First open water dive I made as a teen I left the water like that too after I saw my first cuda......not as pretty though...... later in life at JFK spec warfare under water ops course I made real sure all my "worn gear" was blackened.....shiny and bright was not gonna get me a tooth tattoo ! I played with some mixed gases as a civy yet only qualified for a basic dive bubble in the service.......We did most of our open water quals on blanket orders to Guymas and San Carlos in Mexico in the Sea of Cortez and off Patrick AFB beach or Eglin AFB. Did a couple at Mare Island ....
I just read the entire "The Last Deep Dive" I linked above. Incredible!