One of the advantages of owning your own backyard swimming pool, whether it be an above ground pool or an in ground pool, is enjoying the freedom of swimming at any time of the day or night. Night time swimming, though, is not safe unless your swimming pool is equipped with pool lights to illuminate the sides and bottom of the swimming pool.* Swimming pool lights come in a wide variety of styles, colors, and shapes, and choosing the right one depends only on the type of pool you have and your own personal tastes.

In ground swimming pool lights are often installed when the pool itself is constructed, but this is not the case for above ground pools. Above ground pool lights must be attached to the pool in one of several ways. Some lights hook over the top of the pool wall, some are mounted to the side of the pool wall, and some are installed directly to your pool’s return line. Each option has its own advantages, but many above ground pool owners prefer lights that hook over the top of the pool wall because this prevents the need to drill holes in the side of the swimming pool and makes the lights easier to remove or adjust.

Another choice to be made when selecting swimming lights is color. White lights are the standard choice, but colors add ambiance and fun to the swimming experience. Some lights offer the best of both worlds — a white bulb and different colored lenses that can be snapped into place as desired. Other lights are able to cycle through a series of different colors for an ever-changing effect.

Some of the most fun and colorful swimming pool lights are floating lights. Floating lights can illuminate both in ground and above ground pools, and they come in a multitude of creative styles. Floating lights that resemble lily pads or graceful jelly fish are just two examples of the unique pool lights available. Some floating lights feature a fountain on the top which sprays colorful streams of water. A favorite choice for pool parties are floating lights whose multiple colors spin and dance underwater like a kaleidoscope.

Having so many choices for swimming pool lights makes the selection process fun, but the choice itself doesn’t matter as much as ensuring that there are some kind of lights installed in your backyard swimming pool. Safety should always be the first consideration.

*Safety Note: Children, even older children who may have strong swimming skills, should never be permitted to swim after dark unless closely supervised by a responsible adult.