We went 3'-5', they talked us out of going 5 1/2 or 6' which I originally wanted because they made a good point that you loose 'swimmable area'. Basically unless you're over 6' tall, you won't go in the 6' area AS much. You'll still swim in it but if you can't touch you won't spend a lot of time in that area. We're happy with 3-5' but we were also limited on to 14x30 due to utility easements and sewer cleanouts. Yours is good sized so I would probably go with 3 1/2-7 or 3-6 1/2. We do cannon balls and dive in at 5' and dont hit the bottom but you definitely don't want to dive straight down!

I think it depends on what you want to do in the pool. If you have kids and you want to let them dive, I would suggest at least 7' - maybe 7'6". Also, search under pool depth in the forum. I remember finding a thread when I was considering pool depth (I think it discussed whether to build a deep-end or play pool). Most people voted for a deep-end. I think you'll find adults tend towards shallow, wet deck, spa area and kids (maybe 8 years and above) like to play in a deep-end.

At least 7 feet. You are going long enough that you could do 8 or 9 feet. We've found that the kids spend the majority of the time in the deep end.

quote" and dive in at 5' and don't hit the bottom "quote

I could NEVER EVER tell you just how much I disagree with this statement.

NOTE TO ALL READERS,
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T ALLOW YOUR FRIENDS OR CHILDREN TO DIVE IN A SHALLOW POOL.

Any feet first entry like a cannonball or jackknife is acceptable but do not go in head first.

I've been in the pool business a very long time and have the same rules today as I did in the early 80's.

1st- No running around the pool.
2nd- No diving except in the deep end.
3rd- No playing Possum on the floor (pretending your dead)

As my children (1 son, the oldest, and 3 daughters) have come of age I made another rule. This was really more for the girls. No sunbathing topless or skinny dipping when members of the opposite sex are present. And most importantly tell your Mom and/or Dad when you plan on doing so.
There is nothing more embarrassing, for them or me, than walking out back than when teenage girls are skinnydipping.

just my .02

See ya,
Kelly

Snookums, do you have pictures of your pool posted anywhere? I read the thread you started when you were in the planning stages and would be very interested in seeing your pictures. We are planning something similar to what you did. Thanks!

My pool is 3'x 6 1/2', the pool co. also told us that most people spend their time in the shallow end. Our friends and families kids range in age from 5 through 17 and everyone loves to jump, cannon ball you name it. Although we still enjoy our pool I wish we would have gone another two feet deeper. I am 5'3" and everytime I jump in I touch bottom. Hopefully the Pool Co. won't tell you it costs more to go deeper, if they do maybe you could hint at cancelling if you are still in that time. Good Luck!

Let me say first I do not have a pool yet - I am in the proccess of getting quotes right now. So far every PB we have talked to has tried to talk us into getting 5' or 6' at the deep end when we want 8 - they always use the same line - no one wants to hang around in the deep end..... it is like wasted space..... I was starting to believe them until this past weekend, I attend 3 pool parties and for hours I would watch as my kids and all the other children spent 95% of thier time in the "deep end" they would even start crying and complaining when asked to take a break from the deepend and play in the shallow side. One pool was 7' at the deepend another was 8' and the third was 10'

The age range was from 3 to 15

Our pool is 8 ft deep. We don't have a lot of shallow space, but love being in the deep end unless we are playing with our 3 year old on our shamu shelf. Your pool sounds huge, so you will have a good balance of shallow and deep.

My husband and 7 yr. old son love diving and jumping in the deep end and diving for torpedos. I do notice at pool parties all the older kids hang out in the deep end and only the non swimmers hang out in the shallow (the little kids).

Good luck with your project!

Of course pool builders try to talk you into a shallower pool - it costs less money and takes less time to dig a shallower pool.

Husky - waaaay too much information there! Was there a skinny dipping incident you didn't tell us about? LOL!
1. No running
2. No diving
3. No skinny dipping without telling mom or dad first!

OMG I'm dreading my kids growing up...

carolsue - below is a link to my picturetrail site that has a few pictures.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pool pictures can be found here.

Snookums - thanks for the pictures. Your pool is beautiful. I hope you are enjoying it! How shallow and how deep do you go? Our yard is about the same size as yours and we are putting in a 14 X 28 rectangle. This forum has been so helpful!

It is 14x25 and goes from 3.5 to 7 feet deep.

We have a 3.5 x 5.5 x 3.5 20x40 pool and adults and kids alike love the two shallow ends and can jump in feet first in the "deep" middle. One theory I have is that kids don't want to be where the adults are, usually in the shallow end, so they hang out in the deep end. In our pool, kids hang out in the end opposite from the adults and they have no issues with the depth. Just theory based on what I see in our pool.

Do the measurements refer to your water depth or the height of the pool wall?

Do the measurements refer to your water depth or the height of the pool wall?

We are just beginning the process of getting a pool. One of the things I am concerned about is the water temperature during the hot summers in Houston. Some pool IÂve been in feel like you are taking a bath. One of the PB mentioned that a deeper pool would be cooler. Has anyone noticed that to be true?

carolsue - good question - I can't answer that 100% for sure. I *think* it's the water depth.

your dimensions are so big that if you plan on doing alot of diving then go as deep as you can ( 8ft?). if you have kids they will love it and your still big enough to have ample shallow end. the bigger the pool the more options you have which is a plus.

Wow! That is a big pool. I'd definitely make it deeper, like 9'. When we were talking to pool builders they were trying to talk us out of going to 7', just like other posters said. It was really making me angry that I couldn't get what I wanted. So, we went o/b. I am so glad we did 7' and wish we had gone a little deeper or made our deep end a little bigger. The kids, 6-13 y.o., love the deep end. Seven feet is good, but for how big your pool is, go a little deeper and get a diving board.

My 18 x 36 rectangle is 3ft -6 ft, which is great for adults. In fact, because I don't have kids, if I did it over again I'd seriously consider a 4.5ft end-to-end since I mainly like to swim laps and float. I think these shallow pools are sometimes called sport pools. I had no desire for a diving board (noise+danger).

But my friends' children always say they wish it was deeper so they could dive. Honestly, even if I had kids I'd prefer it shallowish bc. I can ban diving (which also discourages running) and if a rescue is needed it's much easier to haul out someone quickly. I don't care for pools that have a steep and sudden slope into the deep end...but your pool sounds large enough to avoid that. Kids would call me a party-pooper I suppose, but the safety of my guests definitely factored into my planning. good luck!

Landmark218,
I have a 10' deep pool (~22,000 gallons) and I've observed a 4 degree temperature differential between the surface waters and the bottom of my deep end. The top is around 90 and bottom reads 86.

So, I would think that you are correct that deeper pools can remain cooler.

My suggestion would be to go up to 8 ft. At least 7' Our pool isn't very big (maybe 15x29) - we go from 3.5 to just under 6'. I never thought I wanted a deep end and wanted more of a sport pool, but now I really wish we did have a pool big enough to have a deeper end (our deep end is very small, too). The biggest kid (significant other) is 6'2" and hits bottom on cannon balls. I've decided it's next to impossible to stop boys from wanting to jump in. Now I'm more worried about them crashing into the love seat bench or getting hurt on cannon balls and the swim skate board - with a bigger deep end they'd have more room to play safely. On 4th of July we had 18 of us in the pool at once from ages 6 to 81. There was definitely more action toward the deeper end.

I recommend deeper too -- deep enough to dive. With that size pool, you can "have it all" as Jayp387 says.

Meant to tell Jayp387 that I love your pool and yard! It's beautiful!

carolsue: Most builders take the depth from top of beam so the water is about 3" shallower.