We are also getting our pool installed and the depth on our sun shelf is only going to be 6 inches. One thing you may want to make sure they put in is a bubbler. Some builders try to put one in without one, but that water has a tendency to be static in that area. And if its in a corner, the sun will really increase the algae production because of the lack of water motion. At ten inches you may not have that problem because that seems to be pretty deep and the motion of the water may not be a problem.
As for chair, most of the low laid back recliners are four to five inches above the water level. So you'll be immersed well in the water if you go that route.

Ours is 15 inches deep and we've been really happy with the depth.

15-18 inches works well

we went 14"

18in here, when you sit down in it it is up to your chest, perfect without a chair

I want to be able to sit in my Adirondack chair (12 inch high seat) with my bottom not getting wet but allowing my feet to soak. I did this because I like to sit on the edge of pools with street clothes and not get wet. However I'd like back support and sitting on the coping dangling my legs into the water isn't very comfy for very long.

10" will also be deep enough so if I want to lounge on a chaise in a bathing suit, the water will be 2" deep over my body. If I want deeper water to sit in with some back support, I'll just sit on the next step down which is 18" deep.

Thanks for your answers. We decided to go with 12 inches in depth. The sun shelf goes all the way across our pool. We are putting in hooks so we can stretch a net across in front of the drop off point, so our baby grandchildren can use the sun shelf area like a baby pool (with supervision, of course).

Gzelano, we loved your idea of putting the umbrella in the pool, so we are putting in a sleeve for this.

gzelano

What are the dimensions of your sun shelf? It looks to be the perfect size.

When u say 12, 14, 15 inches where are you measuring from? Depth of water or depth from coping?

From the top of our concrete to the first step is 10 inches. From the top of our concrete to Cabo shelf is 18 inches, which is 12 inches of water. We bought those plastic Adirondack chairs and as you can see from the picture you're rear only sits in a small amount of water. When we put our lounge chairs in I'm laying in the perfect amount of water to stay cool without feeling like I'm drowning laying on my stomach.

My first step is only in about 4 inches of water. It's a great first step for the little ones and the older ones to get in on! Hope the pictures help give you an idea.

Any suggestions on the umbrella material? I am concerned about a metal or aluminum pole. I have a patio cover out of alumawood and the building inspector made us bond the structuring because we were within 5’ of the waters edge. He told us all metal or aluminum within 5’ must be bonded. How does they work with my umbrella which sits in my Baja shelf?

The umbrella is not a permeant structural piece in the cabo shelf. We added three umbrella sleeves in the cabo shelf. We don't keep the umbrella's in the holes when the pool is not in use. Must use umbrellas with metal poles in the cabo shelf since they are submerged in the water. If the pole were wood and you submerged them in the water for long periods of time the wood pole would swell and expand and you would not be able to get it out of the sleeve.

My pool builder suddenly hurried and had the pool shot and filled with water. We noticed the following morning that they filled the water up to the TOP of my waterline tile so that my sunshelf looked like it was sitting in an acceptable amount of water. If the water is brought down to the proper height so that my waterline tile is visible my sun shelf is sitting in 2 and 1/2 inches of water!!! My pool is 471 sq foot pool and not a cheap job ,! What do I do ... The job is NOT completed ! The salesman said it would be ten inches standard , but it is not specified on the print or contract . Furious and crying all at once!!!!

Trying to decide on 6" or 9" water depth. With 6" I can lay flat on shelf with no chair and not drown, but can also raise water to make it 8" if desired. I'm a little concerned about keeping it clean and also concerned about lighting. What kind of lighting do you have? Any other thoughts about depth are welcome, too.