Ok Sue,
Here are some suggestions/comments on Grand Bahama island (Freeport/Port Lucaya). The island has 2 main tourist areas the International Bazaar area and Port Lucaya. I would recommend that you fine a place in/very close to one of these . If you get outside of these areas and you want to travel around the island, you either 1: rent a car-they drive on the left and I don't like to idea of having to drive or 2: take a taxi- this can get to be an expensive option. The reason being, the bus system only has stops on a circular route between the IB and PL. If you are near a bus stop, getting between the two is not difficult and at $0.75pp the cost is not bad. It's the way we normally get around on the island. Another reason to stay in one of these 2 areas is that most of the restaurants are located in these areas. One of the main problems with places that are actually on the beach is that they are not located on the bus route so you are stuck taking a cab to get to restaurants and shopping areas. The exception to this are a couple of places at Port Lucaya which are on the beach, near a bus stop and across the street from shopping and restaurants. Problem is that they are also some of the more expensive places as well. Most of the places that are not on a beach do provide a free shuttle to a beach so for me being on a beach is nice but not a necessity.
So what I look for in a place to stay is this :
1: most be in or very close to IB or PL
2: most have a bus stop very close by
3.must have a free shuttle to the beach
When looking at places to stay, make sure any rates they quote you include all taxes and surcharges. All hotels on the island charge a $15pp/day tax but most don't include it in their rates
2 adults bump a rate by $30 a day.
As for diving operations, I have dove with UNEXSO and Xanadu. Both are good operations but my preference is Xanadu. UNEXSO is well known but they are a bit to "big brother" to suite me. I don't need/want that close attention. I have not dove with them in several years so this may not still be to policy. By the way, most of the dive shops will provide transportation to/from your hotel.
I have been looking for a new place to stay in April because the place we usually stay in under renovation. So far, the best place I have found seems to be Bell Channel Inn.
www.bellchannelinn.com . They have good rates, have an on site dive shop, provide a free shuttle to the beach , have a bus stop in front of the hotel and are a 15 minute walk from Port Lucaya (or at least that is what their email says). It seems to meet all my requirements.