When it comes to colors like green and red, you can probably take a guess at what those colors may indicate about ocean safety at the beach. But have you ever noticed a purple flag on the beach?

Purple flags were flying on Panama City Beach to warn beachgoers of Portuguese man o' war. The man o' war, often mistaken for a jellyfish, has a painful sting. Beach Safety Director Daryl Paul ...

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about the presence of Portuguese man o’war on St. Johns County ...

Red flag: strong winds and currents Purple flag: Marine life warning ... even on low-risk days. Beach cameras also are available online so Spring Breakers can check out water conditions before ...

New beach flags have been unveiled in The Hague designed to make it clearer to visitors when it is safe to swim. Icons and ...

Purple flag: Dangerous marine life — man o’ war, jellyfish, stingrays, etc. pose a potential hazard to swimmers. What does it mean if the beach has no flags flying? Beachgoers shouldn’t ...

The species, which officials said is closely related to the jellyfish, can sting even if it's washed up on the beach.