A guide to the different types of swimming pool

If you are considering installing a swimming pool on your property, you’re going to want to have a solid understanding of the different types of pool before you commit to such a significant investment. From the ocean pools that line Australia’s east coast, to the Olympic-size swimming pools that were first introduced in 1924, we have attempted to cover swimming pools of all shapes and sizes, and, hopefully, by the end of it, you’ll be one step closer to making an informed decision. One of my favourite options are the deep above ground swimming pools – perfect for all the family, and for parties too!

Ocean pools

With well over 100 ocean pools, New South Wales (Australia’s most populous state) is easily the world’s largest exponent of ocean pools. By taking advantage of miles and miles of coastline, Australians constructed simple structures to pool water – in the process creating an area for swimming that was free from the trials and tribulations associated with swimming in ocean waters. The natural ebb and flow of the sea’s tides ensure ocean pools are regularly flooded with water. Due to the unique set of circumstances that allow for the creation of an ocean pool it may be a difficult task to establish one on your own property. But if you are lucky enough to own a beachfront home, it is certainly an avenue worth exploring.

Olympic-sized pools

Ocean pools are actually believed to be the natural precursor to the Olympic-sized pool. First incorporated into Olympic competition in 1924, Olympic-sized swimming pools bring with them an element of glamour and prestige. Despite ‘Olympic-sized swimming pool’ being used as a colloquial unit of volume, there isn’t actually a limit on the depth of an Olympic-sized pool. The length and width are a different story entirely as they are both well-established at 50 and 25 metres. If you are desperate to replicate the conditions of a FINA-defined Olympic pool in its truest sense, you will also need to regulate water temperature and light intensity – an authentic Olympics experience really does take a lot of hard work.

Infinity pools

In a similar fashion to ocean pools, but perhaps to an even more extreme extent, infinity pools require a very precise set of conditions for their construction to become feasible. An infinity pool has to be set high above another body of water for the illusion of uninterrupted water to be complete. Their location is what allows infinity pools to exist but it is also the reason why they are so prohibitively expensive – anchoring a pool of water securely to the edge of a property is notoriously difficult.

Lap pools

Lap pools have become progressively more popular in recent years. With the size of residences declining and the emphasis on healthy living growing, lap pools have been beneficiaries. Long and narrow, lap pools afford their owner the space to swim lengths with ease whilst keeping the area it occupies to a minimum. Big on exercise but short on space? Lap pools are for you.

Above-ground pool

An above-ground pool is, by some distance, the most cost-effective type of swimming pool. They can even be kitted out with a surrounding deck for a lower price than any in-ground model. As well as being portable should you decide to move home, above-ground pools aren’t constrained by the likes of rocky ground that can easily derail the installation.

Regardless of the type of pool you decide on, it is inevitable that you will have to shower before entering. You can however, make this chore as painless as possible by installing a booster pump that can bolster your water pressure – ensuring you never experience a sub-par shower again before swimming.