From June to September, the sandy beaches of Bandol are under close surveillance. The lifeguards take over their summer residence to watch over us. From their first aid station, they are required to brandish colorful banners indicating whether swimming is authorized or not. But then, how can we decipher these colors floating in the air? Here is our decryption!
🟢 green flag: swimming allowed
Just like good grades in elementary school, green is a sign of perfection. A way to proclaim loud and clear that all conditions are met so that your swimming goes without the slightest problem. The sun is shining, the sea is calm, lifeguards are there to ensure your safety and treat your little injuries... A perfect day for a relaxing session.
And if you are more of an ant than a lizard on the beach, there will be no shortage of water activities this summer! Paddle, kayak, aquagym, sea trips, jet-ski, diving... The hardest part will be choosing from all the options offered by Bandolese professionals. To help you in this task, discover all the possible leisure activities in Bandol, here.
🟡 yellow flag: swimming not recommended
Here is a half-fig, half-grape flag. Because although it has the color of our beautiful sun, it is not synonymous with brightening, quite the contrary. The yellow flag indicates that swimming is authorized, but that you must still remain cautious. Slightly rough seas which can intensify at any time or currents which pass a little too close to our coasts can, for example, result in a yellow flag. So be attentive at the slightest change of color and do not take unnecessary risks in the water. It certainly won't be the right day to challenge yourself to touch the buoy...
🤓 Did you know? The yellow flag has replaced the orange flag for several years. The color changes, but not the alertness!
🔴 red flag: swimming prohibited
Le order of flags is not just an alert to take into account in your relationships! It is also the sign of a swimming prohibited because it is too dangerous. And even if in Bandol we are relatively protected from the south-west baïnes, here, the dangers remain present. Too rough seas, a threatening storm in the middle of August or even heavy rain are all reasons why lifeguards may prohibit swimming. Therefore, if a red banner flies in the air, definitely don't go in the water. You could put yourself and the rescuer who comes to help you in danger!
📌 Good to know: sometimes, even if the weather is clear, a red flag can still be raised. This can happen during unsupervised hours or if a lifeguard has to be absent. That said, in our area, this situation is rather rare.
🟣 purple flag: something is wrong in the water!
Here is a somewhat common one! If we tell you little marine beasts with viscous bodies and electrifying tentacles, what do you tell us? jellyfish, Of course ! In recent years, these charming veiled ladies have increasingly invaded the French coasts. And to alert swimmers a flag was put up, the purple one. But wouldn’t that be the color of our favorite parasites? Coincidence?
The mystery remains, because imagine that even without a jellyfish the purple standard can be raised. So, if pollution is detected, you will undoubtedly see it floating in the air. In short, even if you love this color, for your health, avoid swimming under a purple flag.
🌍 The point green : have you noticed that jellyfish have been proliferating in recent years? It's simply because of global warming. In fact, these stinging balls reproduce more quickly in warm water. Which therefore means that the more the sea warms, the more there will be.
🔵 BLUE FLAG: CLEAR WATERS
Last but not least, you will find this flag on certain beaches in Bandol. This will be the case in particular for those of Grand Vallat, Casino, Renecros, without forgetting Central Beach. This azure colored flag is that of the label Blue Flag. A recognition given to berries that have a very good water quality. The guarantee of a healthy and crystal clear sea. To find out more about this standard, head to the dedicated article right here !
⚠️ Good to know: the blue flag represents a quality label. It does not provide information on the level of danger of swimming. In other words, it does not in any way replace colored flags (green, yellow, red, purple) of the lifeguards. Thus, if the flag is red, swimming remains prohibited even if the blue flag floats in the air.
sources: SNSM (Sea rescuers) and National Geographic.
Reminder of the opening dates of first aid stations in Bandol
Well yes, because without a lifeguard, no flag in the air! Here are the official opening hours of the different Bandolese first aid stations for the year 2024:
- For the beach Casino and the one at Renecros : surveillance 7 days a week, from June 7 to September 1, from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- For the beach Centrale and that of Grand Vallat : surveillance every weekend in June as well as the first weekend in September from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m. Then 19 days a week from June 7 to September 7, always in the time slot 29 a.m. – 1 p.m.
In short
- Green flag = I'm going for a swim!
- Yellow flag = I stay on my guard and favor supervised beaches for my little splash.
- Red flag = I stay out of the water and enjoy a good book on the sand.
- Purple flag = I choose another activity than the beach!
- Blue flag = I am on a beach known for its water quality.
let's not forget our beloved turquoise. Sometimes azure, sky or navy, one thing is certain, it remains the one that best represents our destination. When the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean combine with the blue of the horizon, it creates superb panoramas. So, whether you are in our beautiful region in winter or summer, take a few moments to admire this immensity of water and lose yourself in the clouds. The disconnection will be total, I promise.
