they do train you in a pool. but you have to do an open water dive as well. and well there is now warm open water around here in jan,feb, march. or really year round for that matter...lol...
idk ryan cayuga is mighty cold this time of year....lol...im not even sure if they'll bring you out in the winter time around here. but i guess if you want it bad enought.
you could always do what dr bronx did. he said he did all the class work and want not up here and then did the open dive down in FL where he was goin i believe that is what he had told me.