About Me

Hi, I’m Duncan, the creator of Islands of the Indian Ocean. My love for this part of the world began early in life when I visited Mauritius and the Seychelles, staying with local friends who lived on the islands. Those experiences stayed with me — the warmth of the people, the vivid colours of the water, the stillness of the mornings, and the slow, peaceful rhythm of island life. Even after returning home, those memories shaped the way I think about travel and the kind of places I’m drawn to.

Duncan and Elizabeth on a rainy evening at the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

As the years passed, that early fascination grew into a deeper appreciation for destinations that feel authentic, grounded, and connected to nature. I’ve always been someone who enjoys learning about the stories behind places — their culture, history, wildlife, and the everyday life of the people who call the islands home. Beauty is easy to find, but understanding a place adds meaning, and that’s something I’ve always valued.

Outside of travel, I live a fairly simple and grounded life. I’m a teacher, and when I’m not in the classroom you’ll usually find me walking on the beach with my wife Elizabeth and our dog Shaggy, enjoying a quiet cup of tea, or catching up with friends at a weekend BBQ. I also have a real love of snorkelling in the summer months, especially around the Southern Great Barrier Reef, where I’m reminded again of how much I enjoy being in and around the water. There’s something calming about drifting over coral, watching the marine life below, and feeling completely unhurried.

Islands of the Indian Ocean is a project that brings all of this together — my early experiences, my love of learning, and my appreciation for places that help people slow down and reconnect. My aim is to create a space that offers genuinely helpful travel information: honest guides, clear highlights, practical advice, and beautiful imagery that captures the personality of each island. Whether you’re planning your first trip or building a bucket list, I want this site to feel like a helpful, reliable companion.

From the Maldives and Seychelles to Mauritius, Zanzibar, Lamu Island and many others, the Indian Ocean is full of destinations that deserve to be explored with care, curiosity, and respect. If this site helps you discover a new favourite place — or even sparks the desire to travel somewhere restful and beautiful — then it’s doing exactly what I hoped it would.

Thanks for being here and sharing in this journey.
See you in the new year — and stay tuned as the website continues to grow.