diff --git a/.github/BOTMETA.yml b/.github/BOTMETA.yml
index c0734d98c7d..99427b3089b 100644
--- a/.github/BOTMETA.yml
+++ b/.github/BOTMETA.yml
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ files:
     maintainers: $team_cloudstack
     labels: cloudstack
   $modules/cloud/digital_ocean/: BondAnthony
-  $modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean.py: alukovenko
+  $modules/cloud/digital_ocean/_digital_ocean.py: alukovenko
   $modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean_domain.py: alukovenko
   $modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean_sshkey.py: alukovenko mgregson
   $modules/cloud/dimensiondata/dimensiondata_network.py: tintoy
diff --git a/docs/docsite/rst/porting_guides/porting_guide_2.8.rst b/docs/docsite/rst/porting_guides/porting_guide_2.8.rst
index 4555821f318..0a9179d80a6 100644
--- a/docs/docsite/rst/porting_guides/porting_guide_2.8.rst
+++ b/docs/docsite/rst/porting_guides/porting_guide_2.8.rst
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ The following modules will be removed in Ansible 2.12. Please update your playbo
 * ``foreman`` use <https://github.com/theforeman/foreman-ansible-modules> instead.
 * ``katello`` use <https://github.com/theforeman/foreman-ansible-modules> instead.
 * ``github_hooks`` use :ref:`github_webhook <github_webhook_module>` and :ref:`github_webhook_facts <github_webhook_facts_module>` instead.
+* ``digital_ocean`` use :ref `digital_ocean_droplet <digital_ocean_droplet_module>` instead.
 
 
 Noteworthy module changes
@@ -147,6 +148,9 @@ Noteworthy module changes
   remove that workaround. To get the previous behavior when applying ``state: absent`` to a builtin kernel module,
   use ``failed_when: false`` or ``ignore_errors: true`` in your playbook.
 
+* The ``digital_ocean`` module has been deprecated in favor of modules that do not require external dependencies.
+  This allows for more flexibility and better module support.
+
 Plugins
 =======
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/_digital_ocean.py
similarity index 98%
rename from lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean.py
rename to lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/_digital_ocean.py
index 3af143c8a4b..666c19e3d86 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/_digital_ocean.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 
 
 ANSIBLE_METADATA = {'metadata_version': '1.1',
-                    'status': ['preview'],
+                    'status': ['deprecated'],
                     'supported_by': 'community'}
 
 
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ DOCUMENTATION = '''
 ---
 module: digital_ocean
 short_description: Create/delete a droplet/SSH_key in DigitalOcean
+deprecated:
+  removed_in: '2.12'
+  why: Updated module to remove external dependency with increased functionality.
+  alternative: Use M(digital_ocean_droplet) instead.
 description:
      - Create/delete a droplet in DigitalOcean and optionally wait for it to be 'running', or deploy an SSH key.
 version_added: "1.3"
@@ -185,7 +189,7 @@ from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 
 try:
     # Imported as a dependency for dopy
-    import six
+    import ansible.module_utils.six
     HAS_SIX = True
 except ImportError:
     HAS_SIX = False
diff --git a/test/sanity/validate-modules/ignore.txt b/test/sanity/validate-modules/ignore.txt
index b47157dc340..412dc5342e4 100644
--- a/test/sanity/validate-modules/ignore.txt
+++ b/test/sanity/validate-modules/ignore.txt
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ lib/ansible/modules/cloud/cloudstack/cs_vpn_connection.py E322
 lib/ansible/modules/cloud/cloudstack/cs_zone.py E322
 lib/ansible/modules/cloud/cloudstack/cs_zone.py E325
 lib/ansible/modules/cloud/cloudstack/cs_zone.py E326
-lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean.py E322
+lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/_digital_ocean.py E322
 lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean_floating_ip.py E322
 lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean_floating_ip.py E324
 lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean_floating_ip.py E325