I guess it depends on how deep your pockets and your interests are.
As a new diver it might be advisable to start with a basic point and shoot camera.
You have a lot of things to figure out and a camera that flies like an F-16 might be too much to add to this list.
For me, I want to dive and take a few pictures for memories. I recently got a SeaLife Reef Master Mini II.
Very basic, land, snorkel, and dive settings, with a blue filter and three step zoom and a cheap snap in wide angle lens.
It is self contained with no housing and only one seal to fuss with on the battery compartment. It can be had for about $230 at most online sellers and at Christmas time they ran a $30 rebate. If later you move up to a better camera you like wont have lost too much when you re-sell the Mini. You can make up the $230 quickly when you consider the $100 or so dollars Sandals will charge you for a handful of dive photos.
But the Hero is pretty cool.