Red flags on Phuket beaches: when not to swim
A red flag on a Phuket beach means one thing: stay out of the water. The flags go up mostly from May to October, when the monsoon brings waves and rip currents.
What the flags mean
| Flag | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | No swimming. Dangerous waves or currents. |
| Yellow | Swimming is allowed with care: close to shore and not alone. |
| Red and yellow | The edge of the lifeguard zone. Swim between two of these flags. |
Lifeguards set the flags by the state of the sea at that hour. There may be none in the morning and red ones by noon. If a beach has no flags and no lifeguards at all, that does not mean it is safe: small beaches simply have no post.
Which months are dangerous
The southwest monsoon brings the waves to the west coast. From four years of data, days with a wave of 1 metre or more:
- June to September: 62–77% of days;
- May and October: 35–49%;
- November: about 7%;
- December to April: 2–6%.
The full table is in Phuket waves by month. Even in season there are calm days and calm hours, so look at the day itself.
Rip currents
The main danger is not the waves but the rip current. The water that the waves push up the beach flows back out to sea in a narrow stream. It pulls away from the shore faster than a person can swim, and it forms even where the water is waist-deep.
How to spot one from the beach:
- a strip of water where the waves do not break, though they break to the left and right of it;
- the water in that strip is darker or cloudy with sand;
- foam and debris move away from the shore.
The calm-looking “corridor” between the breakers is the most dangerous place on the beach.
If you are being pulled out
- Do not swim against the current towards the shore. That is how people drown: strength runs out before the current does.
- Swim along the shore. The stream is narrow; a few dozen metres to the side is usually enough to get out of it.
- Out of strength? Float on your back. Stay afloat, wave an arm and call for help. The current weakens beyond the line of breaking waves.
- If you see someone else being pulled out, call the lifeguards and throw something that floats. Swimming to help without a board or a ring is dangerous.
Phone numbers in Thailand: tourist police 1155, ambulance 1669.
Judging the day in advance
The flags on the beach have the final word. But you can tell what to expect from your hotel: the main page shows the wave height at every beach for the current hour and 10 days ahead, and the webcams of Kata, Karon and Patong show what is happening right now. On the same day sheltered bays are noticeably calmer than open beaches.
In short
What does a red flag mean on a Phuket beach?
Swimming is prohibited: there are strong waves or rip currents. Do not go in, not even knee-deep.
What do red-and-yellow flags mean?
The area between two red-and-yellow flags is watched by lifeguards. Swim only between them.
Which months have red flags in Phuket?
Mostly May to October. In June to September a wave of 1 metre or more happens on 62–77% of days. From December to April it is 2–6%.
What should I do if a current pulls me away from the beach?
Do not swim against it towards the shore. Swim along the shore until the current lets go, and only then head for the beach. If you are out of strength, float on your back and wave an arm.
How do I know if it is safe to swim in Phuket today?
The flags on the beach decide. You can judge in advance from the wave height: the Surf main page shows it for every beach for the current hour, with live cams for Kata, Karon and Patong.