Some people hear "snorkel" and picture coral reefs and tropical holidays. A swimming snorkel (also called a front snorkel, centre-mount snorkel, or training snorkel) is something completely different. It sits at the front of your face, not the side, and is a serious training tool used by competitive swimmers worldwide to isolate and improve stroke technique.
If you've seen it in a squad session and wondered what on earth it's for, this guide explains everything: what a swim snorkel does, why it works, how to breathe with one, and how to clear it when water gets in.
For a full overview of swim training equipment, see our guide to swimming training aids.
What Is a Swimming Snorkel Used For?
A swimming snorkel lets you breathe continuously without turning or lifting your head. Removing the need to breathe to the side has a surprisingly large impact on what you can work on in the water.
When you don't need to rotate your head to breathe, you can focus on:
- Stroke symmetry: without breathing interrupting your rhythm, asymmetries in your pull become immediately obvious
- Head and body position: you can feel exactly where your head sits and how that affects your body line
- Catch and pull mechanics: full attention on what your arms are doing, with no breathing pattern to manage
- Rotation: bilateral body rotation without the additional movement of a breathing stroke
- Underwater dolphin kick: the snorkel is widely used for underwater kick sets and butterfly drill work
In short, a swimming snorkel removes one of the most complex variables in freestyle swimming - the breathing stroke - and lets you work on everything else with complete focus. It has become a standard piece of kit in competitive swimming at every level.
Why Do Swimmers Use a Front Snorkel?
The centre-mount position (at the front, not the side) is deliberate and important. Here's why it works where a side-mounted snorkel wouldn't.
It Doesn't Interfere With Body Rotation
In freestyle, your body rotates from side to side with each stroke. A snorkel mounted at the side would move with your head during rotation, creating drag and instability. A front-mounted snorkel stays centred regardless of body rotation, allowing natural stroke mechanics.
It Keeps Your Head Neutral
The tube extends straight up from your forehead, so there's no need to tilt or compensate your head position to keep it clear of the water. Your head stays in its natural swimming position.
Snorkels Are Used at Elite Level
Swimming snorkels aren't a beginner gimmick. They're used by national-level swimmers, triathletes, open water swimmers, and coaches who want objective feedback on stroke mechanics. That said, they're accessible enough for anyone who swims regularly and wants to improve.
How Do You Breathe With a Swimming Snorkel?
This is the question that puts most people off trying one - and it's less complicated than it seems once you've done it a few times.
The Basics
- The snorkel tube extends from a head bracket (worn like a headband or under your swim cap) up and over your forehead
- You breathe normally through your mouth (in and out through the tube)
- Your face stays in the water throughout; there's no need to turn or lift your head
- You exhale as you normally would underwater (the air exits through the tube)
Breathing Rhythm
You don't need to change your breathing rhythm dramatically. Many swimmers find a natural pattern of breathing every two or three strokes, just as they would normally, except the "breath" is simply an inhale through the tube rather than a head turn. Others breathe more continuously with a snorkel, which is fine.
The Adjustment Period
The first session with a swimming snorkel feels strange. Breathing through a tube takes a moment to get used to, and some swimmers feel slightly claustrophobic initially. This passes quickly for most people, usually within one or two sessions. Start with shorter distances and build from there.
Tip: Try not to swim too slowly. Slow swimming with a snorkel makes it harder to maintain body position and can make breathing feel more laboured. A moderate pace tends to feel more natural.
How Do You Clear a Swimming Snorkel?
Water getting into the snorkel tube is the main concern for new users, and knowing how to clear it confidently can make it less stressful.
How Water Gets In
- Pushing off the wall submerges the top of the tube momentarily
- A wave or turbulence in a busy lane
- The tube angling too far forward and dipping underwater
How to Clear It
A large and fast exhale is the only way. It can be a little disconcerting the first time, but the best way to do it is to commit to blowing out almost all of your air to clear the snorkel of water. You might swallow a mouthful of water a few times in your swimming career, but it will be worth it.
Some swimming snorkels have a purge valve at the bottom of the tube. This is a one-way valve that makes it a little easier to blow water out without needing to remove the snorkel.
If your snorkel doesn't have a purge valve: a stronger exhale forces the water up and out of the top of the tube. It takes a bit more effort but works the same way.
Push-Off Technique
The easiest fix for water intake is to exhale gently through the tube as you push off the wall and your snorkel submerges. The gentle pressure of outgoing air prevents water entering. Once the tube clears the surface, resume normal breathing.
With a little practice, clearing a snorkel becomes automatic and you'll barely notice it.
Are Snorkels Good for Swimming Training?
For technique-focused work, a swimming snorkel is one of the most effective tools available. Here's where it earns its place:
Diagnosing Stroke Asymmetry
Most swimmers have asymmetries in their stroke. One arm pulls differently to the other, or the body rotates more to one side. These are often masked by the breathing stroke. With a snorkel, asymmetries become obvious almost immediately, because there's nothing else to distract from them.
High-Quality Drill Work
Drills that require sustained focus on a specific movement are more productive with a snorkel because you're not interrupted by breathing mechanics. The snorkel is particularly useful for catch drills, rotation work, and underwater kick sets.
Head Position Feedback
Many swimmers lift their head slightly when they breathe; this habit disrupts body position. With a snorkel, there's no reason to lift your head, and you can feel clearly what a neutral head position should be like.
Volume Sets Without Technique Breakdown
In longer training sets, breathing patterns can cause cumulative fatigue and technique drift. Some swimmers use a snorkel for sustained aerobic sets to maintain technique quality, without the interruption of bilateral breathing.
Butterfly and Dolphin Kick
The snorkel is widely used in butterfly training. It allows swimmers to focus on the undulation and arm timing of the butterfly without the additional coordination challenge of the butterfly breath. Dolphin kick sets (both on the surface, and underwater) are also more accessible with a snorkel.
Front Snorkel vs Side Snorkel: What's the Difference?
The two types serve almost entirely different purposes.
| Front Snorkel (Centre-Mount) | Side Snorkel | |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Mounted at the forehead, tube facing forward and up | Mounted at the side of the mouth |
| Used for | Swim training, stroke technique, drill work | Snorkelling, surface swimming, recreational use |
| Interferes with stroke? | No - designed for freestyle rotation | Yes - not suitable for swim training |
| Purge valve? | Usually, yes | Usually, yes |
| Used in pools? | Yes, specifically designed for pool training | Rarely |
The answer for any swimmer looking to train: a front (centre-mount) snorkel. Side-mounted snorkels are for snorkelling holidays, not lane swimming. They're not designed for freestyle stroke mechanics and so will get in the way.
Swimming Snorkel Drills
Straight Freestyle Focus Sets
Swim standard freestyle sets with the snorkel, focusing on catch and pull. Without breathing to manage, give all your attention to what your hands and forearms are doing as they enter the water and engage the catch.
Single-Arm Freestyle
One arm extended in front, pulling with the other. Swap each length. The snorkel removes the need to breathe to the side of your pulling arm, making the drill more honest and revealing.
Rotation Drill
Swim with exaggerated body rotation, using the snorkel to feel the full range of your shoulder rotation without the interruption of a breathing stroke. Focus on driving rotation from your hips and core.
Catch-Up With Snorkel
One arm waits extended at the front until the other completes its pull. The snorkel lets you slow the drill down and feel each phase of the pull in detail.
Dolphin Kick Sets
On your front, snorkel in, hands at your sides or in a streamlined position. Kick from the hips with a whole-body undulation. Excellent for butterfly swimmers and anyone developing their underwater kick.
Snorkel + Pull Buoy
Remove both kick and breathing from the equation simultaneously. Full attention on the arm stroke. Often combined with hand paddles for a complete upper body technique set.
Snorkel + Fins
Body position and kick focus together. Useful for butterfly drills and for swimmers working on how their head position relates to their kick timing.
How to Use a Swimming Snorkel: Getting Started
If you've never used one before, here's how to make your first session straightforward:
- Fit the bracket so it sits comfortably on your forehead. Most swimmers wear it outside their cap; some prefer under the cap for a more secure fit - both work.
- Adjust the tube angle so the tube extends upward and slightly back. Too far forward and the top submerges; too far back and it pulls uncomfortably.
- Start in shallow water and practice breathing through the tube before you push off. Get comfortable with the sensation before adding swimming.
- Push off gently, exhaling lightly to keep water out of the tube.
- Swim at a moderate pace, not too slow.
- If water gets in, purge it with a short sharp exhale and continue.
Give it two or three sessions before making a judgment. The learning curve is short but real and tangible; most swimmers are comfortable within 15–20 minutes of actual water time.
Choosing a Swimming Snorkel
What to look for:
- Purge valve: for easy water clearing; most quality snorkels include one
- Comfortable bracket: should sit flat on your forehead without digging in; some are more padded than others
- Splash guard at the top: some snorkels include a one-way valve at the top to reduce water ingress; useful in busier lanes
Brands
Finis makes the most widely used swimming snorkel and is the benchmark most others are measured against. Speedo, Arena, and TYR also produce reliable options. The Finis version is used at elite level globally and is worth the investment if you plan to use it regularly.
Quick Reference: Swimming Snorkel Summary
| Also called | Front snorkel, centre-mount snorkel, swimmers snorkel, training snorkel |
|---|---|
| Best for | Technique focus, stroke symmetry, drill work, butterfly |
| How it works | Centre-mounted tube lets you breathe without turning your head |
| Clearing water | Short sharp exhale through the purge valve |
| vs Side snorkel | Front mount only - side snorkels aren't suitable for pool training |
| Often paired with | Pull buoy, fins, hand paddles |
| Beginner friendly? | Yes, with a short adjustment period |
The swimming snorkel won't be in every swimmer's bag from day one, but for anyone serious about improving their technique, it's one of the most revealing tools available. When you remove breathing from the equation, you can find out very quickly what your stroke actually looks like.
Continue the series: guides on kickboards, pull buoys, fins, and hand paddles - or return to the full swimming training aids overview.
