The Villalta was a steel three-masted barque of 860 tons and about 50 m length, bound for Fremantle, that struck a reef in near-gale conditions in February 1897. Her crew of 14 tried to launch the lifeboat, but it overturned in the breaking surf and two men, including the captain, died. The ship broke apart on the reef and her remains eventually drifted ashore near what is now Seabird.

Today the wreck lies in about 3 m of water only 40 m off the beach south of Seabird, reached by a short 4WD track. divingwawrecks describes a winch, bollards and sections of deck supports and iron framing, with part of the bow protruding above the water at low tide. The amount visible depends on sand movement.

The site is an easy snorkel on the right day and a fine example of the many late-19th-century sailing ships lost on this coast. The ironwork hosts weed, sponges and small fish such as buffalo bream, herring and wrasse. The key constraint is swell: this is an exposed beach, and even modest swell makes the water murky and surgy.

Nearby, the more famous Vergulde Draeck (1656) lies offshore between Seabird and Ledge Point, and the J P Webb hopper barge and the Key Biscayne oil rig lie off Ledge Point.

Practical notes: the 4WD track south of Seabird runs through soft dune sand, so lower tyre pressures and carry recovery gear, and check that the track is open – coastal erosion at Seabird has affected access in recent years. Because the wreck is so close to shore, it can also be snorkelled at high tide in flat conditions without scuba. Bring a torch to look under the iron frames, where small crayfish and juvenile fish shelter.

Seabird is about 110 km (1 hour 20 minutes) north of Perth off the Indian Ocean Drive. From McCormick Street in Seabird, follow the 4WD track south along the dunes for about 2.5-3 km. The wreck lies directly off a small parking area on top of the first line of dunes, only about 40 m from shore; carry gear down the dune to the beach and swim out.

divingwawrecks warns that any swell over about half a metre turns the site into a churning mess of sand and weed with near-zero visibility. Dive only in swell under 0.5 m, ideally on a morning easterly before the sea breeze. The wreck is variably buried by sand.

Swim out 40 m from the parking area to the bow section (visible at low tide), then explore the winch, bollards and iron framing on the sand before returning to the beach.

No operator – independent snorkel/shore dive.