Friends and family paid tribute to him yesterday.
Nicole Stanley, speaking to the Otago Daily Times in Dunedin last night, said she met Mr Dobson about eight years ago and he ''lit up the life'' of anyone he met.
He was ''proud'' of being born and raised in Milton, she said.
The former Tokomairiro High School pupil was a keen artist, she said.
He made friends for life and was sociable.
Mr Dobson was working at Andersons Bay Countdown in Dunedin and before that worked at the central city branch.
She couldn't believe her friend was gone.
''It doesn't seem real.''
On social media, Kayla Dobson said she was ''completely broken'' and could not ''comprehend what has happened'' to ''uncle Fab''.
''Nothing will ever be the same without you, you had an amazing personality and were the loudest, funniest person to be around.''
Melissa-Jean Lomas-Carr said she would ''never forget'' growing up with the ''one-of-a-kind''.
Jodie Hawke said Mr Dobson was a ''treasured'' member of Countdown staff and ''all round good sort''.
In a statement, police said the death had been referred to the coroner.
Visibly distressed family and friends were at Queenstown Bay when the body was recovered.
The squad started searching the lake about 9.40am and the body was found about an hour later.
A Cowboys Bar spokesman declined to comment when contacted last night.
