Swim spa or swimming pool: how to choose?
With a swim spa, you swim at home all year round on about ten square metres. The swimming pool remains the reference for family games and swimming lengths. The two meet different wishes: here is how to decide.
The swim spa in a few words
An above-ground, heated pool, the swim spa combines two areas: a lane where you swim against an adjustable current and a hydromassage area. Our Ocean swim spa is 3.76 m long, 2.20 m wide and 1.10 m high, and holds 6,400 litres of water. Six XXL turbo jets create the swimming current; at the other end, four seats and 116 massage jets let you relax.
It sits on a slab and is filled like a hot tub: there is no pool excavation and no masonry surround.
Swimming against the current, in practice
The turbo jets produce an adjustable current. You swim against it, on the spot, without ever touching the side: the current replaces the length of the pool. At low intensity, it allows water walking, aqua aerobics or gentle rehabilitation; at full power, a real fitness swim.
It is not the same experience as a swimming pool: you do not swim lengths, dive or play ball. In return, you can swim for twenty minutes before work, in the middle of winter, in heated water.
Space and building work
| Criterion | Swim spa | In-ground pool |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | About 8 m² for the Ocean | The pool, plus the surrounds |
| Building work | A concrete slab, no excavation | Excavation, masonry or shell, plant room |
| Lead time | That of the slab and delivery | A project that often runs to weeks |
| Water volume | 6,400 litres for the Ocean | Commonly several dozen cubic metres |
The point to watch with a swim spa is its weight: 850 kg empty for the Ocean, more than 7 tonnes once filled. The slab must be calculated for this load by a professional. Access matters too: at 3.76 m long, a crane lift is sometimes needed. The official carrier you choose assesses the access and makes you their offer.
Heating and season
The Ocean has two 3,000 W heaters and a frost protection mode. With a thermal cover closed between sessions, the water stays warm and the pool can be used all year round. Many owners set the water a little cooler for swimming and a little warmer for relaxing.
In an outdoor swimming pool, people swim mainly in the warmer months, unless they invest in heating and an enclosure.
Maintenance
Less water means fewer products and simpler draining. The Ocean's filtration uses screw-in cartridges, and the routine is similar to that of a hot tub: checking the pH and sanitiser every week, rinsing the filters, draining from time to time. See our guide Hot tub maintenance and our article on water treatment.
Budget
Compare the full cost, not just the price of the pool: preparing the base, electricity, delivery, cover, then heating and products over the years. The price of the Ocean is shown on its product page, with wood-effect PVC cladding; the Alu-Teck version is priced on quotation. Our article Hot tub prices explains the method.
Safety and family use
As with any pool, a child never bathes unsupervised. Closing the cover between sessions limits the risks and keeps the heat in. For younger children, set the current to its lowest: it becomes a game rather than exercise. The four massage seats can be shared by the family like a hot tub.
Who is it for?
A swim spa suits you if:
- you want to swim or do aqua aerobics all year round, at home;
- your garden does not allow a swimming pool, or you do not want major building work;
- you are also looking for a real massage area after exercise;
- you prefer maintenance similar to that of a hot tub.
A swimming pool remains preferable if:
- swimming lengths and diving matter to you;
- the pool needs to host games for a whole group of children;
- it will mainly be used in summer and your garden lends itself to it.
If you are mainly looking for relaxation and massage, a large hot tub may also be enough: see our hot tubs for 7 or more.
Questions to ask before choosing
- How many times a week will you really swim, and in which season?
- How much space can you give to the pool, and can the base carry more than 7 tonnes?
- Can the lorry and, if necessary, a crane reach the site?
- Does your electrical installation allow a dedicated circuit? The Ocean runs on 220 V single-phase or 380 V three-phase.
- Who will use it: keen swimmers, children, people in rehabilitation?
In short
A swim spa offers year-round swimming and hydromassage in a compact format, without a swimming pool building project. The swimming pool keeps the advantage of space and play. To find out whether the Ocean will fit at your home, see our Swim spas page and request your quote: an advisor will look at the site and access with you.
Hot tub maintenance: the routine, week after week
Chlorine, bromine or active oxygen: which hot tub water treatment?
Hot tub prices: what one costs to buy, install and run