I certified the hard way: in Michigan! It sucked. Lots of pool training, and them my initial open water experience was in old stone quarries that had been flooded. They were cold!!
When I did my advanced certification, I remember passing through 2 thermal clines on the way to be bottom At the end of the dive, I had red rings around my wrists were my wet suit and gloves didn't quite meet.
Needless to say I didn't do any further diving up there (though I hear the Great Lakes are the best place to see shipwrecks, as the fresh water preserves them). All the rest of my dives have been logged in Florida an the Caribbean.
So on the plus side, you are looking at training in a warmer location