Okay so there is a positive ending to this story. After letting the lens just sit on a shelf for several months, I decided to put it up on eBay and see if anyone would pay for a lens in this condition. I posted pictures and explained that it had been underwater. I thought I might get like $100 for it. Well I was totally shocked when the auction ended....it sold for $800. I thought for sure the person just didn't understand what they were buying, but I received positive feedback saying it was as described.

So that money combine with the great deal I got on a replacement one, it made this a much less painful loss.