Why Every Diver Should Take a DAN Safety Course
Christie Davis Sep 24, 2026
Most of us take scuba classes to learn how to dive. Far fewer take a class on what to do when something goes wrong.
That's a gap worth closing. Here's why, and which course fits you.
Dives happen far from help
You're on a boat, a beach, or a remote shoreline. If a buddy has a problem, the first people to help are the people standing right there. That could be you.
The Divers Alert Network (DAN) is a nonprofit that focuses on dive safety. Its courses teach the skills that matter in those first minutes, before professional help arrives.
You don't have to be a pro
These aren't just for instructors and divemasters. They're for anyone who dives. If you have a regular buddy, you each become the other's best safety net. Taking a course together is one of the smartest things you can do.
The courses we teach
We offer six DAN courses at Astoria Scuba:
- DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries ($95, 4 hours): The starting point. You learn how to give emergency oxygen to an injured diver. Includes a workbook, slate, and certification card.
- DAN Advanced Oxygen First Aid ($175, 2 hours): Builds on the basic course. Includes a bag-valve mask.
- DAN Automated External Defibrillators (AED) for Scuba Diving ($175, 2 hours): How to use an AED in a dive setting.
- DAN On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers ($175, 2 hours): How to check a diver for signs of a possible dive injury.
- DAN Diving Emergency Management Provider (DEMP) ($250, 8 hours): The bundle. It combines the courses above and comes out cheaper than taking them one by one.
- Diving First Aid for Professional Divers ($250, 8 hours): Built for dive professionals.
Prices are what we list right now. Check the course pages for the latest.
Which one should you start with?
If you take only one, make it Oxygen First Aid. It's the foundation, and the other courses build on it.
If you want the full set, the DEMP package is the best value. If you're working toward Divemaster or Instructor, the pro-level course is the one to ask about.
The honest takeaway
You hope you never use any of this. But a few hours in a class is a small price for being the person who knows what to do.
Browse all of them on our DAN Training page, or call us at (503) 741-3070. To learn more about DAN itself, visit dan.org.
This post is general information, not medical advice.
