The Vergulde Draeck ('Gilt Dragon') is one of the most important shipwrecks in Australian history. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) ship was carrying 193 people and 78,600 guilders in silver to Batavia when she struck a shallow reef about 3 nautical miles off the coast between present-day Ledge Point and Seabird on 28 April 1656 – making her the third-oldest known wreck on the Australian coast after the Trial and the Batavia. Of those aboard, 75 reached shore. Seven men sailed a small boat to Batavia for help, but rescue expeditions failed, and the 68 people left ashore were never found. The search for them produced the first European charts of the Perth coast and led indirectly to Willem de Vlamingh's exploration of the Swan River in 1696-97.

In 1931 a cache of 32 silver coins minted between 1615 and 1655 was found in the dunes north of Seabird, hinting at the survivors' presence. The wreck itself was discovered in 1963 by a group of young spearfishers including Graeme Henderson, who later became a leading maritime archaeologist; they found elephant tusks, yellow bricks and cannons on the seabed. The WA Museum subsequently excavated the site, and its discovery helped trigger Western Australia's pioneering historic shipwreck legislation.

Underwater, the site is a limestone reef with a surrounding cave and gutter system in shallow water. Most artefacts have been recovered, so there is little of the ship to see today; the interest is historical, and the reef itself holds typical west coast temperate-tropical life – buffalo bream, sweep, western king wrasse, harlequin fish, crayfish and sponges.

Because the reef is swept by breaking waves, the site is seldom dived and is only approachable in near-flat conditions. It is protected under the Historic Shipwrecks Act, and the location should be respected.

Ledge Point is about 125 km (1.5 hours) north of Perth via the Indian Ocean Drive; Seabird is 10 km further north. Small boats launch at Ledge Point's beach ramp or Lancelin. The wreck lies on a reef about 3 nautical miles offshore; its position is protected and not published, and the WA Museum should be consulted before visiting.

Divers must never anchor on the site or disturb anything. The site is exposed to breaking waves and is seldom dived.

divingwawrecks notes the site is seldom dived because of the large breaking waves on the reef. It requires near-flat swell (well under 1 m), light easterly morning winds and no residual swell from recent fronts. The afternoon sea breeze quickly makes it unsafe.

Winter fronts rule it out for weeks at a time.

Only in near-flat conditions: anchor in sand well clear of the reef, snorkel or dive to the reef edge and explore the caves and gutters where the wreck material lay, keeping well away from the breaking reef top. Look, but do not touch or collect.

Protected under the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018 (formerly Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976); check WA Museum for any protected zone restrictions.

No regular operator. The site is protected; visits by arrangement with the WA Museum/experienced local divers only.