I've been playing a shaman for a main off and on since the early days of vanilla. I always found it odd that shaman shared druid healing graphical effects. Priests had a healing effect style while pallies enjoyed a slightly different style of holy healing effects. Back in vanilla and BC I used to talk about how shaman should have a "puff" version of nature heals compared to druid heals similar to how pally and priest effects compare. Blizz has of course, done one better in recent times...
I have really enjoyed the slow shift of shaman healing away from nature heals, toward water healing. With the not so recent addition of riptide, a useful healing stream totem, and the recent addition of the water effect for greater healing wave, I think shaman heals have made a strong bid for unique style. It seems really unique and stylized.
Anyone else really hoping for water effects for the remaining healing wave and healing surge spells? For some reason, although it has no real impact on gameplay, I am really looking forward to seeing more water balloon splashes on my heal targets ^.^