Phil Modro - Committee Member
PADI Open Water Diver
Phil first learned to dive at the age of 13 with Monmouth School SAC, after years of being fascinated by the underwater world. Since then, diving has become a lifelong passion. He’s currently working towards his Advanced Open Water certification (long overdue!) and also holds qualifications including PSIA Level 2 Trimix Blender, Ocean Reef Full Face Mask Service Technician, and Kirby Morgan Service Technician certifications.
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He’s enjoyed every course he’s taken, the more technical the better—driven by a love for learning and a desire to constantly push the boundaries of his knowledge. His favourite types of diving are wreck and shore dives, especially when capped off with a BBQ on the beach! A standout dive was the Silfra Fissure in Iceland—an unforgettable experience between two tectonic plates in crystal-clear glacial water.
Phil has aspirations of progressing through the ranks to become a Divemaster and an Instructor in the future, so he can continue sharing his passion with others.
Phil's Story
Commercial Diving Interests
Beyond recreational diving, Phil has long been fascinated by the commercial diving world—drawn to the idea that it’s a hidden but vital industry that quietly keeps the world ticking. From offshore energy and infrastructure to subsea construction and salvage, commercial diving plays a crucial role in supporting modern life. It’s this often-overlooked importance that sparked Phil’s deep interest.
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Driven by that passion, he has built an impressive collection of commercial diving equipment—both modern and more vintage—all restored to fully working condition. His gear includes Kirby Morgan SuperLite 27 and 17B helmets, a KMB18 BandMask, and other surface-supplied diving equipment, all diveable and maintained to operational standards.​
Phil enjoys sharing this side of diving with others, demonstrating how the gear works and how it differs from recreational setups. Diving in a surface-supplied commercial helmet, he says, is the closest most of us “muggles” will ever get to being an astronaut.
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Career and Education
Phil began his diving-related career with over 7 years at the National Diving and Activity Centre (NDAC), whilst studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of the West of England. While at UWE, he was an active member of UWE-SAC and served as the equipment officer for several years.
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Following the Covid pandemic, he became a Subsea Design Engineer, specialising in saturation diving system design and subsea habitat development, with a focus on diver-support systems and facilities. He also contributed to the development of new habitat diving techniques and played a role in advancing rebreather technology for this purpose.
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He now works as a Nuclear Piping Engineer with EDF, contributing to the extensive systems required to build Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station. Although he enjoys the technical challenges of his role, Phil is keen to return to the subsea world in the future.
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Other Interests
Phil’s hobbies are as adrenaline-fuelled as his diving. He’s a keen motorcyclist, owning both a KTM Duke 890R and a KTM 150 SX motocross bike. He loves the freedom, engineering, and precision of riding.
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He’s also a dedicated rock climber, using the sport to stay physically fit and mentally centred. For Phil, climbing is a form of moving meditation—helping to sharpen focus, calm the mind, and build a deep connection between body and awareness, much like diving, at times!
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In winter, you’ll find him on the slopes. Phil is a BASI Level 2 qualified ski instructor and races regularly in Slalom and Giant Slalom disciplines. He trains weekly in Gloucester with Western Counties Ski Club, always aiming to improve his technique and performance.
Contact Phil:
If you'd like to contact Phil directly, you can do so via the club using the contact information opposite.
01291 418181
“IN ONE DROP OF WATER ARE FOUND ALL THE SECRETS OF ALL THE OCEANS.”
— Kahlil Gibran