As many of you would be aware, one of the illustrious characters of the AUUC has kissed goodbye to New Zealand waters and headed off on an overseas adventure.

Simon joined AUUC in 2001. As a student at Auckland University he studied engineering and marine biology, graduating to a position as a product development engineer at Fisher and Paykel Healthcare.

Simon has TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures qualifications and was usually observed diving on twin tanks down around 50+ metres, looking for uncommon species of fish and coral and snapping away with his camera rated to 40 metres.

Simon became Secretary of AUUC in 2004, President in 2005, Training Officer in 2006 and this year is our Flotsam (club newsletter) Editor. He’s made an enormous contribution to the club over the past few years for which we really can’t be thankful enough.

Simon’s poetic prose in describing dives is second to none, which is why he had several articles accepted for publication in Dive New Zealand Magazine. We hope he’ll continue to furnish us with fruity phrases on the dives he will undoubtedly do overseas, and keep contributing to the AUUC blog. You can follow Simon’s progress on his own blog.

A bunch of club members helped farewell Simon in the only way we knew how, by going diving with him at the Aldermen Islands with Jim on the Taranui on 25 May. Check out the gallery for photos.

Let’s face it, who will ever forget those fins, the helmet with accessorised torches, the sleeping on the pool table at the Cowshed, the drysuit thermals and then there was the chordite phase! I could go on, but all we really want to say is thanks, best of luck Simon, we hope you don’t get yourself killed! You better sign yourself up for our 50th Anniversary reunion updates.

Filed under: Ali Perkins, Club News