Sand Screw Initiative
A common problem at dive sites is the use of descent lines by Instructors and Divemasters. These descent lines are usually under weighted by the use of a divers weight belt and quite often cause unnecessary damage to the corals.
A recent initiative by dive centers on Phi Phi Island has found a solution to this problem by installing sand screws into the substrate that the instructors can attach their buoy lines to.
The benefit of these sand screws helps to protect the reef and also gives the dive staff a stronger descent line, which will not drift off even with strong surface conditions or currents.
Most of the dive centers on Phi Phi Island contributed 2,000 baht towards the cost of purchasing and installing the sand screws. The sand screws were installed by The Adventure Club, assisted by a number of volunteers from various dive centers.
The installation team consisted of 3 divers. The sand screws would take various lengths of time to insert since the fossilized coral beneath the sand is very hard to work through. However a combination a screwing and hammering usually works and the sand screws are extremely hard to remove once installed.
The divers literally have to break up the fossilized coral with metal stakes and hammers to be able to drive the screws into the sand. Some sand screws can take up to a whole dive to insert whereas in other locations up to 3 sand screws have been installed in one dive.
Some people are never happy
Like many good deeds there is always someone that will find a reason to disagree. This was made obvious by a dive center that still refuses to use the sand screws and deliberately places it's weight belts into the corals immediately next to the screw. On two other occasions we found that one sand screw had been damaged beyond use and another had been ripped out by the use of a boat.
Many thanks to the following dive centers for their assistance in this project:
Phi Phi Baracuda, Visa Diving, Seafrog Divers, Phi Phi Scuba, Phi Phi Princess Divers, Aquanauts, Moskito Diving, Hippo Divers, Blue View Divers, and The Adventure Club.
For more information regarding the location of the sand screws please contact us.