About

Nicholas Van De Pas

I'm Nicholas Van De Pas — a subsea installation engineer with 7+ years spanning analysis and project engineering. On the side, I build AI-powered tools, web apps, and automations. This site documents what I make and how I think about applying AI practically.

The Engineering Background

I spent 7 years in the subsea industry across AMOG Consulting and Ocean Installer — starting as an engineer doing analysis and progressing into installation project engineering, working on offshore campaigns across Australia and Norway. Bachelor's degree in Ocean Engineering.

Building on the Side

The discovery that changed things: AI tools — specifically Claude Code — let me build software at a pace that would've been impossible otherwise. What started as curiosity has turned into a genuine interest in what's actually possible. I learn by shipping real things, not following tutorials. An engineer who can also build software and automate workflows is a more useful version of the same person. This site documents that process.

Current Side Projects

  • NZ Web Design for Trades — web design + hosting service targeting NZ trades businesses without websites. Lead database of 500+ businesses built via Google Places API.
  • This build log — documenting the process publicly.
  • AI automation tools — lead gen, workflow automation, personal tools.

Connect

Find me on LinkedIn or check out my business site at nicholasvandepas.com.