Not that I like Jomon much, or have much experience with them, but it seems that Chris's build depends too much on luck of non-scales variety. And the variant with Dom-4 Wyrm I'd say a way to suicide. Though I agree about Heat - it protects your dragon princes and doesn't affect your troops as much as many opponents.
Actually, Jomon
may work with awakened rainbow researcher who will open up many possibilities for nation's mages quite soon and allow to produce many of the nation's summons. This will also take you into water as soon as you will get about 10 Kappa (vanilla game, or 1st Kappa thug in CBM).
Or you can go with SC - Wyrm or sea goddess. Or even Cyclops, actually, with Construction 1st research priority he will be able to bring you into sea by the start of the 2nd year for sure...
