Quote: FWIW, a diving friend finds that having a camera with him is a major distraction so maybe not the best idea for a relatively novice diver.
I'd agree with that. If the person is learning to dive then the last thing both they and the instructor will want is distractions. Diving is challenging enough for a novice without complicating things like using cameras. (I have 10 years diving experience both here and abroad so I know what it's like. Even experienced divers never take more than one new thing, or change one aspect of their kit, at a time, to minimise complications. Things can go wrong very quickly if care is not taken.)