The Ahwina is the easiest wreck in the Albany area to reach – a short swim off a sheltered beach – and one of the most charming shallow snorkels on the south coast. The vessel was a wooden-hulled tug with a long working career in Australian and New Zealand waters. In 1936, while being stripped of fittings, she foundered alongside the Albany town jetty; she was refloated, towed around to Gull Rock on the northern shore of King George Sound, set alight and scuttled in shallow water.

Today the remains lie on white sand in about 2 m of water roughly 50 m off Gull Rock Beach. The ship's boiler stands up from the seabed and is visible from the beach, with the burnt iron remains of the hull fittings scattered around it. The timber hull has long since burnt and rotted away, but the ironwork gives the site structure and has become a small artificial reef, attracting schools of juvenile fish, wrasse, old wives, leatherjackets and blue swimmer crabs, with seagrass meadows nearby holding cuttlefish, squid and flathead.

The water here is usually very clear over the white sand and the shallow depth makes it an ideal family snorkel, a first wreck for young divers, or a relaxing macro dive for photographers looking at the growth on the boiler. It is not a destination for experienced divers on its own, but it pairs well with a visit to nearby Ledge Point, and the beach is one of the more sheltered on the sound.

The local area is sometimes called Boiler Bay after the wreck. Divers should remember that the remains are protected historic material: look but do not remove anything.

From Albany drive north-east on Lower King Road, then turn right onto Nanarup Road and right onto Ledge Point Road (about 12 km, 15 minutes from the CBD); follow the signs to the Gull Rock Beach car park. The gravel car park is just behind the beach. Walk a few metres down to the sand; the boiler of the Ahwina is visible about 50 m offshore, slightly west of the car park, so the swim is short and shallow.

By boat the site is about 3 nautical miles east of Emu Point.

Gull Rock Beach faces south into King George Sound and is sheltered from Southern Ocean swell by Michaelmas and Breaksea Islands, so the water is usually calm and clear. Strong southerly and south-easterly winds push a short chop onto the beach and stir up the sand, reducing visibility. Summer afternoon south-easterly sea breezes can make the water choppy – mornings are best.

There is no significant current. After heavy rain, run-off can cloud the water briefly.

Enter from the beach west of the car park and fin straight to the boiler, which breaks the surface. Circle the scattered ironwork and burnt frames on the sand, then explore the surrounding seagrass and rock edges before returning to the beach. Snorkellers can see everything from the surface.

No operator – independent snorkel or shore dive. Popular with families and snorkellers in summer.