Breaststroke Question

I have noticed a change in the breaststroke after a few years of not coaching. I haven't been formally educated in the changes and was wondering what others understand about them. I swam in the late 80's when the emphasis was getting the upper body out of the water for an almost out of the water recovery. I spent all sorts of time pulling breaststroke with fins and a dolphin kick through college. Now, it seems that staying a bit lower to the water and actually diving under at the front of the stroke is the key. I have to say this stroke is actually easier for me to do and seems logical in that the emphasis should be forward as opposed to expending energy recovering too high. Seems like you can get much better distance per stroke this way. Is this a correct understanding? I don't swim with a team in my area as there are none close by with any kind of serious coaching.