If you've been swimming for a while, you've probably seen someone training with a snorkel mounted dead-centre in front of their face instead of off to the side. That's a technique snorkel, and for over a decade the gold standard was the one Michael Phelps helped design. Now there's a new option on Australian shelves: the Zoggs Hydro Focus Snorkel. Here's how they stack up.
The original: the Aqua Sphere / MP Michael Phelps Focus Snorkel
Back when Michael Phelps signed with Aqua Sphere, the brand built a training snorkel around him: a centre-mounted tube positioned between the eyes so a swimmer never has to turn or lift their head to breathe. The idea was simple but effective — take breathing out of the equation entirely so a swimmer (or triathlete) can lock onto body position, head alignment and stroke technique instead.
The Aqua Sphere / MP Focus Snorkel's features became the template for every "technique snorkel" that followed:
- Low-profile, hydrodynamic tube that reduces drag and sits centred for minimal disruption to sightlines
- One-way purge valve to clear water quickly without breaking stroke rhythm
- Silicone Comfo-Bite mouthpiece designed to cut down on jaw fatigue over long sets
- Adjustable, lightweight head bracket with an integrated cushion for comfort
- Two sizes: medium (typically recommended for men) and small (women, children and teens)
It built a genuine cult following among swim coaches and triathletes over more than a decade, and it's easy to see why — it strengthens lung capacity and respiratory muscles at the same time as it fixes technique habits. The catch today is availability: it's been pulled from a number of retailers' shelves (UK stockist Sigma Sports lists it as no longer available), and in markets where a version still exists, it's usually sold without the Phelps branding, under Aqua Sphere's own name. Nearly identical hardware is still available this way in the US for around US$35, with the same purge valve and silicone mouthpiece design intact — but finding either version in Australia and New Zealand has gotten difficult.
The new arrival: Zoggs Hydro Focus Snorkel
Zoggs has just released the Hydro Focus Centre Line Snorkel, now in stock at Swimwear Shack for $59.99, and it's chasing exactly the same goal: a front-and-centre snorkel that forces good technique by taking breathing out of the stroke.
Its features, straight from the product listing:
- Hydro-dynamic triangular profile for stability through the stroke
- Built to encourage focus on stroke technique and strength, not breathing
- Adjustable, quick-release rubber head-strap for a secure, no-fuss fit
- Ergonomic mouthpiece designed to reduce jaw fatigue
It's a newer design than the Aqua Sphere original, and the quick-release strap is a genuinely useful update — it's one less fiddly buckle to deal with pool-side, and easier to adjust between swimmers if a squad is sharing kit.
A little side note is that Aquasphere was acquired by Zoggs recently, so this Snorkel is virtually identical to the MP Focus Snorkel.
Side-by-side: how they compare
| Aqua Sphere / MP Focus Snorkel (original) | Zoggs Hydro Focus Snorkel (new) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | No longer available | A$59.99 |
| Mouthpiece | Silicone Comfo-Bite | Ergonomic silicone mouthpiece |
| Head fastening | Adjustable head bracket with integrated cushion | Adjustable quick-release rubber head-strap |
| Water clearing | One-way purge valve | Triangular low-profile shape for fast clearing and one way valve |
| Tube profile | Low-profile, hydrodynamic, centred between the eyes | Hydro-dynamic triangular profile |
| Sizing | Medium (men) / Small (women, children, teens) | One adult size, adjustable strap |
| Michael Phelps design input | Yes — developed with Phelps | No — standalone Zoggs design made by the Aquasphere team |
| Availability in AU/NZ | Limited to discontinued; hard to find | Current season, in stock |
Which one should you buy?
If you already own an original Aqua Sphere or MP Michael Phelps Focus Snorkel, keep using it — the design holds up and there's no reason to replace a working one. But if you're shopping for a technique snorkel today, the practical answer is the Zoggs Hydro Focus Snorkel: it's the same core idea — a centred tube that removes breathing from the stroke equation — updated with a quick-release strap, and it's actually sitting on shelves in Australia right now rather than listed as discontinued.
Shop the Zoggs Hydro Focus Snorkel at Swimwear Shack — A$59.99.