You wouldn't have gotten far, you'd just have had to deal with the slow, annoying water jumping every time you traveled through the pipe. Then you'd probably fall down further with each jump - as I did - and get frustrated - as I did.

That's what makes the Gravity Suit such an ingenious power-up. You don't just need it to progress; it makes you feel so happy to not have to deal with the damn underwater impediments anymore.