Insider tip | Beach watch

Only a few of Phuket's beaches are manned by lifeguards, and even then they seem to spend most of their time sleeping or looking at their phones. Drownings are horrifyingly common, particularly in the low season when the monsoon takes hold. Take notice of the warning flags: green means you're good to go, yellow indicates a medium risk, purple warns of dangerous marine life, and red signals no swimming allowed. Never swim alone.