UPDATE: 4.40PM: Lifeguards have given the all clear and re-opened the beach at Palm Cove and will continue to monitor the situation.

EARLIER: This is the croc that has closed the beach at Palm Cove - and judging by its size there's no wonder why authorities have acted.

Onlookers say the croc came within a few metres of stinger nets at the beach.

Snapped by local resident Cameron Born around 7.30am this morning, the photo shows the croc swimming in a northerly direction in open water just a couple of hundred metres from the nets.

Estimates suggest the croc is about 2.5 metres in length, and it was first sighted around 7am near Clifton Beach.

Surf Lifesaving Queensland is monitoring other beaches closely as the croc continues its journey north.

This latest croc sighting on the Northern Beaches has yet again raised public concern for more action to be taken to control crocodiles in populated areas.

More to come...