My husband and I will be traveling to Hawaii this October. We have snorkeled all over the Caribbean and in the South Pacific, but have never been to Hawaii. My question concerns water temperature. Will the water be significantly colder in Hawaii in October? Will we be comfortable swimming in bathing suits, or is a dive skin recommended?

Thanks in advance for your help.

According to this website, you should be near peak warmth for Hawaii's ocean temperature which ranges from 75F to 81F:http://www.satlab.hawaii.edu/atlas/

My husband & I will be returning to Maui in the very beginning of Oct. (we were there the same time on our honeymoon 5 yrs ago). The water temp & air temp are similiar that time of year. I don't remember feeling cold at all in the water. I believe I've heard that the waters out by Molokini (snorkel island area) are a bit colder.

It's fine once you are in it. At first it feels like a cool pool.

No one wears the dive skin

Thanks to all for your replies. I will be much happier in my swimsuit. This is our first trip to Hawaii so I'm sure I'll be calling on you again.