The last real wet winter I remember was in the early 'knots ('02-'03?) and I lived/worked the populous Island. I saw 69 degrees on my computer one nasty current day at the YO-257; for sure saw 70 at the Sea Tiger, but less current and it felt colder. The Mahi was cold; so much greenery grew on the West Oahu hills that winter that the wildfires the next summer were pretty spectacular! :shocked2:
Depending of the fresh water seeps many Hawaii dive sites get pretty cold when it rains a lot. I think Makena Landing is a pretty cold dive, Sharks Cove can be a cold dive, Tunnels; funny how those sites all have lava tube caves, I mean subterranean streams. When it rains in the hills the ocean gets colder.
Take a look at the Ave annual ocean temps in Kona, where it normally rains in the hills a lot; If March has a ave of 71 they regularly get some high 60's.
US NODC Coastal Water Temperature Guide
Look at the current temp in Hilo; winds have not been trades as much as normal this month/winter (less rain) Ave Jan temp 72, current temp nearly 76.
Last weeks dives off West Maui and Lanai were 75 on my computer, didn't even look today because my Pinnacle Merino-Elastiprene 5 mm finally came back from repair.
If it drops to 72 I'll be thinking about at least a vest.
Depending of the fresh water seeps many Hawaii dive sites get pretty cold when it rains a lot. I think Makena Landing is a pretty cold dive, Sharks Cove can be a cold dive, Tunnels; funny how those sites all have lava tube caves, I mean subterranean streams. When it rains in the hills the ocean gets colder.
Take a look at the Ave annual ocean temps in Kona, where it normally rains in the hills a lot; If March has a ave of 71 they regularly get some high 60's.
US NODC Coastal Water Temperature Guide
Look at the current temp in Hilo; winds have not been trades as much as normal this month/winter (less rain) Ave Jan temp 72, current temp nearly 76.
Last weeks dives off West Maui and Lanai were 75 on my computer, didn't even look today because my Pinnacle Merino-Elastiprene 5 mm finally came back from repair.
If it drops to 72 I'll be thinking about at least a vest.
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