Josh, in my honest opinion do yourself a favor and get certified at home. You will be 10X the diver being certified in our cold California waters. And that way when you do go somewhere tropical you can relax and enjoy your vacation and diving instead of reading your PADI manual at night and clearing your mask all day while others enjoy the sea life. I’ve evesdropped into many "resort classes" in the pools and in the water where I’ve stayed and they scare the hell out of me. They take shorecuts to make it easier for the vacationers to get certified in relaxation. And since you are lucky enough to live in Santa Ana, CA you will be happy to know our local waters are amazing. In fact, I prefer them to most of my tropical dives. Don’t get me wrong, I like tropical diving. But after a couple weeks in Hawaii or Mexico I’m dreaming of my kelp beds teeming with life at home. I’m not sure which school is nearest to where you live. Most will do shore dives in Laguna Beach or Redondo Beach. I did my classes with Hollywoodivers who do their shore dives at Casino Point on Catalina Island. Guaranteed great visibility and calm conditions. You should consider it. Drop me a line if you need more recomendations.