Training tools give you the ability to focus on the fine points and specific skills and techniques that will make you a stronger, faster swimmer. Over the past few years, snorkels have become a key piece of workout gear for serious swimmers. The benefits of snorkel training are two-fold:

• Lung conditioning. Breathing steadily through a narrow tube rather than taking big gulps of air between strokes forces you to work harder. This strengthens the intercostals (the respiratory muscles in between your ribs), builds your lung capacity, and improves your cardiovascular endurance.
• Stroke symmetry and focus. Removing breathing from the equation allows you to focus on the fine details of stroke technique without being interrupted every few strokes by the need to catch a breath. By eliminating the breathing cycle and the continuous head rotation it requires, you don’t have to repeatedly reset your body into the most efficient swimming position. This allows you to focus on the symmetry of your stroke and the stability of your body position and alignment as you move through the water.