Cairns Island Snorkelling
Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef With Us
The Frankland Islands group offers some of the best Cairns island snorkelling you can experience. Normanby Island and the surrounding fringing reefs sit within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and are home to a wide range of marine life.
During your Frankland Islands day trip, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a guided snorkel tour and our popular adventure snorkel safari. All guests are also free to snorkel at their leisure throughout the day.
If you’ve never snorkelled before, don’t worry – our crew will give you all the instruction and briefing you need. Flotation devices are available so you can float along with ease and just enjoy the sights as you explore the reef.
Both snorkel tours are guided by experienced instructors, including our Master Reef Guides. They know where to find all the best marine life, from turtles and fish to giant clams and impressive corals.
We also offer a Snorkel Stars activity for the little minnows; kids can learn how to snorkel with one of our Frankland Islands guides, and at the end of the day will take home a personalised certificate to commemorate their new snorkel skills.
As part of the Adventure Snorkel Safari, we will take you by boat to the western side of the island, where you will hop into the water and drift snorkel back around to the beach. On your way, you’ll discover coral gardens, full of hard and soft corals, giant clams and an abundance of colourful fish.
Once again, our snorkel guides will be with you along the way to point out the highlights of our beautiful reefs and ensure your safety at all times.
Experts say the clean, clear water and more remote location make Frankland Islands one of the best islands for snorkelling near Cairns. Come and see for yourself on a day trip with Frankland Islands Reef Cruises!
Snorkel The Reef
Fun, safe snorkelling for all ages
Our Frankland Island day trip offers fun and safe snorkelling for all ages. We provide all the necessary gear and safety instructions, and our experienced guides will help you choose the best snorkelling spots for your experience level.
No matter your experience level, we’re committed to ensuring that you have a fun and safe snorkelling experience on your Frankland Island day trip.
Enjoy Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef as part of our
All-Inclusive Day Tour
Adult (17+)
$229
Child (16 and under)
$129
Family Pass (2AD and 2CH)
second child travels free!
$587
Snorkelling Activities
Enjoy an unforgettable day snorkelling on the outer Great Barrier Reef.
Snorkelling
If you’ve never snorkelled before, don’t worry – our crew will give you all the instruction and briefing you need. Flotation devices are available so you can float along with ease and just enjoy the sights as you explore the reef.
Guided Snorkel Tour
You’ll be fully guided by experienced instructors, including our Master Reef Guides. They know these waters and will show you the best marine life on the Great Barrier Reef.
Adventure Snorkel Safari
Get adventurous! Join our small guided snorkel tour led by a marine biologist along the island’s Western reef. Explore the Great Barrier Reef, spotting coral gardens, giant clams, colourful reef fish, and turtles.
The crew was so friendly and everything was well organized! Pick up & drop off were timely. They had so much gear and we saw so much wildlife.
A fun day with lots to do and a very friendly and helpful crew. Enjoyed all the activities. The snorkelling was great, all the gear was provided and one crew even swam with us and took us out to see the reef as we weren’t very confident and are not very good swimmers. The semi submarine was beautiful and we saw a turtle and a sting ray. And finally the island walk – very interesting and informative. All in all a great experience and a big thanks to the crew.
Amazing day out on the reef so many turtles and fish to see the staff are amazing they know exactly where to look for things and let you know. Day is well run and organised friendly and helpful staff made the day one to remember.
Absolutely loved my experience with Frankland Island Tours! From start to finish, it was a fantastic day. The staff were all incredibly friendly and helpful, making us feel welcome right away. Our guides, were amazing! They were so knowledgeable about the reef, the island, and all the marine life. We learned so much and had a great time doing it.
The island itself is stunning, and the snorkeling was out of this world. We saw so many colorful fish and even a few turtles! Everything was well-organized and ran smoothly, which made the whole day relaxing and enjoyable. If you’re looking for a great day trip in the Cairns area, I highly recommend Frankland Island Tours! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Truly Cairns hidden gem… knowledgeable and friendly staff all inclusive .. absolutely pristine..turtles baby sharks so much marine life large fish and variety of coral .. food was lovely .. very good value for money .. not a huge day ..felt relaxing ..even W kids 😉
Our experience with Frankland Islands Cruises was absolutely incredible! The staff were remarkably knowledgeable, helpful, fun, and full of energy, making the entire day a joy from start to finish.
We’re so glad we chose this cruise over the others—it was perfect for families and packed with activities! Snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking—we did it all! Swimming with turtles, countless fish, and seeing the vibrant coral up close was simply unforgettable.
Lunch was delicious and exactly what we needed after such an action-packed day.
This has truly been the highlight of our trip, and we can’t thank the amazing staff enough for making it so special. Highly recommend Frankland Islands Cruises!
Despite some showers and a thunderstorm during lunch, it was an excellent day for my two kids and I. We much prefer this experience over the outer reef because the water was calmer and easier for the kids to handle. Plenty of marine life to see. Staff were great. We did not partake in the glass boat tour or the island walk because my kids wanted to stay on the beach, snorkel, and kayak. You can customize your experience to suit your desires. Thank you Frankland Island Reef Cruises for a memorable day!
Great tour. Worth the money. The crew makes sure that everyone finds the right activity. The equipment is sufficient. The activities are well planned. I would absolutely recommend the tour.
This tour was the highlight of our holiday and the best snorkeling to be had outside of the outer Great Barrier Reef. We saw clown fish living in bright blue anemones, a reef shark, turtles and a bright yellow box fish. Conditions were very calm and clear on the day we went. It was like swimming my in an aquarium.
Staff were professional and helpful and food was great. There were even beach games for young children.
We loved our day on a tropical island, admiring the views, snorkeling, swimming and stand up paddle boarding.
Undoubtedly one of the best island trip, if not the best. To begin with, once you are picked up by the bus, the bus ride to the ferry is unbelievably beautiful. With mountains and sugar cane fields. The ferry ride on the river and sea is smooth and not bumpy which keeps sea sickness away.
The island itself is a Virgin island. You will have semi submarine tours and snorkeling. Beginners will have guides on water. The underwater coral view is truly amazing. The staff is super friendly and will take good care. Highly recommend 👌