We had about 3.5' of dig for our above ground (Artesian Echo Canyon 18' - 54") and we had an excavator dig it so that the dirt would be moved to where we wanted it and sloped away from the pool. We dug to level and coated that side with large baseball-sized gravel as a retaining wall. We just completed our install and it's worked out wonderful so far. We can get around the pool easy. My neighbor has his 24' partially submerged. He backfilled it with gravel. He says if he had to do it again, he would do it like mine for two reasons. #1 - He has to have a fence all around the pool because his kids could just fall in. Also, fencing makes it harder to cover and vacuum. and #2 He says when he has to drain it...the walls cave in. Not a good thing. Just some things to consider.