@KCB, I'm also based in Maryland. I dive fairly often out of Morehead City, NC. The visibility is better and the temps warmer than off our shores. It's a pretty easy drive (6 hours from the eastern shore of MD). Their offshore sites are fairly advanced dives (typically 110-125'). They do have some inshore sites at around 70'. They don't hold your hand there in NC, so the inshore sites would be a good place to hone your skills without following a DM.