Open water course isn't expensive, and in the summer you can do he dives on Tobermory. Don't expect to see much, but at least when you do head down south you can find local dive shops where diving is cheap. Not through the resort, etc, etc. I've Had my Rescue cert for almost 20 years now. Can't wait to go again next now that my appreciation is further enhanced with knowing wtf I'm actually looking at. Aside from Sharks, and Turtles and Rays, it was "hey, did you see that fish? Black, sorta oval?" Doah. haha