For residential pools, the standard maximum depth is 8 feet. What depth is best? Is 6 feet deep enough? How deep for a slide? Is a 5 foot pool deep enough?
Should I put a deep end in my pool? If the pool will have higher energy activities like jumping and diving, a deep end is better.
Inground Pool Size
What is the smallest inground pool? Most small inground pools are 12 x 24 feet, 10 x 20 feet or 12 x 14 feet. Inground pools can be smaller but you might not swim laps or host parties. What is a small pool size? 10 x 10 feet.
How deep is a residential pool? The traditional concrete pool has a shallow end at 1.1-1.2m transitioning to a deep end at 1.6-1.8m. L shaped pools need custom depths.
Diving Safety
Is it safe to dive in 6 feet of water?
For most swimmers, a depth of 20 feet (6.09 meters) is the maximum they will free dive. Experienced divers can safely dive to 40 feet (12.19 meters) when exploring underwater reefs. To prevent injuries from diving, the American Red Cross recommends a minimum water depth of 9 feet (2.7 meters) for pools with diving boards.
The traditional concrete pool has a shallow end at 1.1-1.2 meters, transitioning to a 1.6-1.8 meter deep end. Fiberglass pools often only reach 6 ft (1.8 meters) deep, but give more play area. Small inground pools of 10 x 20 feet (3 x 6 meters) or 12 x 24 feet (3.7 x 7.3 meters) may not accommodate laps or parties.
For shallow dives, hold head and arms up, arch back, and use hands to steer. Never dive into shallow water. Replace diving boards when they lose spring.