Why You Should Never Ignore Beach Flags In Los Cabos

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Last Updated 11 months ago

The coast guard and local lifeguards in Los Cabos update beach goers on the conditions of the sea daily by posting different colored flags in the sand. These are meant to serve as warnings particularly when waves are high or currents are strong.

Ignoring these warnings can really put people at risk. Especially when conditions are so bad that the coast guard is recommending no one should be swimming in that beach.

Recently a group of 4 people who were swimming in Playa Santa Maria in Los Cabos despite the red flag warning posted on the shore found out the hard way what can happen when you ignore those warnings.

According to reports initially 3 of the 4 people in the group wandered off far from the shore and began to be sucked into the sea due to strong currents and high tide that the red flag planted on the beach warned about.

That’s when the 4th person in the group who had remained on the shore went into the ocean to try and pull the other 3 people back in. 

Thankfully this particular story had a happy ending. Staff from the Hotel Montage along with the local lifeguards on duty acted quickly and were able to ultimately save the 4 people that were trapped by the conditions.

After the incident local authorities released a set of recommendations to beach goers who are planning to visit Los Cabos in the upcoming months.

As the storm season approaches conditions on Cabo beaches will tend to become a bit more dangerous. Therefore, following these instructions could be essential to the safety of local and foreign beach goers. 

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Getting In Touch With The Life Guards On Duty Is A Good First Step

Knowing what each flag color indicates when going to a local beach in Cabo is basically a must.

Authorities also recommend that tourists interact with the local lifeguards on duty before they venture out to do any swimming.

Even if the flags planted on the beach indicate one thing, ultimately it’s the lifeguards who will determine how far from the shore it’s safe to swim on a particular day. 

Therefore, authorities urge tourists to follow the lifeguard’s instructions at all times. Another reason why it’s a good idea to contact the lifeguard on duty before you get into the water is so that you let them know where your entry point into the ocean is going to be.

If they know where you are it’s easier for them to keep an eye on you.  

Things You Should Never Do While Swimming In A Beach In Cabo

Swimming completely on your own is one of the things authorities are warning strongly against. If you are alone at the beach then it’s even more important that you alert the lifeguard on duty of your intention to swim in the ocean.

Another recommendation that authorities are making is to never swim on a beach that doesn’t have a lifeguard duty.

Even in seemingly favorable conditions there may still be parts of a beach that are closed off for swimming. Beach goers should be vigilant to ensure that they avoid these spots.

The reason why most of these spots get closed off is because they are near cliff sides. Also parts of the beach that are known to feature strong underwater currents may remain closed off to swimmers for obvious safety reasons.

Ignoring these warnings and venturing into closed off areas of the beach is strongly discouraged.   

Cabo Beaches Currently Feature More Lifeguards Than Ever Before 

Prior to the spring break season the number of certified lifeguards that work on Cabo beaches was considerably increased.

This was meant to ensure that most of the popular beaches would have a lifeguard on duty. At the time it was also true that many beaches were understaffed.

With certain spots relying on the beachfront hotels to help staff some of the beaches.

Just as a reminder for beach goers here are the different flags that they may find waving in Cabo beaches and what they stand for. 

Green Flags: Indicate the beach is optimal conditions and people can swim freely. 

Yellow Flags: Signal that people can access the beach, but should proceed with caution if they decide to venture beyond the shore. 

White Flags: Are meant to warn people about the presence of jellyfish and other dangerous marine life in the area

Red Flags: Mean that swimming is prohibited due to the strong currents and large waves currently present.