Dan instructor at work.

Divers Alert Network, a leader in dive safety and emergency-assistance training, is looking for instructors nationally, including in South Florida.

DAN claims that the demand for new instructors is due to the introduction of education programs like Basic Life Support and First Aid and Dive Medicine for Divers, as well as the success of existing programs such as Diving Emergency Management Provider and the Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries.

To become a DAN instructor, candidates must complete an Instructor Qualification Course. Prerequisites for enrollment in an IQC include DAN membership, a certification level of divemaster or higher, a current certificate as a CPR Instructor and documentation of first aid training. If the candidate does not have a current CPR instructor rating with another agency, he or she can be certified to offer the DAN Basic Life Support and First Aid course.

“It’s a fantastic time to become a DAN instructor,” Eric Douglas, director of the nonprofit organization, said in a statement. “Not only is it the perfect time of year to do it, but with the addition of several new programs to the DAN training course offerings, there’s more demand for instructors to teach those courses.”

The IQC follows a modular format. The Core Module is followed by a separate module for each DAN training program. Instructor candidates can take all 10 modules as part of one course or take only the Core Module and the specific course modules they plan to teach. Additional program certifications can be added later without retaking the Core Module, provided the DAN instructor rating is kept current. The Core Module can be completed online.

To find a DAN instructor trainer, visit a local dive center, call 919-684-2948 or e-mail oxygen@diversalertnetwork.org.