Honestly regardless of what "precautions" were taking to keep these animal safe, these TV shows should not be aloud to do things like this because they are stressful and traumatizing to the animals. A lot of the snakes in that dunk tank are terrestrial and not strong swimmers and this is the kind of TV gimmick that needs to just die.
I just find it absurd to think that there is really any justification for this kind of treatment to these animals asides from the fact that this is purely done for shock factor. :/