Help me pick a camera for a beginner

My wife wants a 35mm camera for an upcoming dive trip. She has previously tried a Sea and Sea camera on a trip we went on about 18 months ago.

I already have a Casio Exilim, for which I bought an underwater housing. I plan on using this myself, as my wife insists that she wants a 35mm so there is no shutter lag.

These are the features that we need:

built in or add on macro lens (I'm a macro nut, so <8" would be nice)

Ability to attach a flash unit via a shoe or a proprietary interface

Autofocus

Ability to change exposure and white level in the future when we get more experience

Please let me know if you have any recommendations for a good camera. An all in one package would be great as well.

Looking to spend <$700USD for everything.

Thanks!

. hi

Take a look at the Nikon digitals - honestly the shutter lag is not an issue.

I have a housed coolpix 5200 and other than your requirement for a strobe interface ( and it can be done with a slave cell ) it does the lot.

Paul.