Is water aerobics and using foam weights under water, as effective as working out with regular weights?

Well, never having worked out using foam weights or performing water aerobics, I would say NO!  But I am prejudice as I have worked out exclusivley with weights for the last 33 years and have competed in bodybuilding.  Why then the emphatic NO?  The level of involvement and the limitations of using water aerobics and using foam weights under water are tremedous.  Now...do they work...of course but, it depends on what your goals are.  If you are doing it for rehab...it is an excellant way to heal.  If you are using it as a primary weight-training or muslce building program....it is not as effective or even in the same league as regular weights. Now if you are trying to decide between the two but don't have an injury, I would choose the regular weights...