Beach Flags Is a Fatal Mistake

Similarly, a Yellow Flag with a Black Ball indicates a “swimming-only” area, where surfboards and paddleboards are banned to protect the safety of those in the water.

Sometimes, the danger is biological. A Purple Flag is raised to warn of hazardous marine life, such as stinging jellyfish, Portuguese man o’ war, or stingrays. While swimming might still continue reading …