Frankland Islands Marine Park
Teeming with vibrant marine life
There are many underwater characters that call the Frankland Islands home. We’ve compiled a list of commonly found marine life that you may get to see on your day out with Frankland Islands, so you can be better prepared when you see them face to face!
During our Guided Island Walks and Guided Snorkel Tours, our marine guides will make sure to show you the best places to spot underwater creatures and rockpool inhabitants, including Anemonefish, Green Turtles, Giant Clams and Spider Conch snails.
Some of our marine inhabitants are seasonal visitors, like the majestic manta rays and humpback whales. You can learn about the best time to plan your visit from our travel guide article about the different seasons of the Great Barrier Reef if you want to see these island guests.
Creatures and critters of Frankland Islands
Pristine islands & fringing reefs full of marine life
Anemones and Clownfish
Anemonefish, more commonly known as Clownfish, and sea anemones have a unique symbiotic interaction. The fish are impervious to the anemone’s tentacles’ sting, which gives them a unique safe haven from predators.
The clownfish helps the anemone in exchange for this safe haven by luring in other fish and shrimp, which are then stung and consumed by the anemone. Frankland Islands is home to two rare jewel-blue anemones containing clownfish, which you can see right off the beaches on the north and west sides of Normanby Island.
Sea Turtles
The waters of the Great Barrier Reef are home to six of the world’s seven sea turtle species. The islands are home to the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) which We see on almost every trip! Snorkelling with sea turtles is an amazing experience, floating alongside them as they swim and feed.
Manta Rays
The name ‘Manta,’ which means blanket or cloak in Spanish, is given to these large, flat, and uniquely shaped fish because of their striking look. The Manta Ray may be found across the Great Barrier Reef and is among the world’s largest fish, measuring up to 7 metres in length from wingtip to wingtip. Despite their massive size, manta rays eat minuscule plankton, the tiniest animals in the ocean. Manta rays, unlike other rays, lack a stinging barb and are therefore completely harmless to people.
Giant Clam
The giant clam, the largest aquatic mollusc on Earth weighing up to 200 kilograms and over a metre long. These organisms, which may be found all throughout the Great Barrier Reef, have two hard shells that protect soft tissue within that filters nutrients from seawater. Giant Clams are the only invertebrate listed among the Great 8 species, and can live over 100 years!
Coral
Coral may look like a rock or plant, but it’s actually a type of animal! Coral is made up of tiny but mighty coral polyps. Each polyp is typically a couple of millimetres in diameter and is closely related to sea anemones and jellyfish.
As the polyps grow, they secrete calcium carbonate, also known as limestone, forming a hard skeleton, and building a coral reef structure.
Brittle Stars
Brittle stars may look like starfish, but they’re not! Although brittle stars and starfish are closely related, as they’re both echinoderms, they are different species.
Each brittle star has a distinct central disk and five skinny, flexible arms. The central disk is made up of calcium carbonate and contains all their internal organs. If in danger, brittle stars can ‘drop’ one or more arms to escape predators. As long as a brittle star has its central disk, it can function and regenerate any lost limbs.
Red Lionfish
The gorgeous Lionfish are native to the Great Barrier Reef. The 13 long fins that extend from their spine are venomous and used to deter predators. To humans, a lionfish sting is painful but fortunately, while unpleasant, is not fatal.
Unfortunately, Lionfish have become an invasive species in North American waters, likely due to irresponsible aquarium owners releasing them directly into the Atlantic Ocean.
Damselfish
You’re definitely going to see Damselfish at Frankland Islands – they’re everywhere! Damselfish are plankton feeders. They have extendable mouths that shoot out to catch food. They stay close to the coral and are often in schools so they can spot predators and hide in the corals.
Wherever you see damselfish, you may see the predator fish that want to eat them… Sitting very still and camouflaged, waiting patiently.
Sea Cucumbers
There are about 1,500 species of sea cucumbers that come in a variety of colours, shapes, and sizes. They can be from less than an inch to several feet in length. Sea cucumbers are echinoderms, meaning they are related to starfish, sea urchins, and sand dollars.
Sea cucumbers have a surprising defence mechanism, where they expel their internal organs if they feel threatened. This process is called evisceration, and once the organs are discharged, the sea cucumber can regenerate them.
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 👌