At many Cape Peninsula beaches, information boards explain the method of using flags and sirens to alert water users if sharks are present. A shark spotter sits on the mountain above the beach and searches the sea for sharks. When he spots a shark, he activates a loud siren at the beach and another spotter sends a flag up a pole.

A black flag indicates that the visibility for the shark spotter is poor as the sea is murky.
A green flag indicates that visibility is good, yet no shark has been spotted.
A red flag indicates that a shark has been spotted in the last hour, but is out of sight.
A white flag with a shark accompanied by the siren indicates that a shark has been spotted and everyone must leave the water quickly yet calmly.

Other safety tips:
-Never swim with an open, bleeding cut, as sharks are sensitive to the smell of blood.
-Do not swim alone or at night, when nobody will be able to see a shark or see you struggling. A shark will more likely attack a lone person rather than one in a group.
-Always get out of the water immediately if there is a shark nearby.
-Do not swim where there are fishermen, as the fish often attract sharks.
-If you find yourself close to a shark, stay still - you can’t outswim a shark – and a shark is more likely to attack a moving object.
-Don’t swim at dawn or dusk, as that is the time most sharks feed.
-To see what the shark spotters, the president of the Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club and ordinary beach goers have to say, Click Here