Sorry to tell you this, but diving prefessionally doesn't pay. You will not be able to afford an apartment by yourself anywhere that's near the water in Flroida. Most, if not all, new divers wnat to do it professionally. It's so cool, who wouldn't want to get paid for it. But there's the catch. Fun diving doesn't pay. Talk to many DMs that have been doing it awhile. They don't dive for fun nearly as much as you would think. If you want to get salty, you could go the commercial diving route. There is better money to be made there, but from what I understand, you usually have to put in your time tending or elsewhere before you can even put on your hat and get your feet wet in larger operations.
Not sure where in Florida you are, so I can't reccomend anybody. Who do you want to certify through? NAUI and PADI are tried and true.(I myself am NAUI biased) However, many PADI and NAUI shops down here are switching over to SSI. The availability of a certain program or SCUBA certification agency in your area will sway who you train up through.
And finally, take your time and learn to dive before you train up to DM(or wherever your diving aspirations may be). It(should be) a long road with lots and lots of dives and education(Ahem..Zero-to-Hero).