I guess that's kind of disappointing.
I like the first person view, especially when it comes to swimming.
Like one time my Sim was exploring a temple in Selvadorada that had a path-like swimming pool you had to go through, and it was really neat to see that from a first person view. Especially since those temples have different roof patterns from the regular old white ceiling that houses have.
I'm surprised the water is a filter, though, rather than just coloring the ocean floor blue to create the illusion of it.
Maybe they could've just done what they did with pools' underwater walls and render those light-waves on the ocean floor/coral to simulate the light filtering through the water's surface. Not sure what else would help simulate an actual underwater view.
Can always pretend the water is just the most crystal clear water ever, if you're looking around under the surface. :p