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

near beaches when something unusual happens.

In reality, it’s often completely natural.

Ocean conditions constantly shift due to:

Water temperature
Wind direction
Tides
Storm systems
Currents
Seasonal changes

For illustrative purposes only

Jellyfish, for example, are often carried by currents into shallow swimming areas. Stingrays tend to rest in warm, sandy continue reading …