Staff at the Dolphin Discovery Centre (DDC) in Bunbury first made the discovery on Monday while recording footage using drones over a lagoon in the south-west WA city, around 170km from Perth.

The car was seen sitting on the ocean floor near the Leschenault Estuary – also known as The Cut – while DDC drones were looking out for dolphins.

“Sadly, we also located a large vehicle that appears to have been submerged for quite some time around Turkey Point in a three-metre channel of water,” DDC executive manager Axel Grossman posted on Facebook.

The alarming sight prompted DDC to report the sunken car to police and the City of Bunbury.

Grossman said he was concerned the fuel, oil and other chemicals leaking from the car could cause harm to marine wildlife, including dolphins.

“We hope the car gets removed very soon as boats are also at risk of striking it, causing more danger and damage,” he added.

It appears nobody was harmed when the car was submerged in the water.

Water Police has since checked and cleared the car of any bodies, DDC said.

The exact authority responsible for the car’s removal remains unknown.

In a statement to 9news.com.au, the WA Department of Transport said it was only recently made aware of the car’s location.

“It appears to have been there for some time, with no reports of it being a hazard to navigational safety,” a spokesperson said.

“DoT will in the first instance assess the situation and will if necessary work with other agencies to ensure the vehicle’s owner removes it from navigable waters.”

WA Police said police have been notified of the car and divers were sent down last year.

Police said it is the Department of Transport’s responsibility to remove it.

The City of Bunbury has been contacted for comment.