BansTec Blog

a small section before we started.

One of our newest projects here at Ban’s Tec was the unveiling of operation TECO and the introduction of the “Eco Interval” to one of our last cave trips. One of our favorite local spots is a sink hole named “Song Hong” in mainland Thailand that provides us with some amazing overhead dives. How ever we did start to notice a rather large build up of rubbish over a few trips. Mainly rubbish from the locals using the area as a beauty spot, old food packaging and a huge amount of empty/broken beer bottles, also sadly some rubbish from other divers that also dive there, tank contents stickers etc.

On the way there on our last trip we had a little stop off at a hardware store and we bought a couple of rakes and a shovel and eyed up our first set of “Eco Intervals”. We arrived, unloaded, geared up and started the first of our dives for the 40 metre circuit, a bit of early morning deco and we were back up on the surface. After we’d fired up the compressor, had a bit of grub and a small rest we set to work.   Quickly the rubbish started to pile up, lots of glass, plastic and empty polystyrene containers mixed in with natural waste such as dead leaves.

Let Op TECO Begin.

Soon the interval was over so back in we went and again after we surfaced we carried on cleaning the local area, we continued this for a couple of days and realised it was going to take longer than a few surface intervals to really clean up the area. So it is definitely an ongoing process every time we get a trip out there we try and encourage all the divers to lend a hand. While we were cleaning every now and then a few locals would stop by and watch with a puzzled look they all seemed very positive though. Especially the few we could manage a broken conversation with as to what we were doing here and why we were cleaning. Even after our first trip there was clearly a difference and also clearly still work to be done.

It’s not a subject I’d say many tech divers really touch on too much, the “Eco” side of things which is a shame, as with all diving it cannot be ignored. Of course as with everything we do, we want to try and minimize the impact we have on the environment and as divers we have a number of ways we can do this with huge emphasis on correct Buoyancy and propulsion techniques.

Our tools, oh and a couple of rakes and a shovel.

We have to remember there are also other reasons than purely environmental reasons for the clean up, we want to keep the caves/wrecks/any diving environment clean for us and other divers in the future, also so we can keep continued access to all the sites we enjoy. It is also a way we can set a good example with the local community so they are happy for us to keep returning and also aim to have as something we can all get involved in. This applies to every single diver out there whether it be technical or recreational and if the environmental reasons are not enough for you to get involved then maybe the thought you might ruin the site for your and others future diving enjoyment should spurn you to help. Many ways you can help by simply cleaning up after yourself, to participating in clean up events which there are a huge number of these going on around the world at all times. Most dive centres will have schedules for when these are taking place, and for the dive community as a whole are a wonderful thing to get involved in.