As someone who had the pleasure of diving in the area’s you have mentioned and lived in Europe for almost 5 yrs. my deepest condolences on haveing to leave. As for the diving in Louisiana pretty much nil from shore, but there are several shops (depending on where you will be living) that arrange trips and there are a multitude of operators that you can drive to do a trip offshore and drive home and be back before about 10:pm been there done it. Welcome back and if can help anymore drop me a line. Tim(tuffmedic)