The Importance of Pool Depth: A Guide for Pool Operators and Builders

For any pool operator or construction company, establishing the correct depth is a crucial part of the design and installation process. The depth of the pool will impact the general design, its functionality and the safety and comfort of the end users. Competition pools, such as Olympic ones, must also comply with the Facilities Rules, which are the specific guidelines established by the international federation World Aquatics.

In this article we will look at everything there is to know about pool depth, including its role in pool design, the correct depth for different types of competition pools, as well as recommendations for leisure pool designs.

The importance of defining the correct depth of the pool

The design of a swimming pool must take into account multiple aspects related to its viability, durability and safety. Regarding the spatial configuration, the depth of the pool is one of the key elements that influences the construction and use of the facility.

Commercial pools must meet specific requirements and recommendations based on safety and functionality. In addition, swimming pools designed to host competitive events must comply with international standards and ensure all safety measures for swimmers.

Measure the depth of the pool

The depth of a pool is calculated by measuring the distance between the water level and the floor of the pool. Depending on the shape of the pool, its size, intended use, and local building codes and regulations, this depth may vary within the parameters explained below.

In the same pool there can be several depth levels. This is the case, for example, of designs that include a shallow end that allows gradual immersion of swimmers in the water. Most leisure pools have a shallow depth at one end, gradually increasing to the deepest point at the opposite end.

Pool depth according to use

The depth of the pool varies significantly depending on the use that the facility is going to be given, but whether it has been designed for a sports club, for daily training or for official competitions, depth is always a factor that must be taken into account. In all cases there is a big difference between pools intended for official competitions and training and leisure pools.

Pools intended for competition testing must strictly comply with World Aquatics design standards , which also cover pool depth. For training and leisure, although the dimensions are recommended, they are not mandatory.

Standard depth of competition pools

Olympic and semi-Olympic pools

They are usually found in large sports clubs and in facilities built to host official swimming competitions. For Olympic pools , the mandatory length is 50 meters, while semi-Olympic pools are 25 meters. The minimum mandatory depth for both is 1.35 meters. This depth must be met along the first meter and up to 6 meters from the end wall, while the rest of the pool can be 1 meter deep (but not less).

When swimming pools host Olympic Games or World Championships , they must have a minimum depth of two meters . It is currently recommended that these pools are actually three meters deep, since the deeper the water, the more stable its surface becomes and the less bounce is felt when swimming. If the pool hosts other disciplines (such as artistic swimming), a depth of three meters is also recommended.

Diving and high jump pools

For trampoline jumping, athletes need a high height to jump from (5, 7.5 or 10 meters). This is why diving pools are usually found in purpose-built sports complexes and specialized high-performance sports clubs.

Diving pools must have a minimum depth of five meters . For high jumps, in which athletes jump from 20 meters (female) or 27 meters (male), the depth increases to 5.8 meters . It is important to note that pools built before December 2017 that are five meters deep have been given permission to continue hosting high jumping competitions.

water polo pools

In most cases, water polo is played in Olympic pools that have been adapted to host this type of competition by using corkscrews to delimit the size of the playing field and incorporating the relevant accessories. In this case, the key factor in pool depth is that players can never touch the bottom. Thus, the minimum depth of a water polo pool is 1.8 meters.

During the Olympic Games or World Championships , a minimum of two meters of depth is mandatory to host water polo matches.

Pools for artistic swimming

For the routine section of artistic swimming competitions, the pool must have a minimum area of ​​15 x 25 meters. Within this area, in a 12 x 12 meter section, the minimum depth must be 3 meters . For the rest of the surface, the depth can be at least two meters.

The depth in the pool wall must be two meters and gradually descends with a slope until reaching the section where three meters are required, 1.2 meters from the pool wall. During the Olympic Games and World Championships , all pools for artistic swimming (including warm-up pools) must have a depth of three metres.

Open water swimming

Open water swimmers swim outdoors, usually in oceans, seas, lakes or rivers, following a marked route. Even though this activity takes place in nature, it is still necessary to measure the depth of the water along the route. At any point, this must be at least 1.4 meters (even for Olympic Games and World Championships events).