Dolphin Nautilus CC Automatic Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaner, Wall Climbing Scrubber Brush, Top Load Filter Access, Ideal for Above/In-Ground Pools up to 33 FT in Length

The Dolphin was delivered today (ahead of schedule), and after reading the Quick Start directions, I put it to work immediately. There's almost nothing to it. Connect the waterproof cord to the console, drop the unit into the water, plug the console cord into the wall socket, press the power button. We have a rectangular fiberglass pool with salt water. It has a large sitting platform which is about 2 feet deep. The platform then drops off into the deeper (lap swimming) end of the pool. The pool is 6 feet at the deepest end. I dropped the Dolphin into the deep end then hit the start button. This unit is advertised. It was definitely vacuuming up the debris. It picks up the pebbles, and it actually crawls up the pool wall to the point where at least a third of it breaches the surface, then drops back in. However, I have seen it crawl up the 4 foot wall of the platform, at which time it cleans the platform (briefly), until it blindly rolls off the platform edge, descending into the deeper water. After two hours, the bottom was probably 98% clean. There were a couple of 90 degree corners that it just couldn't quite pick up, so I'm currently running it for another hour. Perhaps I will stir up those two corners next time to give it an assist. Lastly, our pool has two steps to the deeper water. The unit appears unable to crawl up the stairs. Five starts because it is convenient, simple, and effective. Update: In order to get the last 2-3% of dirt left over in the corners and at the base of the walls, we first brush the debris toward the middle of the pool floor. Then, we run this unit for an hour and the pool looks great! ~ We use this unit about once per week and always after the lawn is mowed. ~ I set it on a small 2x4 block to keep pressure off of the brush up front. I also sometimes set it on it's side when it's not in use. Nothing to warp when it's on its side. ~ We gently spray out the debris bucket with the garden hose. The filters on the side seem delicate/fine (which I'm guessing is why the fine dirt doesn't appear to pass through the system). ~ In order to retrieve it you use the power cord to pull it in. It's very light when it's in the water, but when it gets within reach, grab the unit itself. This prevents undue stress on the power cord when it's full of water. Bottom line: This thing doesn't care how blazing hot or ice cold it is outside or how long its work shift is, it gets the job done so you don't have to. Update (1 year later): The Dolphin still does its thing. When not in use we keep the unit in a pool locker in the back yard, except for the console. We keep the console inside the house to keep the electronics better protected. Prior to using the Dolphin, we brush the base of the walls. This makes it easier for the Dolphin to get this more easily. Sometimes I push the button for a second cycle, but it usually does a fantastic job with a single cycle. I've left it in our salt water pool for a couple of nights in a row before. It doesn't seem to mind and it doesn't let go of the debris during that time. I use it year round, usually at least once per week in the warm months, perhaps a little less in the winter. 1 year later, it still does the job very well. I'd never go back to doing this myself. The pool needs enough attention as it is (water testing, water level, filter cleanings, etc.). I do wish that it had a remote control option, something that I could hold so that I could direct it to "mow" the platform clean before plunging back into the deep water. Great purchase! I'd give it 5 stars again. Update (Beginning of 3rd year of use) Nothing has changed from above. I still store the dolphin (upright of the tracks) in the locker outside year round, the console is still stored inside the house. Prior to use I still sweep the base of the walls. This makes it easier for the unit to get the dirt and debris. The pool is clean in about 90 minutes, though I usually run it longer for an extra clean pool. I guess it takes about 10 minutes or so to sweep then set up, but it would take the same time to set up the manual system too. Same with break down, 10 mins or so either way. But of course with the Dolphin I'm off doing something else while it's doing its thing. No parts have deteriorated since it was brand new even in a salt water pool. It's as good as new still. I see newer Dolphin units with a built in swivel in the cord. After many hours in my pool the cord does develop the beginning of a kink (twist) in the cord but the cord is so long that this has never come close to hindering its effectiveness. After use, I lay out the cord along the lawn then roll it back up losing the minor twist for next use. I also see units with optional remote controls. For the large platform in my pool I simply manually (mow) it clean, that is I run it one length, turn it off, set it into position for the next run Turn it on, etc. Yes, I'm in ankle deep water with it as it's running but the platform gets clean in short order. I think a remote control for this short work would take longer. I need it to make several U-turns on the platform, slightly overlapping the previous run. I think using a remote would take much longer. Aside from that we're rarely in the water with the unit. Excellent pool accessory! Simple and convenient. Glad we made the purchase. It certainly is better than cleaning the bottom when it's 100 degrees or freezing outside.

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Automatic Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaner is one of those rare products that actually does exactly what it promises—and does it exceptionally well. From the very first use, it was clear this thing is on another level. Drop it in the pool, press a button, and it just goes to work. No babysitting, no complicated setup, no frustration. It climbs the walls, scrubs like a machine on a mission, and leaves the pool looking spotless. What really stands out is consistency. Every single cycle, it delivers the same crystal-clear result. Fine debris, dirt, even stuff you didn’t realize was there—it handles it all effortlessly. And the filter is incredibly easy to clean, which makes maintaining it just as simple as using it. Bottom line: it just works. No gimmicks, no headaches—just a clean pool every time. If you’re on the fence, don’t be. This is one of the best investments you can make for your pool.

This review based upon running the dolphin 4 times when getting pool ready for summer. This is perfectly good for what it does. Here are a couple observations: 1- listing says it is good for pools up to 33 feet long … BUT … cable between the power unit and the robot is 39 feet long and the instructions say to keep the power unit 12 feet away from the water. This leaves 27 feet of cable and if the robot goes down 3 to 10 feet under water there is no way it will reach 33 feet to the other end if the power unit is at an end of the pool. While putting the power unit in the middle of the pool would fix this my AC outlets are at both ends so that doesn’t work for me. Instructions also say not to use an extension cord. A cable between power unit and robot would have been a better design. 2- the top loading basket is MUCH MUCH easier to remove and clean than traditional bottom loading cloth pouches. This alone makes this robot worth considering. That said, the basket isn’t as big as it looked in the promotional photos. But, I had a fair amount of dirt and leaves on the bottom of the pool and the basket was plenty big to pick them up. 3- it picked up dirt in one pass but a complete single leaf was a 50;50 chance of getting picked up even after a couple passes. Ultimately, though, it got the leaves. 4- this is a very simple machine. With a reasonable level of do it yourself skills I’m betting one could repair it yourself. Given the (fairly ridiculously) high prices of these things and their spare parts that might be a consideration. 5- has a tendency to do a wheelie occasionally so that it is not in contact with the bottom of the pool and, thus, momentarily doesn’t suck anything up. But it still cleaned everything eventually so probably no matter. 6- Even though I think these things are way overpriced, I’ve manually vacuumed the pool the old fashioned way and I’m simply not interested in doing that. I’ll use the robot to do it. And that’s why they can get me to pay these high prices.

I have been trying to convince myself that the expense of a robotic pool cleaner was worth it. After my 3rd year of being a pool owner and lugging out the manual vacuum, pole, hose, submerging the hose, fussing with the pump I finally broke down and bought this one. OMG I love it. You drop it in the pool, turn it on and it runs and picks up everything on the bottom of the pool. Our deep end is 8' and it will be all the way at the bottom and crawl all the way to the water line. It is pretty amazing. I can sit and watch it work for hours (ok thats an exaggeration but still) as it is very interesting how it creeps around the pool in what seems like a haphazard formation but in about 2 hours there is not a single leaf or speck of dirt anywhere on the pool. The control box sits easily under a bush and you can set it to run automatically daily, every other day or every 3 days. The filter container is amazing at filtering out the smallest of sand particles. Im amazed every time I pull it up to clean it out that there is so much sand in the basket. We have recently put the solar cover on the pool for our "cold Florida winter" and I was curious how it would work with the cover and crawling up to the water line but it has not had any problem. I do not have any issues with the Dolphin at all. I have to say it was money very well spent thus far. I have not had to lug out the old vacuum since I bought it. Update as nearing our 2nd year with the Dolphin: It still runs and cleans great. No issues at all. its starting to get a little discolored and scratched up but its 2 years old and spend nearly 100% of its life in a chlorinated pool so I would expect it to fade out. Only issue is that one of the rubber treads keeps coming off. I think it has stretched out a little and somehow it comes off. I don't understand how since i have to really tug on it to get it back on so not sure how it just pops off. It doesn't happen all the time so its not a huge deal and i can put it back on. It continues to run and work just as good with just 1 track, it may not climb as far up the wall but it still works. Still well worth the money to not have had to spend saturday mornings out in the sun manually vacuuming up the pool.

Did a good job getting debris and powder out once I added a pleated ultra fine filter on it. Used it for about 4 months first season and then the last week after we opened the pool. Now the unit is dead and unresponsive. Luckily I work for a pool company and we are an authorized maytronics dealer and repair center so I can take it to my homie for a quick once over and he will handle repairs for me. But its BS this product doesn't even last a year with very mild use. We never left it in the pool for more than a day at a time, never left it out in the elements, brought it inside during cold weather. Didn't do dumb stuff like stand on it or ride it. Just ran it once or twice a week for normal cleaning.

This is one little workhorse. Purchased last year about September and have used it a great deal. The leaf basket is very good at containing most all the leaves on the pool floor saving pool filter cleaning. Mine came with the additional (hepa like) filters and when it cleans the floor of the pool you can really see the difference. Most all the material is trapped in the filter basket. My only negative point is that the basket must be torn down to remove the leaf filters and then put back together with the hepa like filters. You can buy a separate hepa like filter basket so its easier.

I purchased this robot in May of 2024. It works incredibly well and super easy to clean. I normally dont write reviews but the service I just received from the manufacturer needs to be shared. The power supply failed after being in storage during the winter. I submitted a warranty claim on Wednesday (was super easy to do online) and Friday afternoon UPS delivered a brand new power supply. Talk about a company that stands behind their product! Wow. There were absolutely no questions asked. It went bad and they promptly shipped me a new one. Couldn’t be happier with the robot and now I can say the same about the manufacturer. You can not go wrong choosing this company.

This robot does all the cleaning I need it to do. You may have to run it several times or drop it in by the missed area, if really dirty. The only issue is once it's done running it's cycle it stops cleaning. The power supply stays on, you have to manually hit the button again to turn it off. It is my biggest complaint.