Meet the site
The shallow silty flats along Hobart's Sandy Bay and Battery Point foreshore are home to one of the rarest fish on Earth. The spotted handfish is a small anglerfish relative that walks across the seabed on hand-like fins. Once common along south-east Tasmania, it now survives in fewer than ten small colonies in the Derwent estuary, plus a population discovered in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel in 2015; the Derwent Estuary Program notes it was the first marine fish listed as endangered under the EPBC Act, and CSIRO notes it was the first marine fish listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. RACT's dive guide mentions shore diving along Sandy Bay and around to Battery Point as a chance to see one, and Go Dive Tasmania runs guided handfish dives in Sandy Bay at 5-14 m. The environment is not scenic in the conventional sense – silt, sand, scattered shells and debris, and the stalked ascidians known as sea tulips – and underwater photographers describe it as bitterly cold, with less than 2 m of visibility. The reward is the handfish itself, as well as stargazers, pipefish, sea pens and other sand-dwellers. Handfish lay their eggs on sea tulips and other upright structures in September and October; the invasive Northern Pacific seastar has devastated sea tulips, and scallop dredging and swing moorings have also destroyed habitat. CSIRO and partners now plant artificial spawning habitat, run captive breeding and promote eco-moorings. Divers can help by never touching fish, eggs or spawning structures, keeping off the bottom, and reporting sightings. This is a specialist dive for patient critter enthusiasts.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Sandy Bay & Battery Point (Handfish) is recorded as Muck/Sand in Hobart & Derwent. The listed access is shore. Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Sandy Bay & Battery Point (Handfish) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Sandy Bay & Battery Point (Handfish) through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Spotted handfish (critically endangered), stalked ascidians (sea tulips), stargazers, pipefish, sea pens, flathead, sea stars; invasive Northern Pacific seastar
Location
Silty sand and low reef along the Sandy Bay and Battery Point foreshore of Hobart, where the critically endangered spotted handfish can be found.
Facilities nearby
Beach car parks with toilets along Sandy Bay; cafes; Hobart dive shops 5-10 minutes away.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
godivetas.com.auract.com.auderwentestuary.org.aucsiro.auindopacificimages.comblog.padi.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.