Hi, I don`t know if you have ever thought about doing your course over in Egypt, Red Sea College might be the one for you as I believe that the course, accomodation, meals etc etc work out at less than half of what you have been quoted.
Try the Red Sea the dives are fantastic, warm sea`s 28C +. Fantastic abundance of sealife & also quite a few companies doing dive training packages, the only downer for you really would be the Flight times but you would still have time for all the history as well!!!!