Water feature for wave pools

Abstract

The present invention relates to wave pools and diversion channels that capture high kinetic energy portions of a wave generated within the wave pool, and redirects the captured wave portions to the vicinity of wave formation, preferably timed so as reinforce a subsequently generated wave. The high kinetic energy within the diversion channel creates an additional feature in the form of an action river for riders of a wave pool to enjoy. At the same time, capturing of portions of the wave reduces the backwash of the wave and stabilizes the level of water within the wave pool, especially for embodiments with wave generators and pools capable of high volume waves. Riders may enter the diversion channel and ride from the distal, beach end of the wave pool to the proximatal, wave generating end.

1 . A wave pool comprising: 
 a body of water having proximal and distal portions;    a beach disposed at the distal portion of the body of water;    a wave generator disposed at the proximal portion of the body of water and configured to produce waves in the body of water that move from the proximal portion to the distal portion;    a reef contour disposed intermediate the wave generator and the beach; and    at least two islands disposed within the body of water defining at least two integrated diversion channels, and wherein the reef contour and the diversion channels are configured to capture a high energy portion of the waves within the diversion channel and to redirect the captured portion of the waves from the distal portion of the body of water to the proximal portion of the body of water.    
   
   
       2 . The wave pool of  claim 1 , further comprising a tidal pool disposed intermediate the reef contour and the beach, and wherein the tidal pool is configured to receive water from the waves and to provide water to the diversion channels so that the water moves from the distal portion to the proximal portion of the body of water.  
   
   
       3 . The wave pool of  claim 1 , wherein the diversion channels are further configured so as to capture a high energy portion of the waves and to redirect the captured portion of the waves from the distal portion of the body of water to the proximal portion of the body of water at substantially the same time as the wave generator produces a new wave, so that when the captured portion of the waves is redirected to the proximal portion of the body of water, it reinforces the new wave.  
   
   
       4 . The wave pool of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two integrated diversion channels further includes an inner side, an outer side, a wave entrance, and a wave discharge, and further wherein the distance between the inner side and the outer side decreases from the wave entrance to the wave discharge.  
   
   
       5 . The wave pool of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two integrated diversion channels is configured so as to capture and maintain a sufficiently high energy portion of the waves so as to support surfing within the at least one of the at least two integrated diversion channels.  
   
   
       6 . The wave pool of  claim 1 , where the at least two integrated diversion channels, reef, and islands are configured so as to capture and maintain a sufficiently high energy portion of the waves so as to form an action river within at least one of the at least two integrated diversion channels.  
   
   
       7 . The wave pool of  claim 1 , where the at least two integrated diversion channels, reef, and islands are configured so as to enable at least one of the at least two integrated diversion channels to capture and maintain a sufficiently high energy portion of the waves so as to move a person from the distal portion of the body of water to the proximate portion of the body of water.  
   
   
       8 . The wave pool of  claim 1 , where the reef contour defines a V shape having a vertex oriented generally toward the wave generator.  
   
   
       9 . The wave pool of  claim 1 , wherein the wave generator is a water cannon.  
   
   
       10 . A method comprising: 
 providing a body of water having a proximal portion and a distal portion;    producing waves that move from the proximal portion to the distal portion of the body of water;    communicating the waves to a beach disposed near the distal portion of the body of water;    breaking a portion of the waves on a reef contour disposed intermediate the wave generator and the beach, the reef contour defining a V with the vertex thereof oriented generally toward the wave generator; and    providing at least two islands, each island defining an integrated diversion path, and wherein the beach and the reef contour are configured to direct water from the breaking waves into the diversion paths, and further wherein the integrated diversion paths are configured to capture a high energy portion of the waves and to return the water and high energy portion of the waves from the distal portion of the body of water to the proximal portion thereof.