Meet our Instructors!
All of our Instructors are Volunteer Coaches for the University and teach Scuba Diving as a hobby, are not paid for their services and give up a lot of their time (and holidays). They have been helping out for a number of years. If you need any help or advice, they are very approachable.
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Paul McNamaraB.Tech (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, Loughborough University (1983)
MSc Automotive Engineering Design, Coventry University (2001) Advanced Diver, Open Water Instructor OWI5261 Exec Positions Held (in previous branch): Diving Officer(3 years), Chairman (5 years), Training Officer (1 year) Paul started learning to dive with another Branch in Coventry way back in 1987 and became a Nationally Qualified Club Instructor in 1995 before upgrading to be an Open Water Instructor in 2006 after joining the club in 2004. He lives in Kenilworth with his wife Tracey (a non-diver), the Bookbuyer in the University Bookshop and has two grown-up (again non-diver) children Zoe and Rory. He has worked as an Engineer for Jaguar Land Rover since 1998 and is currently based at their site in Gaydon. |
Nigel DentonBEng (Hons), Manufacturing & Business Studies, Coventry University (1995)
MBA, Business, University of Warwick (2001) Advanced Diver, Open Water Instructor Exec Position Held: Diving Officer (2018-19) Nigel joined the club when he was a Masters student back in 1998 and has lived and worked locally ever since; after a spell as a Lecturer at Coventry University, he is now the Director of Student Experience to the School of Engineering and a Senior Teaching Fellow at WMG where one of his recent activities is Tutor for the University Human Powered Submarine Team. Nigel is renowned for his ability to drink gallons of tea during dive trips. |
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Mark SmithAdvanced Diver, Open Water Instructor
Exec Position Held: Diving Officer Mark joined the club as one of the original founder members when he was a student at the university and he lives and works locally as an Electrician. He is married to Jo (another diver, although not part of the club). He qualified as an Instructor and he hasn't stopped teaching since! He is known as the go-to person on underwater photography but at the moment he needs a new camera as he has recently drowned two in the same housing! |
Denys IlyushenkoMEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering, University of Warwick (2018)
Dive Leader, Accelerated Decompression Diver, Open Water Instructor Exec Positions Held: Equipment Officer (2014-15), Training Officer (2015-16), Diving Officer (2016-17), President (2017-18). Denys joined WUSAC in his first year at the University as a beginner. He rapidly completed his Ocean Diver and Sports Diver courses and qualified as an Assistant Diving Instructor in October 2016. Teaching ever since, he recently qualified as a Dive Leader, Open Water Instructor and attained Accelerated Decompression training. After graduating from the University, he joined Jaguar Land Rover as a Manufacturing Engineer at their engineering base in Gaydon. His main diving interests include Wreck diving and Night Diving. |
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Dan BeddowMEng Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering, University of Warwick (2016)
Sports Diver, Assistant Diving Instructor Exec Positions Held: Assistant Diving Officer (2015-16), Expeditions Officer (2014-15) Dan joined the club as a diver having previously trained with PADI to Advanced Open Water level before he came to university and converted over to BSAC to continue his training. He qualified as an Assistant Instructor after completing his Instructor Foundation Course (IFC) in 2014 and is well on his way to completing his Dive Leader Qualification before he can qualify as a full instructor. In his final year, he was a member of the Engineering Departments Human Powered Submarine Team. After graduating in 2016, he joined Jaguar Land Rover as a graduate Manufacturing Engineer at their Castle Bromwich plant and he lives in Coventry with his fiancée Jess. |