The water will always be the main attraction on a hot summer day, but the trappings for pools are catching up.

Companies such as Poolmaster, SwimWays, Swimline and others are constantly trying to create the next great pool toy, a chlorine version of the Christmas toy craze. Most of these companies also sell inflatable seats, sports games, swimming gear and even remote-control boats. But the innovation making the biggest splash is in water toys for toddlers to pre-teens.

SwimWays leads the way here in terms of number of new products. This summer it debuts a funky underwater skateboard called Subskate (Around $17.99 retail). Anyone who has taken swim lessons has probably tried to turn a kickboard into a surfboard at least once, thrusting the Subskate into the category of "what took someone so long to think of this?"

The company also has revamped its Battle Sharks ($14.99) to be more striking and added hammerhead sharks. These large and fast battery-powered creatures (over a foot in length) really swim by moving their tails. The fish of SwimWays' Rainbow Reef collection operate the same way, and the new motorized Puffer Fish ($14.99) is a hit with younger children. It just constantly moves around the pool, reminding you to play with it.

SwimWays' Toypedo ($9.99) is a classic. You can zoom the torpedo for an incredible distance, making for a fun, underwater version of catch. But new to SwimWays is the Submergency ($19.99), a ball with a timer that floats, sinks or suspends in between, challenging kids to disarm it before it goes off.

Poolmaster has a new game that all ages can enjoy. The Floating Target Game ($19.95) looks like a dartboard, but it has velcro strips that catch tennis balls. And do they! It is sometimes hard to detach them, but it allows for accuracy in what is a captivating game. Poolmaster's fun Smash 'n' Splash paddle game ($15.95) is better for older children, but they will be getting out of the pool often to chase the squishy balls.

With these new toys, and countless other ones, including diving games like Swimline's colorful Eels' Lair ($16.95), keep in mind that most public pools limit their use or ban them altogether. "No rafts, Frisbees, balls or toys of any kind" are permitted in Pittsburgh city pools during public swim, and most suburban public pools allow toys only at certain times, such as on family nights. In private pools, adult supervision is recommended.

Most of the toys are available at mass merchandisers, sports or pool stores. The Web sites also have store locators: www.swimways.com, www.poolmaster.com and www.swimline.com.