In Valdosta, there is a place where adventure begins with a single lesson and ends with stories from across the globe. Southern Ocean Sports, founded in 1986 and now owned by longtime diver and instructor Dave“ The Kraken” Stone, is more than just a dive shop— it is a gateway to underwater exploration and a community built on inclusion, curiosity, and passion.

Stone’ s journey into diving began early. He was just a kid in the mountains of North Georgia, hauling his dad’ s scuba gear down to a creek, teaching himself by mimicking what he saw at his father’ s lessons. By the time he arrived at Valdosta State University in 1995, he was already a certified instructor.

June 2025 | Valdosta Scene 9