I agree with robbo, but would like to offer a different perspective on a few points.
Here is another option. FL, especially the Keys, has more dive shops offering full certification courses than beer stores. If you have the time & inclination you can get a full, good course there and come home fully certified. But you have to spend part of your precious vacation time doing the book and pool work while on vacation, while you could be bikini watching, fishing or drinking silly tropical cocktails.
A hybrid approach is to do the course work and pool work locally, taking your time, developing contacts and learning about equipment you might buy in the future. Then independently or with the local shops recommendation, do your "certification" dives in the sunny, hospitable Florida waters instead of a local dark, cold, scary quarry in Pennsylvania. The major agencies like PADI & NAUI can help set this up. I've seen several SCUBA students never dive again after their first and only underwater experience in a quarry or a trip to the turbulent, cloudy Atlantic Ocean. These dives can wait until you get some more experience and the operation of your equipment becomes second nature. Making your first open water dives in a quarry is like learning to ride a horse and the outfitter starts you out with you stallion with an attitude problem. Why not make the whole thing as enjoyable as possible? Keep in mind that if you ask the local shop about this point, they may vey well dismiss it as "no big deal" since they do it all the time, and have a financial interest in selling you a full course.
BTW, a resort course is OK as long as the instructors are not incompetent (seen this in some developing countries)....if all you have is a short time, as you will get some pool training, the dive will be shallow and the instructor will be right next to you. Just keep in mind that you are not "certified" and can not dive independently anywhere else or with another dive master with a resort course. Good luck with whichever way you go!
