Well, gotta tell my old story again. Camping in NY, drove to CT shore dive. Geared up, walked to beach and entered water. THEN realized I wasn't carrying my fins. They were on the sofa in the trailer in NY. Thought "What am I gunna do, walk on the sandy bottom the whole dive?" Fortunately the lifeguards on the public beach side lent me a pair of fins. I suppose since my fins never got into the car there was nothing left to pick up, so I figured I'm all set and walked to the shore.
I'd like to say it was a newbie flub, but that was in 2009, dive #138, and just prior to becoming a DM.........It happens, especially if you let yourself get distracted.