His partner Tach and children Charlea and Beau have honoured his parting wish, launching a successful fundraiser in the coastal town of Bicheno.

Now in its second year, Phil’s Dive involves a dive, paddle, or swim at Waubs Bay in Bicheno, and commemorates the life of Mr Malkin, who passed away from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in January 2015.

Ms Malkin said she chose Waubs Bay as a dedication to Mr Malkin’s background as a dive con for the Bicheno Dive Centre.

“Phil was a Tasmanian and he wanted to show me Bicheno, where he’d been going for 18 years. He learned to dive there when he was 15,” she said.

She said when the family moved from the mainland to Launceston they bought a shack in Bicheno, which they called their second home.  

“He was the diver for Bicheno Dive Centre around 2001, he took divers diving as a dive con.”  

Ms Malkin said last year’s event managed to raise $35,354 for the foundation.

“It represents the largest to date sum from community-based fundraising for LFA in Tasmania.”

The funds were handed over to the Leukaemia Foundation, and directed to the St Vincent’s Research Institute, who is researching target-specific drug therapy to treat leukaemia.

This year, Phil’s Dive has set a fundraising target of $40,000.

According to Cancer Council Australia, there were 1367 deaths caused by four types of leukaemia.

The Australian Cancer Research Foundation cited statistics which found acute lymphoblastic leukaemia accounted for 0.3 per cent of all cancers diagnosed, and was in fact a rare disease.

“Our journey is somewhat over, although in another way a new journey has just begun. This is now about helping other families and individuals living with blood cancers, lymphomas and myelomas,” Ms Malkin said.

Phil’s Dive will take place on Sunday, November 13 from 10am to 3pm. To donate, head to: diveforacure.org.au/bicheno