Worried about buwaya? Here's what locals know.
Saltwater crocodiles live in Balabac, and attacks do happen. Knowing where they're usually found, and following the rules below, lowers your risk. It doesn't remove it.
Where crocodiles live, and where you'll swim
Where crocodiles are usually found
The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development says saltwater crocodiles normally live in coastal waters, river mouths, rivers and creeks, and bask among mangrove roots. They sometimes cross open sea and shallow coastal water as they move between rivers. A local tour operator says most sightings in Balabac are in the marshes and rivers of the mainland, with some on nearby islands, including Ramos, Sicsican and Candaraman.
What that means when you swim
Island-hopping trips mostly stop at white-sand islands and sandbars rather than mangrove creeks. That lowers the risk, but clear water is no guarantee: crocodiles can be found there too, and they have been seen near Sicsican and Candaraman. Swim in full daylight, and only where your boatman says it's safe. The same operator says its boatmen keep a lookout at Candaraman, and reports one sighting in four years of trips.
The rules locals follow
From the safety reminders the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff issued after the January 2026 attack, a local tour operator, and Queensland's Be Crocwise advice for the same species.
- Swim only where your boatman or guide says it's safe.
- Stay out of mangroves, marshes, rivers, river mouths and creeks, and don't camp overnight beside them.
- Don't swim in murky or brackish water. Crocodiles are almost invisible in it.
- Stay out of the water at dusk, at dawn and at night, when crocodiles are most active and hardest to see.
- Never throw food scraps, fish waste or animal carcasses into the water.
- Keep children close to you and away from the water's edge.
- If you see a crocodile, move away from the water and report it to your boatman, the barangay or the PCSDS number below. Never approach or feed it.
The honest answer
Attacks happen here. Palawan Daily News calls Balabac a long-standing hotspot for conflict between people and crocodiles, and reports that encounters have become more frequent, and at times tragic, as crocodiles lose their habitat. A local tour operator says most sightings and attacks have been in the marshes and rivers of the mainland.
In January 2026, a resident was killed in the waters of Sebaring. A team from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff and the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center then captured a 10-foot crocodile and moved it to the rescue center in Puerto Princesa. Report every sighting, so the team knows where to look.
The crocodile was moved, not killed. Outside Palawan, the council notes, saltwater crocodiles survive in only a few scattered places in Mindanao.
Fish, turtles and other sea life
What you might meet in the water, and how to treat it well.
Schools of fishisda
Curious and close.
Reef fish may swim right up to your mask. Enjoy it. Just don't feed them: bread and biscuits are bad for fish and for the reef.
Sea turtlespawikan
Gentle and protected.
Watch from a few meters away. Don't touch, chase or hold on to them, and give them room to come up for air.
Jellyfishdikya
Some sting, and a few are dangerous.
Wear a rash guard and ask your boatman what they've seen that week. If you're stung, get out of the water, rinse the sting with vinegar for at least 30 seconds and lift off any tentacles with tweezers. Never use urine. For a large sting, or if you feel unwell, go to the nearest health centre straight away.
Sea urchins, stonefish and coral
Watch your feet.
Wear water shoes, don't stand on coral, and look without touching.
Small reef sharks
Keep your distance.
If you spot one near a reef, stay calm, don't chase or corner it, and let it pass.
On the boat
- Wear a life vest on every crossing. Ask for one before you leave the shore.
- Trips get canceled when the sea is rough. That's your boatman looking out for you.
- Shade is scarce on sandbars. Bring a hat, reef-safe sunscreen and more water than you think you need.
Numbers to save
Save these before you leave the mainland. Calls and texts work wherever there's a phone signal, even without mobile data.