Don Silcock

Raja Ampat Pioneers – Edi Frommenwiler

Edi Frommenwiler and Pindito – I have a theory… Completely unproven of course, but very logical (well, to me at least). And it’s that true adventurers have seven genotypes, rather than six like the rest of us. Let’s just call it the AA++ …

The Wonderful Witu Islands

The Witu Islands… As they say in the real estate business – location, location, location… And it is Papua New Guinea’s location astride the Equator and at the end of what was historically referred to as the Malay Archipelago, that puts it right …

Angelique Songco Mama Ranger

Angelique Songco – “The Mama Ranger” Angelique Songco Mama Ranger… It’s a country that has so much to offer the traveling diver and underwater photographer. But there are certain exceptional locations in the Philippines …

Diving Kavieng in PNG

Diving Kavieng in PNG… A window seat on the early morning flight out of Kavieng is the go. It’s my favourite way to end a trip to this special part of Papua New Guinea. For, as the sun rises out of the vast Pacific Ocean to the east. It …

Witu Islands Diving – Dec 2022 Trip Report

Witu Islands Diving… Some two years and nine months (almost to the day…) after I had to scramble to get out of Papua New Guinea before the borders closed. In early December 2022 I arrived back at Hoskins airport in Kimbe Bay to pick up …

Diving Kimbe Bay in PNG

Diving Kimbe Bay in PNG… There is a line of thought among the scientific community that this large, sheltered bay. Located roughly one third along the north coast of the island of New Britain is possibly where the first corals …

Conserving Tubbataha

Conserving Tubbataha… These remote reefs in the Sulu Sea enjoy a stellar reputation for their pristine quality and the random pelagic encounters that often happen there. And… having experienced them personally on my first post-pandemic …

Diving Milne Bay in PNG

The late Bob Halstead Diving Milne Bay in PNG… This large bay on the eastern tip of the Papua New Guinea’s “mainland” is what first brought the country to the attention of travelling divers and underwater photographers around the …

Ultimate Underwater Photography DSLR Housing

The ultimate underwater photography DSLR housing… Underwater housings are basically tools that allow a specific camera to be used underwater. But, to get the most out of that camera the housing needs to be very well designed, robust and allow …

Ultimate Underwater Photography DSLR

Ultimate Underwater Photography DSLR… For such technical gadgets, cameras are surprisingly emotive objects. And I learned a long time ago to avoid discussions on the pros and cons of the various brands. Which at that point were really just two …

Big Animals – The Florida Manatees of Crystal River

The Florida Manatees of Crystal River… The manatee and its close but smaller cousin the dugong are truly fascinating creatures. But they are both naturally shy and listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List with declining populations. So they …

Diving Tubbataha – The Heart of the Coral Triangle

Diving Tubbataha… Maybe I should have started a bit lower down the food chain. After all with over 7000 islands and located in the northern part of the Coral Triangle, the Philippines has much to offer the traveling diver. But when a long-time …