Hello Maggs:
I ended up doing my open water at the quarry in Madison AL. I did my training at the Dive Shop and they were ok. I did my checkeouts with Earl at Rockdivers and he was a lot more fun and taught me some things I didn't learn during OW class. I didn't want to go to Heber as I have been to that area several times and didn't like it. Too many boats, bad motels (I got chiggers in a Best Western near Cherokee Village).
Why doesn't anyone dive in North Mississippi in your neck of the woods? You've got all those big Oxbow lakes around. Everyone goes to Arkansas and no one goes to Mississippi.
I'm going to Cozumel, Belize and Roatan next month and I want to get in as much practice as I can before the trip. I'd like to be able to drive less than 2-1/2 hours to dive. But I can't find anywhere. Someone ought to make a scuba park near Memphis.
Susan