A purple flag at the beach signals dangerous marine life—an often-ignored warning that could protect you from serious harm in the water

have been spotted nearby.

It might be jellyfish drifting closer to shore.

It could be stingrays hidden beneath shallow sand.

It could even be Portuguese man o’ war, sea urchins, or other venomous marine animals capable of causing painful injuries.

The purple flag isn’t meant to frighten people away from the beach.

It exists to remind you that the ocean continue reading …