PADI

About us

About Diver's Depot

History

​Diver's Depot, established in 1974, was one of the FIRST SEVEN 5 Star Career Development Centers in the world and the only one in the Ark-La-Tex.

Sally and E.K. Sowell are owners of Diver's Depot and PADI Course Directors. EK has been a member of PADI since 1974, and Sally has been a member since l976. EK and Sally have been teaching diving at Stephen F. Austin State University since 1974.

Currently, Sally Sowell is the director of the SCUBA program as an SFA faculty member, and E.K. is a retired member of the teaching faculty. E.K. is also the recipient of the Texas Governor's Business Award, a Charter Member of the PADI Retail Advisory Committee and a recipient of the PADI Teaching Excellence Award.

E.K. Sowell

Course Director

Sally Sowell

Course Director

Facilities

This Career Development Center includes a retail facility, several classrooms, swimming pool, and dorm style accommodations all at one convenient location.

Diver's Depot has full-time PADI Course Directors on staff and numerous auxiliary staff members as needed. With our qualified personnel, none of your questions or concerns will go unattended. We have trained more than 14,000 divers and thousands of PADI Instructors since 1974.