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.

Paul McNamara​

B.Tech (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, Loughborough University (1983)
MSc Automotive Engineering Design, Coventry University (2001)
Advanced Diver, Open Water Instructor 

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), who works in Student Finance at the University 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 Denton

BEng (Hons), Manufacturing & Business Studies, Coventry University (1995)
MBA, Business, University of Warwick (2001)
Advanced Diver, Open Water Instructor 

Exec Position Held:  Diving Officer (2018-20)

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.

Mark Smith

Advanced 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 Ilyushenko

MEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering, University of Warwick (2018)
Advanced Diver, Accelerated Decompression Diver, Advanced Twinset 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 an Advanced Diver, Open Water Instructor and attained Accelerated Decompression and Advanced Twinset 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.

Liam Crossley

BSc Physics, University of Manchester (2012)
Dive Leader, Open Water Instructor (BSAC & PADI)

Exec Positions Held: Equipment Officer [Previous branch (2008-2012)], Diving Officer [Coventry branch]

Liam caught the diving bug on holiday in 2002 and first qualified that same year in UK waters. He hasn't turned down an opportunity to get wet since! As a member of Manchester University SAC, regular jaunts to Scotland on the club RIB, Space Hopper, saw him qualify as an Open Water Instructor in 2010. Liam has had a varied career as an events librarian in Surrey, meeting the likes of Bill Bryson and JK Rowling, but moved to Coventry in 2018 to work as a software developer. He prefers diving in UK waters as we have some of the best wrecks, drifts, and historical finds in the world. Nothing beats the taste of your own hand-caught scallops, with a whisky by the fire, after a successful day at sea.

Jack Moore

Studying MEng Mechanical Engineering, University of Warwick (2017 onwards)
Sports Diver, Theory Instructor.

Exec Positions Held:  Kit Officer (2018-19), Expeditions Officer (2018-19),
Treasurer (2019-20), President (2020-21)

Jack joined the club in his first year, kickstarting his SCUBA career. After his first year he attained his Ocean Diver qualification and continued to complete his Sports Diver the following year. As soon as finishing that he went on to become an Assistant Instructor and is currently working towards his Dive Leader qualification. He recently became a Theory Instructor and is working towards his Practical Instructor qualifications.

Tom Frampton

BSc Computer Systems Engineering, University of Warwick (2020)
Sports Diver, Assistant Diving Instructor, Compressor Operator

Exec Position Held: Training Officer (2018-20)

Tom joined the club in 2017, his first year at Warwick, completing his Ocean Diver qualification. Sports Diver followed and he also completed his Compressor Operator training when he became the club’s Training Officer. In September 2019 he qualified as an Assistant Instructor and continued in his role as Training Officer. Currently completing his Dive Leader qualification whilst doing his finals, Tom hopes to continue diving and teaching with WUSAC after he graduates. Tom’s main diving interests include Night and Reef dives, although he won’t say no to any trip being offered!

Nick Cherryman

University of Warwick
Sports Diver, Assistant Diving Instructor

Exec Position Held: Club Development Officer (2020-21)

Dan Beddow

MEng 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.

past exec