Making a Splash: For year round exercise and fun, nothing tops an indoor pool

By Hope Reeves
January/February 2000

For water-loving folks without space for a full-size pool, there's the swim-in-place tank. This aquatic version of the Stairmaster pumps water at any speed desired, up to more than 100 yards per minute (a challenging clip for a strong swimmer). There are two types of tank: the jet-propelled swim spa, which shoots water through a bank of Jacuzzi-like nozzles, or the countercurrent model, which creates a wider and deeper flow than the jest, making the swimmer feel as if he's in open water.

"If you closed your eyes, you'd think you were in a regulation-size pool," says Endless Pools president James Murdock. "Except you never get to the wall." Murdock's 4-feet-deep galvanized-steel tanks are available in solo width (8 by 15 ft) for one person, double-width (13 by 15 ft) for couples, or extra-wide (9 by 15 ft) for people who swim using broad strokes.

The pools can go almost anywhere, don't need any plumbing, and cost about 40 cents an hour to operate. The basic ready-to-assemble Endless Pool kit is priced around $16,400*.

*Pricing as of 2000

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