Thanks for the info bversteegh! I got the housing mainly for snorkeling and if I have the experience and the comfort level, will move into diving with it. I don't know the conditions where I will be diving because it will not be a resort type area. My aunt and uncle have a property there and from what I know, they can walk to the beach (and snorkeling areas) right from their house. I'll be there for 5 weeks so hopefully I have the time to learn.
As for how "new" I have been a licensed diver since August with 8 dives since then, in the St. Lawrence River at a few different sites and a quarry. Before that, I dove with my mother in Christmas island and off the island of Batan where the rules weren't so tight I guess because they never really asked for qualifications... I only discovered how dangerous that was when I got my license. Whoops! Either way, I am quite comfortable with buoyancy maybe because I have a strong understanding of the theory behind it? I know a lot of people in my group were popping up and down but I was hovering pretty well. That being said, I have never dove in an area where there was no bottom available so that will be new to me. I couldn't believe how quickly you get down to 60-80ft without "feeling" any drop.
Your info regarding maintenance is golden. I'm sure it seems relatively obvious to the seasoned UW photog but that would likely have been my first big mistake.
As for taking close ups, above water, I do macro photography so I have the same lure to do it underwater. Though fish may come after I have mastered non-moving objects!
On a side note, I took a look at your album and you have WONDERFUL shots. I will try and post some my mother has taken over the years. She unfortunately never had the privilege of using digital but did okay I think.