A CROCODILE, estimated to be between three and 3.5m in length, has been spotted swimming south along Four Mile Beach near the main swimming area.

The beach has been closed for the mandatory four hours following a crocodile sighting. It’s believed a ‘little girl’ first spotted the animal before Kelvin Brown, from Port Douglas Water Sports and Beach Hire, took a second look from the life saving tower with binoculars.

The animal was swimming towards Cairns about 30m offshore at 12.15pm.

“It was just cruising out past the buoys,” Brown said.

“A little girl said she had seen one, but it’s hard for (Port Douglas Surf Life Saving Club) to do anything before it’s confirmed by someone. So I got up there and watched it go past."

Brown said he believed the warmer than usual water temperatures were causing crocodiles to get more active earlier. Four Mile Beach was also closed during the day on September 29 after two crocodiles were spotted.

“Everyone is going crocs, crocs, crocs, but if you think about the water temperature, I imagine the crocs just think its further into the summer and they’re just getting active earlier," he said.

“I explain to tourists, he’s (crocodile) not out here looking for humans. He’s just going for a cruise looking for turtles or something."

"There are also a lot of people on the beach today that are very excited they’ve seen a crocodile go by."

Staffers from the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) will visit Port Douglas next Wednesday for a public meeting on crocodile management in the Douglas Shire.