A method of determining proper positioning of lifeguard stations at a swimming pool or body of water to minimize the risk of bather drowning. The method includes: positioning submersible devices or other objects on a bottom of the swimming pool or body of water according to an established grid or pattern; imaging the submersible devices from different locations and different heights at the same locations; analyzing the images and other data to determine locations and heights of the lifeguard stations which provide the best sightlines of the swimming pool from the surface of the water to the bottom of the swimming pool or body of water; and positioning the lifeguard stations at the locations and the heights determined by analyzing the data.