Here's an easy one (I think)

[dean810]

As Matt T. said, a lot of people in Wisconsin, and the Midwest I might add,  dive wet.  Some of them do it locally.  But I bet a big bunch of them don't.  They just dive the warmer water futher away, and pay the airfare.  Consider yourself special for thinking of local diving!

If you find you catch the bug, and can't afford it, I think another suggestion made earlier of renting, dry suit I mean, has merit.  I did it for quite a while myself.  Renting has it's many problems, but it does help you decide where to allocate your budget!  And it does help you stay local until you can afford to buy.