An Australian man who died surfing in Indonesia was a respected boardmaker on Queensland’s Gold Coast, who loved being part of nature’s “postcard-like scenes”.

Geoff Moase, 48, was pulled from the water off Sorga Beach in Lombok on Friday morning.

Police say a fisherman spotted Mr Moase floating in the water.

Mr Moase’s friends rushed to the shore and tried CPR but the Australian was pronounced dead a short time later at a clinic.

“By the time he was pulled from the water, he was already so weak,” West Nusa Tenggara police spokesman Amerun said.

At his Gold Coast workshop, Dovetail Surfboards, Mr Moase crafted unique boards from Australian-grown plantation timbers.

In an interview with the website surfcareers.com, he described it as his “obsession”.

He said he had been fascinated by surfing since childhood.

“At least half of it is just being part of a postcard-like scene,” he said. “Surfing reminds me that I’m lucky to live in a country that’s free.”

One of those paying tribute to Mr Moase on Saturday was Burleigh Heads retailer Keith Davis, who saw his friend just before he left for Indonesia.

Mr Moase’s passion fanned the creativity in others, including his musician son Jack Moase, Mr Davis said.

“Geoff was an inspiring individual who really tried to help people do what they loved doing, and that was surfing,” he said.

“He loved helping other people make their surfboards as much as he loved making his own.”

Meanwhile on Nusa Lembongan, an island just off Bali, the search continues for missing Sunshine Coast man Peter Maynard.

His family were on Saturday considering hiring a helicopter to search for the surfer who was last seen on August 27.