ok... confession time... I... have never played 2D Zeldas *covers*
It was the language barrier, in the NES and SNES, Zelda was never popular here because of the english text, so my first experience with Zelda was with OoT, since my english skills were already acceptable by that time, and sadly in this moment I cant afford a GBA. I recognize those guys now, since Ive recently start to play the first LoZ with... emulators, >_<
If only Hyrule was flooded, it would be posible for the Zoras to have survived, but I always though that it was the whole world that got flooded, since Tingle descendants appear in the WW, while he was a Termina habitant, not Hyrule's... of course you can make other explanations for this, liike Tingle leaving Termina.
Professional, I missed your other comment before, it would be nice an eding like OoT, or specially MM, that was so touching and emotional for me, seeing all the people you helped happy after having acomplished your goals.