Swim spa with plenum arrangement at head end

A method of operating a swimming pool with a circulating water flow, comprising the steps of:

• discharging a jet of water from an outlet at a head end of the swimming pool into a swimming compartment, whereby the jet of water flows in a primary flow path toward a swimmer within the swimming compartment;
• and
• splitting the flow of water past the swimmer to define two circuitous flow paths, each said flow path having a return flow path flowing within said swimming compartment in a direction opposite to said primary flow path back toward said head end.

A swimming pool with a circulating water flow, comprising a plurality of side walls adjacent a swimming compartment, one of said side walls including an outlet, at least one inlet positioned at each lateral side of said outlet, and a plenum arrangement on a side of said one wall opposite said swimming compartment, said plenum arrangement being in communication with each said inlet and said outlet, said plenum arrangement including a rear wall with a front side within said plenum and an opposite rear side, and a water propulsion system including a hub assembly carried by said rear wall of said plenum, said hub assembly including a mounting flange at said rear side of said rear wall and a reinforcement plate at said front side of said rear wall within said plenum arrangement, a drive shaft carried by said mounting hub and extending through said rear wall of said plenum, an electric motor rotatably driving said drive shaft, and a propeller mounted to an end of said drive shaft and positioned within said plenum in line with said outlet.