Latitude hit it out of the park again.
If you are not rushing off to a 60’ (20 meter) plus dive any time soon I would say get some diving under your belt. If you show up on a dive boat with an advanced certificate and do some not very responsible (stupid) things on your first dive chances are you will be banned by the DM for the rest of the day.
Think of it this way, how many REALLY BAD drivers do you see on the road every day?
And they all have been certified!
Dive as often as you possibly can, it’s not a bewbie thing, we are ALL addicted.
I am fortunate enough to get to the Caribbean every year, and I am within a hour of New Jersey ocean diving. But I still enjoy our local scuba quarry.
Trust me, once you have battled all the challenges you local cold water diving for a season or two, you will feel like a fish in warm water.
Enjoy!