# Are "Infinity" Swimming Pools Illegal In The USA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 10, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357 "2012-10-10T21:09:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/21 "2012-10-11T04:24:02Z")
There’s a beautiful [round one with transparent sides](http://www.amsealinc.com/projects/project/default/4-fountains/12-cleveland-clinic), in front of the new cardiovascular building at the Cleveland Clinic. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/22 "2012-10-11T04:59:50Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > They’re everywhere in LA - don’t you watch the “Home Porn” channel? Or just the regular porn channel. Those swanky houses up in the hills seem to be popular settings. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/23 "2012-10-11T06:20:07Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > “mostly” safe, I guess:( I wouldn’t swim there! I might swim there, but no way would I climb up on the brink like the folks in that video. Wet rocks, bare feet, running water and a deadly drop. I don’t walk that close to the edge of any cliff, let alone one that’s a waterfall. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/24 "2012-10-11T12:33:43Z")
I’ve never heard this called an “infinity” pool. I don’t see many for swimming, but they’re fairly common as reflecting pools and fountains. There’s a huge one at the Christain Science Center here in Boston. ---
**Author:** ![ExcitedIdiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea5d25/32.png) [@ExcitedIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExcitedIdiot)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/25 "2012-10-11T12:56:45Z")
The Cliff House in Maine has one. From inside the pool it looks like the water extends right out into the ocean. [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10067951](http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10067951) ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/26 "2012-10-11T15:16:27Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Only in warm climates? They seem to be the “in” thing for rooftop condo amenities here in Toronto. Harvest gold appliances were an “in” thing for a while, too. That doesn’t mean they were a good idea 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/27 "2012-10-11T15:56:26Z")
I have swum at a dam like that. It looks way worse than the reality once you’re in the water. Like the dam, if you look in the photo only a few inches of water are actually going over. Once you’re in the water, it becomes self evident the flow is not enough to push you, no matter how it appears from the outside. Walking along the edge all depends on how wide the top is, on the dam it was wide enough to make walking comfortable, though it appeared nothing but treacherous, to those on the shore. The dam was about the same safety wise, lots of people swam there, occasionally someone died. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/28 "2012-10-11T16:15:03Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > [Here are some from all over the world including USA](http://www.lovethesepics.com/2012/07/69-exquisite-infinity-pools-that-will-blow-your-mind/). Some awesome views. Thanks! Awesome link-I love infinity pools (especially with nubile bikini clad maidens)!😃 ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/29 "2012-10-11T16:15:44Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > “mostly” safe, I guess:( I wouldn’t swim there! Apparently the ledge creates a counter-intuitive current that pushes away from the edge, so it’s not like you are fighting the raging river. If I had to guess, I’d guess it is most likely tour guides who go over. I wanted to do it, but was there during the wrong season. Luckily Vic Falls has plenty of other dubiously regulated pursuits, such as one of the higher bungee jump in the world and mildly terrifying microlight flights. It’s a good place to be an adrenaline junkie, but you do have to calculate the very real risks. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/31 "2012-10-11T18:44:47Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > [Here are some from all over the world including USA](http://www.lovethesepics.com/2012/07/69-exquisite-infinity-pools-that-will-blow-your-mind/). Some awesome views. Awesome indeed. That link will be saved for the winter. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/32 "2012-10-11T19:46:47Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > If you notice, a lot of the featured infinity pools are in emerging economies. Infinity pools are a relatively new trend, and so you’ll find them more often in places that have lots of new luxury swimming pools. In the US, however, a larger percentage of the luxury hotels and the like are older. > [@peter62](#): > > A lot of the presented infinity diving pools are in growing financial systems. Infinity diving pools are a relatively new pattern, and so you’ll discover them more often in locations that have many new high-class regularly. In the US, however, a bigger amount of the high-class resorts and the like are mature. Welcome to the SDMB, **peter62**! My curiosity has been piqued; was there something about **even sven** ’s post that you felt was unclear, such that it needed to be paraphrased? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/33 "2012-10-11T19:54:24Z")
> [@Antonius\_Block](#): > > Welcome to the SDMB, **peter62**! > > My curiosity has been piqued; was there something about **even sven** ’s post that you felt was unclear, such that it needed to be paraphrased? Read his other posts - I’m pretty sure our robotic overlords have arrived! ---
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/34 "2012-10-12T04:46:40Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > [Here are some from all over the world including USA](http://www.lovethesepics.com/2012/07/69-exquisite-infinity-pools-that-will-blow-your-mind/). Some awesome views. My wife and I have been in #17. A nice relaxing twilight to dark with a bottle of white wine–very cool. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/35 "2012-10-12T14:09:31Z")
The main dolphin pool at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium is an infinity pool made to look like it extends into lake Michigan. (despite the glass wall) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/36 "2012-10-12T20:03:41Z")
If you really want to make it an infinity pool, put in those jets that allow you to swim forever in place. That’s infinity. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357/37 "2012-10-12T20:04:04Z")
Went to Victoria Falls years ago and did the Devil’s Pool thing. Nerve-racking at first, but as you watch others, you see no one is going over… It’s worth the cost just to do this alone. Africa has all kinds of awesome. [This page](http://bestinshow.me/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/farside-cat-trickery.jpg)should show you it’s not as bad as it seems. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-infinity-swimming-pools-illegal-in-the-usa/637357.md?page=1)