Don Silcock

Diving the Banda Sea

Diving the Banda Sea… It seems almost beyond belief that some 360 years ago, one of a cluster of ten small and very isolated volcanic islands at the remote eastern end of what was then called the Malay Archipelago, was so valuable that it was …

Blackwater Diving – The Anilao Night Shift…

Juvenile Argonaut Getting into Blackwater Diving… The images are what immediately grab your attention – seemingly alien creatures lurking somewhere out there in the dark of night. Long after most people have called it a day! What are …

Technical Diving Match Fitness

Technical Diving Match Fitness… As the end of 2023 approached, I made a decision to approach technical diving from a different perspective.Instead of merely hoping to engage in occasional tech dives. I decided to commit to dedicated trips …

Diving Misool in Raja Ampat

The Four Kings of Raja Ampat Misool Scuba Diving… The second king – Misool, the large, remote, and sparsely populated island that is the second biggest of Raja Ampat’s “four kings”. It is said that the name Raja Ampat derives from the local folklore …

Diving Rabaul’s Wrecks, Reefs and Jetties

Diving Rabaul Wrecks Reefs and Jetties… In January 1942, just 46 days after their devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese Imperial Forces redirected their attention southward and launched an invasion of Papua New Guinea. Their …

Switching to SEACAM – First Impressions

Switching to SEACAM… In late 2023 an incredible combination of circumstances came into alignment for me. And I was offered a formal association with the Austrian underwater photography equipment company SEACAM. I could not quite believe it at …

Diving New Britain’s Fathers Reefs

Diving New Britain’s Fathers Reefs… The large crescent shaped island of New Britain is almost uniquely located on the interface of some unbelievably powerful forces of nature. Physically, it sits on the south-western arc of the infamous …

Cape Kri – The World’s Best House Reef?

World’s Best House Reef… Google Earth is a great place to start if you want to understand why the island of Kri has such a stellar reputation for incredible diving. Viewed from above, the long, slender island is the first major …

Diving the Dampier Strait

Dampier Strait Diving … It really is incredible that in just over 20 years Raja Ampat has gone from a little known, remote outpost of the huge Indonesian archipelago. To one of the world’s must-do diving locations. Google “Raja Ampat diving” …

Understanding the Indonesian Archipelago

Understanding the Indonesian Archipelago… It is often said that if the 16,000+ islands of the vast Indonesian archipelago did not exist, we would only have 23 hours in our day… To put that rather bold statement into perspective requires a basic …

Getting into Technical Diving

Getting into Technical Diving… If you are into scuba diving, you will no doubt have noticed the growth of what is generally referred to as “Tech”.I certainly have and my attitude towards it evolved from somewhat dubious, to quite …

Raja Ampat Pioneers – Ricard Buxo

Raja Ampat Pioneer Ricard Buxo… Undeniably one of the world’s extraordinary destinations. Raja Ampat blends breathtaking above-water landscapes with a staggering abundance of marine biodiversity, into a remarkable combination that draws …