Ulster Bank supports Aquaholics as the company makes important tourism acquisition

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  • A Northern Ireland diving business is investing significantly to compete with operators in international markets, including the Maldives and the Red Sea.

    In its latest investment, Aquaholics Dive Centre in Portstewart has purchased a new commercial catamaran, supported by Ulster Bank, in an effort to attract more US, European and Asian tourists to the North Coast.

    The business, which has the highest level of accreditation from PADI (The Professional Association of Diving Instructors), provides diving holidays to local and international visitors, as well as diving training and sea safari boat trips.

    In addition, it retails diving equipment through its ecommerce platform and from two physical outlets, and also provides marine services for film crews for the likes of Game of Thrones, the BBC and Disney during shoots at sea.

    Owner Richard Lafferty says that diving is big business, and Northern Ireland’s north coast is well placed to attract divers from around the world: “With world class diving on the North coast, Aquaholics attracts a lot of groups and individuals from Europe, the US and Russia. Not a lot of people realise how attractive the North Coast is to divers and we see a real opportunity to bring more international visitors to the area. This new, state-of-the-art vessel enables us to provide the high quality service our customers now expect.”

    Rhonda McClelland, business manager, Ulster Bank, says: “Richard has diversified the business extremely well, including his line of work in servicing media companies and film crews. He has also invested well in his core diving operation and we are very pleased to support this latest purchase intended to bring more international visitors to the North Coast.”


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