You might think that water shoes and water socks are essentially the same things, but in reality, they serve different purposes. While the shoes are usually worn when swimming, strolling along the beach, or hiking through wet rocky areas, water socks are mainly used for snorkeling.
The shoes have a flexible rubber sole and good traction that helps to not slip off a wet and uneven surface when stumbling upon one. They come with a mesh or a leather upper part that is breathable and quickly-drying at the same time.
Water socks, on the other hand, are built from either neoprene or lycra material and are thus ideal for protecting your feet from jellyfish stings and other hazardous accidents when in the wild sea/ocean water.
See the full guide for Water Socks here