Emerald Coast
Know the sky, respect the water
The biggest things to keep an eye on at the beach aren't sharks, they're the weather and the currents. A little knowledge goes a long way. Here's the essentials, and we go deeper on rip currents separately.
🌊 Rip currents
Rip currents are the number one beach danger here. If you get caught, don't fight it, swim parallel to shore. Learn the full spot-and-escape drill on our rip currents page.
⚡ Lightning
Florida leads the country in lightning. If you hear thunder, get off the beach and out of the water. Pop-up afternoon storms are common in summer, watch the sky and the forecast.
🚩 Read the flags
Flags tell you the water hazard level that day. Green, yellow, red, double-red, purple. Learn them all on the flag guide and check what's flying before you swim.