This is very useful information
With thousands of visitors to Los Cabos’ beaches each week, ZOFEMAT (the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone) encourages locals and tourists to learn the color codes on the flags that indicate whether the sea is safe for swimming or poses a risk.
Correctly interpreting the colors of the flags posted on the beaches is not only a matter of information, but also of safety, warned Joel Castro, a water rescuer with ZOFEMAT in Los Cabos. These signals alert people to sea conditions and can make the difference between a safe day and an emergency.
Accident prevention in beach areas is a priority, especially in the tourist corridor, where waves and rip currents are not always visible to visitors.
If the estuary has opened and the water is too dirty, a black flag is put up to prevent people from entering the water. However, the most raised flags here are the red ones, which means that the beach is very dangerous due to currents or high waves.
“Even if the ocean looks very calm, there are underwater currents,” said Castro. The lifeguard explained that the yellow flag indicates moderate danger, allowing entry with caution; green indicates optimal conditions for swimming. The white flag, meanwhile, warns of the presence of jellyfish, where contact with skin is very, very painful and takes a while to heal.
The importance of following these warnings was recently highlighted at Las Viudas Beach, where a 42-year-old man from La Paz was swept away by a current and suffered cramps in both legs. He was rescued by ZOFEMAT personnel and treated on-site without the need for medical transport.
ZOFEMAT reminds everyone that lifeguards provide daily recommendations on sea conditions, and that in case of questions or emergencies, people should contact the information booths or the on-site staff.