Then this is what I would do:
1) Rescue
2) GUE Fundies or equivalent (IANTD essentials, TDI intro to tech, etc.)
Number 2 can be expensive, but it's going to teach you
many skills.
There can be extra requirement to take a rescue course, I suggest you look at another thread that is open right now here on Scubaboard. No requirements for fundies or equivalent (except with TDI that requires 25 dives of experience)
Look for high-quality instructors: very skilled, capable of teaching, and with a personality that you like; with fundies, usually the first one (diving skills of the instructor) is easy to verify, but don't give it for granted.
EDIT: this is the rescue thread I mentioned:
Rescue Diver course