As partes pertinentes do artigo 680 eu citei aqui:
680.12 Maintenance Disconnecting Means One or more means to simultaneously disconnect all un-grounded conductors shall be provided for all utilization equipment other than lighting. Each means shall be readily accessible and within sight from its equipment and shall be located at least 1.5 m (5 ft) horizontally from the inside walls of a pool, spa, or hot tub unless separated from the open water by a permanently installed barrier that provides a 1.5 m (5 ft) reach path or greater. This horizontal distance is to be measured from the water’s edge along the shortest path required to reach the disconnect.
680 Part IV. Spas and Hot Tubs 680.40 General Electrical installations at spas and hot tubs shall comply with the provisions of Part I and Part IV of this article.
680,40 refere-se à Parte I e a exigência de uma desconexão está na Parte I (630.12).
Este comentário é do Manual de 2011 da NEC:
A readily accessible disconnecting means is required to be located within sight of pool, spa, and hot tub equipment in order to provide service personnel with the ability to safely disconnect power while servicing equipment such as motors, heaters, and control panels. Underwater luminaires are not subject to this requirement. The proximity of the disconnecting means to the pool must be not less than 5 ft unless the disconnecting means is separated from the water by a permanent barrier.
Observe aqui que a menos que a desconexão seja separada da água por uma "barreira permanente". Se você tiver uma barreira permanente, como uma partição entre a banheira e a desconexão, ela pode estar a menos de 1,5 m. Caso contrário, 5 'é a sua distância mínima.
Então, você estava lendo o código corretamente, você precisa de uma desconexão na vista do spa e a montagem ao lado do painel principal funcionará bem. Ou usar um disjuntor no painel funcionará como você e o Speedy Petey estavam discutindo.