Do You Need a Pool Deep End?

a pool deep end customized by pools by design

Depth is one of the big picture factors you’ll consider during the pool design process. Recently, trends have shifted so many new pool owners choose to forego a deep end or reduce its depth. Whether or not a deep end will be a good feature for your pool will depend on your personal preferences and how you plan to use your pool.

In this article, we use “deep end” to mean a depth of greater than 5 feet. Keep in mind that you can still have varying depths without having a traditional deep end. Many pools slope from 3.5 feet to 5 feet, giving some variation without creating an overly deep area.

A Deep End May Be For You If…

1. You Want to Have a Diving Board

Ask yourself how important a diving board is to you and if it’s a must-have, you’ll need a deep enough pool to accommodate it. In order for a diving board to be safe, you need a minimum depth of 8 feet. There are also regulations that affect how long the diving board can be at this depth.

A diving board can be fun for adults and older children, as long as you use it safely. Although they have fallen in popularity in the past 10-20 years, many families still enjoy having them.

2. You Want a Slide

A slide will work best if you put it over a deeper area. Although slides don’t have the exact same depth requirements as a diving board, you will still need a deep end.

You May Prefer to Skip The Deep End If…

1. You Have Young Children

Pool safety is essential, and a pool’s deep end can be dangerous for children. It may also be more difficult for them to use this area of the pool depending on their age, even with proper supervision and safety.

2. You Have A Smaller Yard

In order to accommodate a deep end, your pool will need to have a slope. The deeper you want it to be, the more length you will need for the slope. If you have a small yard, you may not have enough space to fit the length you need while still including a shallow area.

3. You Want to Play Pool Games

Most water games only make sense in the shallow end. You can’t effectively play volleyball in your pool if one team can’t stand with their heads above the water. A deep end decreases the amount of space you can use to play games.

We Can Create Your Dream Pool

If you work with us for your pool, we will start by discussing your preferences with you. We get an idea of the swimming skills of your family members and ask about how you will be using the pool. If you aren’t sure whether you want a deep end or not, we can give you advice based on what you’ve shared and our experience with past pools. No matter what your preferences are, we have the expertise to turn your dream pool into a reality.