Heard about my friend's dive in a muddy quarry once. The silt was so thick it was like swimming in soup. He said he had to feel his way along the bottom and listen for his buddy's sounds. That dive taught him to trust his instincts more than his eyes. Now he says normal clear dives feel like cheating. Your post totally makes sense to me.
My buddy went cave diving in zero visibility once. Said it felt like being blindfolded in thick stew. He came out swearing he'd never take clear water for granted again.