Welcome. There are a range of what I call '1st-tier' dive destinations that U.S-based dive tourists seem to hit in their 1st few trips; Bonaire, Belize, Cozumel, Roatan and the Florida Keys (esp. Key Largo). And there are other places you can hit that are also just fine. Little Cayman Beach Resort, some live-aboard boats, as you pointed out it's varied to the point of being confusing. Where does Ambergris Caye, Belize, fit into this? Some say Curacao gives you a somewhat Bonaire-like experience with sandy beaches & more to do topside, so why do we see more trip reports about Bonaire? And so it goes...
If you want to break it down, there's probably a local dive shop or group near you that hosts a few group trips each year, and you could meet some people and make your 1st trips as part of a group where a leader & veteran travelers help you get your feet wet with dive travel. Have you guys got your U.S. passport books yet?
A budget option that packs a lot of dives into a week and gets good reviews, and seems quite popular with a number of different organizers in my region, is Turquoise Bay Resort in Roatan. I haven't made it to Roatan yet. I think you'll find it's a fine budget means to rack up a bunch of warm water, high-viz., benign condition coral reef diving, but check some reviews for 1st hand accounts.
For later, when you're more seasoned, if you haven't already heard...you are easy driving distance of Freeport, TX, from which I believe departs the Fling to the Flower Gardens and Stetson Bank. Not a trip for newbies from what I've read/been told, but for when you're more seasoned, an option you'll want to keep in mind. Especially since you don't have to buy airfare to get there, so weather-related cancellations shouldn't be a big a risk for you.
From Alert Dive Online:
-----
Flower Garden Banks.
-----
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Texas.
From Undercurrent's free access articles:
-----
M/V Fling, Flower Gardens, Texas.
Richard.
