The Meaning of a Purple Flag at the Beach

a deep breath. A purple flag is not necessarily a reason to panic—it’s a warning that potentially dangerous marine life has been spotted in the water.

Here’s the practical truth:

Dangerous marine life: A purple flag generally indicates that potentially dangerous marine animals have been observed in the water or nearby.
Common culprits: Depending on the location, this may include jellyfish, stingrays, sea lice, or Portuguese man-of-war. Some can cause painful stings or other injuries.
It can fly alongside other flags: A purple flag may be displayed on its own