Grottos

Grottos are neat looking. But I don't see people in them for that long. I see kids jump off them more than they are in them. Therefore, I rate them a 5 for their practicality.

Waterfalls

Waterfalls are a great way to give your pool a very natural setting. Moreover, they are fun to jump off and put your head under while you are swimming. I rate waterfalls a 7.

Diving Boards

Unfortunately, diving boards are not popular like they used to be. The reason is because backyards aren't big enough anymore to sustain the size pool you need for a diving board. In addition, diving boards are not made like they used to be made. They are much stiffer and shorter. Therefore, because of the restraints, I give diving boards a 1 rating.

Slides

I love slides. While they are not cheap, they are fun. Big or small, they entertain people for hours. I remember my grandfather had a slide that wrapped 150' up into the hillside. He also had a fiberglass slide on the same pool. There was never a minute free where both slides weren't being used. If you have a yard and budget that can have a slide, I rate them a 10.

Volcano

Born from the San Diego California Pools Office, a volcano sends air bubbles up from the shallow end of the pool creating a fun area to swim through. I rate this feature a 7.

Bubblers

Bubblers are a great waterfeature on a reef step for small children to play in. They also give a lot of action to the pool water which is fun when there is a large swim load or a party. I rate bubblers a 7.

Sheer Descents

Sheer Descents are good waterfeatures to drown out unwanted background noise, they look nice, and are fun for kids to play under. But I only rate them a 6 because they don't make or break your pool. They're nice to have but shouldn't be a necessity if you're on a budget.

Laminar Jets

Laminar Jets are a neat feature to look at especially when you put fiber optic light through them. However, when swimming, I am yet to find that they serve a fun purpose. For aesthics, I give them an 8 if putting them in a high end pool. For practicality and fun, I give them a 4

Reef Steps

I am a huge fan of reef steps because it is a perfect place for adults and kids just to hang out and keep cool. At this pool party these adults hardly left their place. I give reef steps an absolute 10 regardless of the size of your pool.

Remote Controls

If you have a spa or any waterfeatures, a remote is a great thing to have. There is nothing worse than sitting in a warm jacuzzi and having to run over to the equipment to turn up the heat. A remote system makes using your pool and spa easy. I rate remotes an 8.

Salt Water

I used to be on the service side of the industry and frequently got calls right after I serviced a pool. The calls were that I put too much chlorine in the pool. We'll, that was very true. I was putting in a lot of chlorine so it would last until I came back for the next visit a week later.

With a salt system, there is no need to add chlorine to your pool. Chlorine is made on a daily basis through a generator at the equipment. Salt is added to the pool every 2-3 months.

Also, At 3000 parts per million salinity, your pool water will register approximately half the salt of a tear drop

I rate a salt system a 9.

Colored Lights

Call me a romantic, but I actually really like colored lights. I think they set the mood for a party or a romantic evening with your spouse. I remember the first time I saw colored lights was at a wedding. The backyard was not really decorated that well. But the colored lights changing from one color to the next made the whole backyard look spectacular. I rate colored lights an 8.

Spa Jets

I am not a big "spa jet" man. I like spas for the theropy of warm water rather than to work my muscles on a jet. Interestingly, I have also noticed while at swim parties, other people rarely sit in front of the jets for long periods of time. Maybe 30-45 seconds. Then they move. I think it is important to have 5-6 "strategically placed" jets for those who do like them. But anymore is excessive in my opinion. I rate spa jets a 4.

The Swim Pole

Of all pool excercise equipment, I like this one the best. It's simple, it's cheap, you can easily take it out, and it gives you a great work out (if not the best). I'd rate this a 10 on my list of excercize features to have on your pool