Forget the ordinary jetpack that just propels you the air, the future is water-powered jetpacks. French jet-ski champion Franky Zapata designed a water craft that has him leaping up from the water like a human-dolphin hybrid.

Zapata's invention called the Flyboard is a new water-jetpack that propels the rider up from the water using the water pressure of a trailing jet ski. The water is sucked from the ocean through the huge hose attached to a jet ski and released out again. The operator can control the flight by using the hand guided nozzles and generate lift through the jet boots.

The Flyboard isn't the only water-powered jetpack available commercially. Engineers in Canada have designed their own jet pack that can hover 30 meters in the air and reach speeds of 22 mph. The Jetlev-Flyer is composed of a lightweight fiberglass backpack connected to a hose that propels the operator from the water. The pilot can even use hand controls to adjust the water pressure to make accurate movements.

Both the Flyboard and the Jetlev use the same principle to lift their pilots from the water. The only difference is the Flyboard's more flexible steering system. The Flyboard's jets are attached to the pilot's feet making turns more efficient. An experienced pilot can perform tricks like backwards somersaults using the Flyboard as Franky Zapata performed in the YouTube video.

The other difference between the Flyboard and the Jetlev is the price. The Flyboard only costs about $US66000 for the basic kit. The Jetlev costs around $US94000. The Flyboard is still expensive for ordinary consumers but if you're going to sink money in a water-powered jetpack the $30,000 difference could spell the difference between choosing one jet pack over the other.