Portable spa

A pre-fabricated self-contained in-ground spa, comprising:

• (a) a reservoir for holding water and substantially the entire body of at least one adult person;
• (b) an outer wall spaced outwardly from the reservoir;
• (c) an equipment bay located in and accessible from an opening at the top surface of the spa between the outer wail and the reservoir that contains all of the equipment for operating the spa, including a pump, a heater element a filter and control equipment, so that access to external equipment outside the outer wall is unnecessary other than a source of electricity or gas, wherein at least a portion of the equipment bay and the equipment therein extends below the water level in the spa;
• (d) a sump pump at a lower end of the equipment bay;
• and
• (e) a cover that covers the opening in the top surface of the spa, wherein the cover can be opened to permit access to the equipment in the equipment bay free of any obstructions around the vertical side wall of the spa.