I was certified in 1979 in the Keys while I was living there. It was through a dive group there and not really part of a resort group thing. I honestly couldn't tell you now what all we had to do but I do remember having to do a 60' dive as the final one in rather rough seas. None of the classes were held in pools ... all off beaches or dive boat.

Things have changed considerably since then. A couple years ago I was thinking of doing the course over again and found a guy in Bethesda, MD who would give me a break on the cost since I already held a certification. With his group, check-out dives are done in the Cayman's. I think he goes once a month. Very thorough class as you are YMCA certified in addition to PADI.

I am with the people here saying to do your check-out dives in a warm location.

I had the same instructor as tazi; he splits his time between the Caymans and the US. After the classroom course and some basics in a health club swimming pool, we flew down to GCM and did the finals checks there.

His pitch goes like this. You could cert in a quarry in Virginia, but the water would be cold, thus requiring a thick wetsuit. A thicker wetsuit limits mobility and adds buoyancy, requiring more weight, which will tire you out sooner. In addition to being cold, the water is murky—not that there's much to see besides old school buses, or a lot of space to move around. And a cold, dark, uncomfortable, stressful first time means you'll probably be less likely to become a regular diver. We certed off Grand Cayman with water and air about 85 degrees, visibility above 30 yards, in clean water with healthy coral; it certainly did not feel like time wasted. Indeed, as it was over Presidents' Day Weekend, you didn't even need to take a day off work.

We never felt uncomfortable, but of course all this was with our own instructor in a very wealthy place with strong regulations. A couple of former students along just for the trip had unnerving tales about Cozumel ("how long should we stay?" "just come up when you run out of air") and Indonesia ("since your BC is leaking, go in but stay shallow") so in those places I think a lot depends on the operator.

late aug could work

I recall doing most of that stuff in the pool at home. There are a certain set of skills you have to demonstrate to the instructor in the open water that you can perform (e.g. clearing a mask, retrieving lost regulator, etc). I did all of those.

Yeah my first dive in Cozumel I had to have been 16 or so and we decided to have a guy come along from the dive shop to hang back with me and a couple other people from my party since we were new and green. This guy decides to go down 100' on a wall - great views, not a great idea.

This would be cool. I've NAUI certified since 1982 and do 4+ a year still, though entirely warm water now. I be up for about any location, even the ones I've been to have all be enjoyable.

I just returned yesterday from SJD where I went diving on the Arch with the seals. It was fun. The dive master couldn't believe I was going to dive in a shorty but I was more then fine. Snokeled up at Cabo Pulmo too which was very nice but didn't see any of the Hammerheads or whale sharks.