My comment about a single room had more to do with budget: with the number of travellers I have I would need two rooms, and that's beyond the budget...
Travelocity sent me an e-mail yesterday for a 2-room suite at the Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek Ft. Lauderdale. That had enough space and beds for all of us, and it was $140 a night. That's really like $70/night per room, and getting a room for $70 a night is near *impossible* in Ft. Lauderdale in January... The only downside is no breakfast, but that's nothing a bag of bagels can't fix!
So, I'm back in Ft. Lauderdale. Thank you all very much for all of your help with this!
One last thing: I've dove with South Florida Dive Headquarters several times before. I've done every dive they have on the schedule for the weekend I'm there, so I'm willing to branch out. I got a couple of names to check out in addition, but now that I've got a specific place nailed down: Are there any dive boats you can personally recommend in the area of N. Ft. Lauderdale or Pompano Beach? The only two companies I have in that area are SFDH and Pompano Dive Center (and Scuba Tyme, but they seem to be related to Pompano Dive Center, I think.)
Are there any other Ft. Lauderdale/Pompano Beach boats to check out?
Again, thank all of you very much for your help!