Don Silcock
Role: Contributing author, underwater photographer, location guide writer Affiliation: indopacificimages.com Based: Bali, Indonesia (Australian) First appearance: 2016 (Wetpixel articles begin) Website: indopacificimages.com
Biography
Don Silcock is an Australian underwater photographer and writer based in Bali, Indonesia, who became a regular contributor to Wetpixel from 2016 onwards. He specializes in the Indo-Pacific region and is known for producing comprehensive location guides alongside his photography.
Silcock brings a distinctly analytical and practical voice to his writing, combining vivid firsthand accounts of diving encounters with thorough logistical guidance for other underwater photographers. His articles range from dramatic big-animal encounters — great white sharks, sperm whales, humpbacks — to unusual freshwater subjects like Japanese giant salamanders.
His equipment setup as described in his articles: Nikon D800 FX format and Nikon D500 DX format in Nauticam housings, with a history of using Subal housings. Lens choices include the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye zoom, Nikon 16-35mm rectilinear zoom, and Sigma/Nikon fisheyes behind Zen dome ports. ([1], [2])
He has dived extensively in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Australia, the Azores, Tonga, Japan, and many other Indo-Pacific locations. In the Azores he dove under a special scientific permit from the Regiao Autonoma Dos Acores government. ([3])
Contributions to Wetpixel
Silcock contributed a sustained series of location-focused articles to Wetpixel between 2016 and 2017 covering:
- Australian great white sharks — South Australia cage diving at the Neptune Islands (Port Lincoln), operators Rodney Fox Expeditions and Calypso Star Charters, historical context on Australian public perception ([4])
- Giant Australian cuttlefish, Whyalla — The annual Sepia apama aggregation at Spencer Gulf’s Point Lowly and Black Point, conservation history, photography techniques ([5])
- Three weeks in the Azores with Nikon D500 — Detailed field test of the D500 for big-animal photography: sperm whales, false killer whales, blue sharks; in-water technique ([6])
- Japanese giant salamanders — Freshwater photography in Gifu Prefecture, Japan; logistics, technique, guide Yoshihiro Ito ([7])
- Papua New Guinea series — A multi-part guide to diving PNG, covering safety context, dive locations (Milne Bay, Port Moresby, Tufi, Kimbe Bay, Rabaul, Kavieng), liveaboard options, and logistics ([8], [9], [10])
- Manta rays of Milne Bay — Discovery story of the Giants@Home cleaning station at Gonu Bara Bara island; manta ray behavior and photography protocol ([11])
He also contributed articles on humpback whales in Tonga (May 2016) and manatees of Crystal River (June 2016).
Timeline
- 2016-05-09: Humpback whales of Tonga article published on Wetpixel
- 2016-06-09: Manatees of Crystal River article published
- 2016-08-01: Australian great white sharks article published ([12])
- 2016-09-04: Giant Australian cuttlefish aggregation article published ([13])
- 2016-11-05: Azores with Nikon D500 article published ([14])
- 2016-12-27: Japanese giant salamanders article published ([15])
- 2017-03-06: Understanding Papua New Guinea — overview and safety guide ([16])
- 2017-06-07: Where to scuba dive in Papua New Guinea — dive location overview ([17])
- 2017-10-16: Guide to diving Milne Bay — detailed resort/liveaboard guide ([18])
- 2017-12-29: Manta rays of Milne Bay — Giants@Home cleaning station ([19])
References
- [20] — editorial
- [21] — editorial
- [22] — editorial
- [23] — editorial
- [24] — editorial
- [25] — editorial
- [26] — editorial
- [27] — editorial
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Sep 4, 2016: Giant Australian Cuttlefish Aggregation By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 5, 2016: The Azores With Nikons D500 By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 5, 2016: The Azores With Nikons D500 By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 1, 2016: Australian Great White Sharks By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 4, 2016: Giant Australian Cuttlefish Aggregation By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 5, 2016: The Azores With Nikons D500 By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 27, 2016: Article Japanese Giant Salamanders By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 6, 2017: Understanding Papua New Guinea By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 7, 2017: Where To Scuba Dive In Papua New Guinea By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 16, 2017: Guide Diving Milne Bay By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 29, 2017: Don Silcock The Manta Rays Of Milne Bay ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 1, 2016: Australian Great White Sharks By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 4, 2016: Giant Australian Cuttlefish Aggregation By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 5, 2016: The Azores With Nikons D500 By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 27, 2016: Article Japanese Giant Salamanders By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 6, 2017: Understanding Papua New Guinea By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 7, 2017: Where To Scuba Dive In Papua New Guinea By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 16, 2017: Guide Diving Milne Bay By Don Silcock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 29, 2017: Don Silcock The Manta Rays Of Milne Bay ↩
- Australian Great White Sharks by Don Silcock (article) ↩
- Giant Australian Cuttlefish Aggregation by Don Silcock (article) ↩
- The Azores with Nikon’s D500 by Don Silcock (article) ↩
- Japanese Giant Salamanders by Don Silcock (article) ↩
- Understanding Papua New Guinea by Don Silcock (article) ↩
- Where to Scuba Dive in Papua New Guinea by Don Silcock (article) ↩
- Guide: Diving Milne Bay by Don Silcock (article) ↩
- Don Silcock: The Manta Rays of Milne Bay (article) ↩