Seawilding are looking for a group of volunteer divers from BSAC to take part in the seagrass harvest on the weekend of 26 and 27 August 2023.
Seagrass meadows have been described as the most valuable coastal and marine ecosystems on the planet. They lock away carbon, provide an important habitat, protect our coasts and help to feed the planet. It has been estimated that up to 95% of seagrass has been lost. Seawilding is working to address this damage by restoring fractured seagrass beds within Loch Craignish.
The seeds for restoration are harvested underwater by hand during a short period in late August/early September when they ripen. This is where we need your help. Volunteer divers from BSAC are required to take part in the seagrass harvest on the weekend of 26 and 27 August 2023. The Seawilding team will provide instruction on how to identify and harvest seagrass effectively, and a BBQ will be provided on the Saturday night.
You’ll join a weekend of harvesting, tour Seawilding’s home base ‘the boathouse’ to experience the steps to seagrass restoration and learn about Seawilding’s other marine habitat restoration projects, as well as enjoy the beautiful area of Argyll. There is lots of wonderful diving on the west coast of Scotland, so why not check out a few other local dives while you are in the area.
Information
Location: Ardfern, Loch Craignish, nr Lochgilphead, Argyll.
Diving: Seagrass lives in shallow waters so seed harvesting dives will be at a maximum of 7m. They may be much shallower than this depending on the state of tide. Water temperature is usually around 14C at this time of year. It is anticipated that divers will undertake 2 dives each day. Seawilding is not able to provide dive management, all divers should attend the event in self-sufficient dive groups and will dive at their own risk and provide their own dive equipment.
Requirements: All participants should hold a minimum of BSAC Ocean Diver qualification.
Accommodation: Take a look at the local accommodation, or bring your motorhome and enjoy camping.
Dive fills and shop: Puffin Dive in Oban have a comprehensively stocked dive shop and self-serve tank fill facility.
Food and drink: There is a cafe and pub as well as a small store in the village of Ardfern.
Finding the Seawilding base: Travel directions and a more detailed itinerary will be provided for participants closer to the time.
How to sign up
Places are limited to a maximum of 16 divers, so contact Tiziana on tiziana@seawilding.org to reserve your place. Please indicate that you are signing up for the BSAC seagrass harvest weekend, provide your BSAC membership number and indicate which dive club or group you will be attending with.
