More than 30 divers from seven BSAC clubs came together for a final ‘dive with a purpose’ of 2025, clearing invasive weed from a lake in Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park.
As part of a new initiative to help clean up Llyn Padarn, in Llanberis, BSAC HQ now holds the licence for project diving in what is one of Wales’s largest natural lakes.
Andy Shenstone, BSAC Chair at Llyn Padarn
BSAC is working with Parc Padarn on the project, who since 1970 has managed the lake and the surrounding country park, which is designated both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a World Heritage Site.
Following a smaller pilot earlier in the year, BSAC divers came together on 30 December for a full day’s clearing, removing 50 bags of invasive weed.
The focus of the clean-up was on two specific invasive species, Lagarosiphon major (curly waterweed) and Elodea nuttallii (Nutall’s waterweed). Both plants can grow aggressively, threatening the delicate balance of the lake’s natural ecosystem.
Clubs involved in the latest Llyn Padarn clean-up included Deifwyr Môn Divers, Flintshire, Knutsford, Chester, Vale Royal, Hartford and Liverpool University. They were joined for the day by BSAC Chair Andy Shenstone, CEO Mary Tetley and Head of Diving & Training Sophie Heptonstall.
Flintshire SAC’s Marine Champion Mel Hough took part in the Llyn Padarn clean up and said she was shocked by the amount of invasive weed just under the surface:
It was like diving through a field of full grown corn and there was plenty to keep us all busy for the day.
We’ve now signed up for the other clean up dives planned for the rest of the year. Llyn Padarn is a lake that I've often rambled by, so for me as a Marine Champion in Wales, this was an opportunity not to be missed.
The conservation work will now continue throughout the rest of the winter, targeting key areas of the lake, with plans to also lay jute matting in order to help prevent regrowth.
Carwyn Williams, Parc Padarn Leisure Resources Manager, said the partnership with BSAC was a positive step in the ongoing management of the lake:
At Parc Padarn we take a proactive approach to safeguarding the lake and its unique ecosystem. And, by working with BSAC, we are ensuring that this natural treasure can be protected for both people and nature for generations to come.
With shallow depths and straightforward conditions, the Parc Padarn Invasive Species Project is accessible to divers and snorkellers of all experience levels. Dive permission must be coordinated through BSAC HQ as part of the agreement with Parc Padarn.
BSAC’s Sophie Heptonstall said she hoped more clubs and members would now get involved in future clean-ups at Llyn Padarn:
The pilots have shown that diver-led removal of invasive species is possible, effective, and makes a tangible contribution to protecting Llyn Padarn’s biodiversity.
As the National Governing Body for SCUBA and Snorkelling in UK working alongside Parc Padarn, we can now continue to combine diving expertise with local knowledge to benefit both the environment and the community who enjoy the lake.
For more information on upcoming clean-up days and to get involved, email marinechampions@bsac.com
