I think it must be the age. Darc did that too. She doesn't do showers either so we'd either just wash her standing next to the bath, or in the laundry tub (which she was happy with ). We've had issues with the water going down, the noise not the sucking, water being put on her head, toys being in the bath, no toys being in the bath....I have an interesting child.
I just kept the routine the same so one day we just tried the bath again and all was good.....they're odd little creatures.

Oooh and I also thought, a bottle of bubble mixture in the cupboard has subdued many dramas too.