Telling the time while swimming

A roundabout solution, but you could use Hey Siri.
It might not be very reliable all of the time since it is loud around the water and the watch might not pick up your voice consistently, but it's the only way that works, that I know of.

At first I thought haptic time would work. After I tried it and it didn't, I remembered that waterlock disables all screen touches. I didn't try with Siri; there were sighted people nearby, and it was just as easy to ask one of them. It'd be great if there was a way to check via the watch, maybe by using the digital crown.

Just curious but can you set a timer before switching on water lock? You are a braver person then I because I just can't bring myself to even shower with the watch. I'm a Murphy, and trust me, when apple says, you can do this, it's fine. My experience will be, nope? lol.

Exactly, I've had the same experience. I've used the Siri approach maybe once. Otherwise there's always been someone there to ask.
Just wanted to tell OP, however roundabout, of a way to do it. Still wish there was another way though.

I wonder if you could check the time by pressing the digital crown, then having digital crown navigation turned on before turning on water lock with a two finger triple tap.
Then, I would assume you would press the digital crown, hear VO announce your watch face, then use the digital crown to navigate to the time and other information. It may also work in other areas too. It’s just a thought. I only use water lock once on an Apple Watch Series 4, and the speaker was crackly for two days afterwards on my old Apple Watch Series 4, so I shide away from it.