Guided Semi-Submarine Tour
Experience the depths from our Semi-Submarine
Dive into the underwater world without getting your hair wet! Our semi-submarine tour is the ultimate way to explore the vibrant marine life, coral reefs, and breathtaking seascapes surrounding Normanby Island, all while staying comfortably dry.
With large viewing windows beneath the water’s surface, our semi-submarine offers an immersive, up-close encounter with the ocean’s wonders. No need for snorkelling gear or diving expertise; simply sit back and enjoy the mesmerizing underwater show as you listen to an informative commentary about life on the Great Barrier Reef.
Our crew will expertly guide the semi-submarine to some of our favourite locations where you will be able to spot a variety of corals, fish, giant clams and other critters just centimetres from the hull of the sub!
Our semi-submarine tour is available to all guests and a perfect alternative for those who prefer a dry adventure or have physical limitations.
The semi-submarine tour takes approximately 30 minutes to complete the tour and provides a unique and accessible way to soak in the beauty of the deep blue sea without getting soaked yourself!
Enjoy the semi-submarine experience 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
What will you see?
Every semi-submarine trip is different, but here are some of the creatures and critters you may spot on your trip
Nemo (Anemonefish)
Instantly recognizable due to its bright orange colouring and distinctive white stripes, the clownfish – which is also known as the anemonefish – gained worldwide fame thanks to the 2003 film Finding Nemo. Many clownfish call Frankland Islands home, so you’ll be able to Find Nemo easily!
Hard and Soft Corals
There are all sorts of different corals that can be seen from the semi-sub including slow-growing boulder corals, fast-growing branching and plate corals, deep corals with big tentacles to catch food, brain corals, honeycomb corals, lettuce corals (pictured), and many more.
Giant Clams
Many of the giant clams around Normanby Island are over 80 years old! They filter the water for food and keep algae in their skin (like coral) to get energy from the sun. They even have eyes, and will close up their shell quickly to scare off any approaching predators!
Fish
In between the coral heads, you will often see a range of fish feeding at the bottom including parrotfish (pictured), butterflyfish and cleaner wrasses. Some graze on the algae, like herds of wildebeest, others searching for snails and crustaceans under the rubble and sand to nibble on.
Echinoderms (Starfish)
There are many members of the Echinodermata family that live around Normanby Island that you can see on your Semi-Sub tour, including starfish, brittle stars, sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers. Interestingly, most echinoderms are able to regenerate tissue, organs, and limbs.
Sea Turtles
During your semi-sub tour, you’re very likely to see our company mascot – the sea turtle! We are lucky to have two species of endangered sea turtles found around Frankland Islands: the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), and the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).
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 👌