The Lady Lyttleton is one of Albany's most historically significant wrecks: a whaling-era barque lying in the Emu Point Channel, the narrow entrance to Oyster Harbour. The vessel was originally built as the Sultan and registered in Sydney in 1861 as foreign-built; she was 28.8 m long and of about 178 gross tons. On 17 July 1867, while being careened (hove down by tackles from her mastheads to the shore) for hull work in the channel, she slipped, could not right herself because of the tackles, filled and sank.

The WA Museum records the remains in 7-13 m about 15 m offshore. A section of hull lies buried in the sand with the keelson, frames and planking visible, and around it are the windlass, an iron tank, a wooden spar, an iron drum and trypots – the cast-iron pots used for boiling down whale blubber, which tie the wreck to the south coast's whaling history. Marine Life Network describes the site as modestly sheltered and worth exploring, with whaling-era artefacts and interesting marine life.

The dive is defined by the channel. Strong tidal currents run in and out of Oyster Harbour, visibility is often poor, and the Emu Point boat ramp is next door, so the site demands good planning: slack-water timing, a dive flag and close attention to boat traffic. When those line up it is a rare chance to see an intact-in-part 19th-century whaling vessel within a few metres of a café and car park.

All material is protected under WA's maritime heritage legislation; the museum has surveyed and monitored the site. It suits experienced divers interested in maritime archaeology rather than those seeking reef life.

Emu Point is 7 km north-east of Albany's CBD via Middleton Road and Emu Point Drive. Park in the Emu Point foreshore car park near the boat ramp and café. The wreck lies in the channel at the mouth of Oyster Harbour about 15 m from shore (WA Museum position S 34° 59.863', E 117° 57.019').

Dive it only at slack water; the channel carries strong tidal flow and boat traffic from the Emu Point ramp, so fly a dive flag and consider a boat cover.

The Emu Point Channel drains Oyster Harbour, so tidal flow – not swell – is the controlling factor; the wreck must be dived at slack water, preferably on a neap tide, and high-water slack brings in clearer sound water. Visibility falls sharply after rain when the Kalgan and King Rivers flush brown water out of the harbour, especially in winter. Strong easterly winds make the channel choppy.

Swell rarely reaches the site.

Enter at the start of slack water, descend to the sand at 7-13 m and locate the buried hull section, then inspect the keelson, frames and planking and the scattered windlass, iron tank, trypots and drum. Keep the dive short, surface before the tide turns and stay close to shore to avoid boats.

No regular operator; occasional local club dives. South Coast Diving Supplies can advise on tides and conditions.