Moving to Madison from California.

[FreediveWI]

I would have to agree that if you learned to dive out there you could dive most anywhere. A couple of times a summer we will get some good current out on Lake Michigan, but nothing like I have seen on the back side of Catalina. Most divers aorund here don't know how to deal with it and I have had to swim for more divers over the years than I can even count. : That's one of the reasons I started to freedive while working on the charter boats around here- it's easier to tow a fully rigged scuba diver that way! ;D

You'll have no problems. THe only thing I have ever noticed about California divers who hit Lake Michigan for the first time is that their gloves are too thin. They have warm enough wetsuits, but you really need to get a set of 6mm gloves or, better yet, mitts.

I have dove up in the Puget Sound area before- talk about some wacky tide tables! The vis isn't as nice as further south, but the fish life is really great.

How far south have you been?

I have dove Cabo a few times and made the drive from there up to La Paz at least once. Cabo Pulmo was my favorite spot down there- shallow, relativly warm, and some nice fish life. Even though it's so far south I still found myself wearing a 7mm wetsuit most of the time- and wanted my drysuit!