Graeme Moody, 60, could not be revived by paramedics after fellow surfers saw he was in trouble and brought him ashore unconscious at Angourie Beach, near Yamba on the far north coast of New South Wales.
Moody worked at the The Radio Network in Wellington and for more than two decades had been commentating on All Black tests, Commonwealth and Olympic games and other major sporting events.
Today his colleagues said they were numbed and in shock at the news.
NewstalkZB Wellington operations manager Jason Pine said he had three great loves, "his wife Bev, surfing and rugby, in that order".
The Radio Network's talk programming general manager Dallas Gurney says Moody's death was "a big shock for the company, but especially the tight team in Wellington."
He described the Wellington broadcaster as iconic.
Moody's distinctive voice would be sorely missed by loyal listeners throughout the country, his friend, fellow sports broadcaster Bryan Waddle told The Dominion Post.
He said the news was a "massive shock", coming when Moody was doing something he really loved -- every year he went to Australia for a holiday with his wife Bev.
He said Moody was an easygoing man who loved life and having people around him.
Moody was due to cover the Rugby World Cup which begins next month.
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) also paid tribute to Moody.
"Moodz has been a stalwart on our airwaves for many years and his voice has become synonymous with rugby in this country.
"He brought rugby games to life on the radio with his passionate and colourful broadcasting style and his contribution to the game in this country has been immense. He will be sorely missed," said NZRU chief executive Steve Tew.
On a Radio Sport website, Moody said one of his best moments in sport was being involved in the Rugby World Cup coverage in 1995 when the Springboks beat the All Blacks 15-12 in the final at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
"Memories of the final at Ellis Park still give me goosebumps.
"The worst memory is being talked into shouting Bryan Waddle a beer in Singapore. He'd obviously been to the bar before. The two beers cost me 40 bucks! But even more painful was the grin on Waddle's face as he drank it," he said.
NZPA editor Kevin Norquay paid tribute to Moody as generous and supportive to journalists who shared his rounds.
When Norquay toured Ireland and Scotland with Moody in 2001, the broadcaster went out of his way to be helpful.
"It was my first All Blacks tour -- Moodz had never met me before, yet went out of his way to help, and was a fine travelling companion as well," He said.
"It's one of those things you always remember. His untimely death is a sad day for journalism."
Moody studied journalism at Wellington Polytech in 1971 and worked at the Whakatane Beacon before turning to radio.
He worked for the NewstalkZB and Radio Sport networks for 35 years.
