A new Sulu Archipelago endemic species, Cryptocoryne vinzelii, is herein described and illustrated discovered by a citizen scientist in the island of Basilan. A detailed description, colour plates, phenology, distribution and a provisional conservation status are presented. With the recent discovery of a new species, the biodiversity of the Philippines has expanded, revealing a total of 10 distinct Cryptocoryne taxa, of which nine are known to be endemic. This new finding underscores the country's remarkable ecological richness and highlights the importance of citizen science in preserving and studying its unique flora.