I'm afraid you already asking too much from something that called "Easy".
Viewing post in 3d Editor? Water/Normal Maps/Scrolling Textures? Ladders?
I just found the wiki, and so now i know i can animate a texture, that takes care of the fake water, and i found out how to enter build mode in 3d. all i need now is a ladder. there's probably a way to have no collision with a 3d model, and just import a water block model that turns off player gravity and makes water sounds when the player moves inside this area... the water isn't absolutely nessecary, but the ladder would definitely be a game changer