Is there a danger of crocodiles while surfing in Arugam Bay?

There really isn’t any danger from crocodiles in the active ocean surf breaks around Arugam Bay. Yet saltwater crocodiles do live in the nearby lagoons, rivers and estuaries, so you need to stay alert when moving through those places, mainly because you have to pass them to reach certain breaks.

Surf spots like Elephant Rock and Peanut Farm sit close to lagoon mouths, where inland brackish water meets the open sea. These crocodiles are extremely territorial in the cloudy shallows, and they do not move into the splashing, restless swash of the surf zones. Because of this, surfers should not wade through lagoons around sunrise or sunset, and they should only use the marked walking routes or local boat ferries to get across waterways safely.