Cyprus beach safety board

What the beach flags mean, who to call in an emergency, and how to handle jellyfish, sea urchins, rip currents and the Cyprus sun — so a beach day stays a good day.

🚩Know the beach flags

Cyprus lifeguards fly the international flag colours. Always obey them — the sea can be dangerous even when it looks calm.

Green flag

Low hazard — calm and generally safe to swim.

Yellow flag

Medium hazard — swim with care; weak swimmers and children stay in the shallows.

Red flag

High danger — do not enter the water.

Red-&-yellow flag

Lifeguarded zone — swim between two of these flags while lifeguards are on duty.

You may also see: a purple flag (dangerous marine life, e.g. jellyfish), two red flags together (beach closed to swimming), and a black-and-white chequered flag (watercraft zone — not for swimming). Red buoys mark the swimmers' area; speedboats and jet-skis must stay outside it.

🆘In a sea emergency

112

Police · fire · ambulance (free, 24/7)

1441

Marine rescue — JRCC Larnaca (boats & offshore)

199

National emergency (same services as 112)

⚠️Sea hazards & first aid

The real risks in Cyprus are stings, currents and the sun — rarely anything dramatic. Filter by type, and know the first aid before you need it.

✅Swim smart

Swim between the red-and-yellow flags, in the lifeguarded zone, and obey the flags even when the sea looks calm.
Never swim alone, at night, or after alcohol; tell someone where you'll be.
Watch children every second. Drowning is silent and fast — stay within arm's reach of young or weak swimmers.
Many Cyprus beaches aren't lifeguarded. Lifeguards typically work about May–October, roughly 10:30–18:00, and hours vary by area.
Check depth before diving and keep inflatables out of the water in offshore wind — they drift out fast. If unsure, ask the lifeguard first.

🏅Blue Flag beaches

A Blue Flag means a beach meets strict standards for water quality, safety (including lifeguards and first-aid equipment), facilities and environmental management. Cyprus flies 56 Blue Flag beaches and 2 marinas in 2026 and ranks first in the EU for bathing-water quality — but a Blue Flag isn't a promise of a lifeguard on your visit, so still check the flags on the day.

🔗Plan your beach day

Pick the right beach for your group, and know where care is if you need it.

Family beaches & attractions → Accessible beaches → Emergency & on-duty care →

Beach flags, lifeguard cover and hazards vary by beach, season and weather; this board is general guidance, not a substitute for on-site signs, lifeguards or medical advice. In any emergency call 112. First-aid notes are general — seek medical help for severe reactions.