Scuba Venture - Dan Instructor Course

DAN Instructor Qualification Course
As a DAN Instructor, you can offer your students nine classes that will help make them safer divers.
These classes are:

DAN Instructors are scuba diving educators who want to offer dive safety programs to their students. To become a DAN Instructor, you must participate in a DAN Instructor Qualification Course (IQC).

The IQC follows a modular format. There is a Core Module and then a separate module representing each training program. You can take all nine modules as part of one course, or just take the Core Module and one course module - whatever you are interested in teaching. Later, as long as you remain a current and active DAN Instructor, you can take additional modules without retaking the Core Module. The Core Module is now available online in English and Spanish.

Read our Frequently Asked Questions

Prerequisites for DAN Instructor Qualification Course:

DAN Member
Active scuba diving educator*
Current CPR Instructor
Documentation of First Aid training

Prerequisites for Instructor Qualification Course (IQC) Modules:

Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries
Requires CPR Instructor

Oxygen First Aid for Aquatic Emergencies
Requires CPR Instructor

Advanced Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries
Requires Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries Instructor

First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries
Requires CPR Instructor

Automated External Defibrillators for Scuba Diving
Requires CPR Instructor

Automated External Defibrillators for Aquatic Emergencies
Requires Automated External Defibrillators for Scuba Diving Instructor

Basic Life Support for Dive Professionals
Requires CPR Training

Remote Emergency Medical Oxygen (REMO2™)
Requires Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries Instructor

On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers
Requires Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries Instructor

Dive Accident First Aid for Non-Divers
To offer this program, DAN Instructor Trainers and Instructors must be in Active Teaching Status for:
Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries
First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for Scuba Diving

Diving First Aid for Professional Divers
To qualify, the candidate must:
Have an affiliation with an aquarium, scientific diving program or a commercial diving operation
Be a CPR Instructor
Be a current DAN Member

Current DAN Instructor Trainers and Instructors who are certified to teach Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries, AEDs for Scuba Diving and First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries, and who meet the other criteria, may complete an online crossover to be certified in this program as well.

Diving Emergency Management Provider
To offer this program, DAN Instructor Trainers and Instructors must be in Active Teaching Status for:
Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries
First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for Scuba Diving
Preferred Additional Credentials:
Advanced Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries

Take the Core Module Online

* Note about the scuba diving educator requirement: Any scuba diving instructor or assistant instructor with a recognized scuba training organization can attend the IQC. A divemaster/divecon who is also a CPR and First Aid instructor with a recognized training agency can also attend the IQC.

Course Objectives
The DAN Instructor Qualification Course (IQC) trains and educates qualified scuba diving educators to plan, manage, conduct and promote dive safety through DAN Training Programs such as the:

Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries course
Remote Emergency Medical Oxygen (REMO2™) course
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for Scuba Diving
First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries course
Oxygen First Aid for Aquatic Emergencies course

In addition, the course develops role-model teaching techniques in the use of first aid for suspected dive injuries. Instructor Candidates also have the opportunity to develop further knowledge in relation to the special considerations involved in providing emergency first aid.

The DAN IQC consists of eight modules. There is a core module that introduces DAN and the DAN Training philosophy. This core program serves as the introduction for all other DAN Training programs. The remaining program modules represent each of the individual training courses offered by DAN. Qualified Instructor Trainers can present all seven program modules or select only the modules appropriate for the Instructor Candidates.

Qualifications of DAN Instructors
Successful completion of the DAN Instructor Qualification Course (IQC) results in certification recognizing the Instructor Candidate's understanding and performance of the knowledge and skills contained within this program.

Instructors must maintain active teaching status with DAN in order to conduct DAN Training programs. In order to maintain active teaching status, DAN Instructors must teach or assist with teaching each course they are certified in once within a 24-month period.

Recommended Minimum Hours of Training:

Knowledge and Skills Development Core Module: 4 Hours
Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries Module: 2-3 Hours
Oxygen First Aid for Aquatic Emergencies Module: 2-3 Hours
Advanced Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries: 1-2 Hours
First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries Module: 2-3 Hours
Automated External Defibrillators for Scuba Diving: 1-2 Hours
Basic Life Support for Dive Professionals: 8 Hours
Remote Emergency Medical Oxygen Module: 1-2 Hours

The time the course actually takes to teach varies depending upon many factors, including the number of students and their ability to process the educational components of the program along with the number of modules offered. Instructor Trainers desiring to include subjects or training beyond the course requirements may do so only before or following the course. Any additional training must not be required for completion of course requirements.

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