Demand for Red Sea property rises as dive tourism up 6%
Crystal clear waters, sheltered bays, pristine coral reefs and protected national parks including Ras Mohammed only 19 miles from Sharm El Sheikh, the Red Sea coast draws millions of divers each year many of whom go to complete their PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) training. It is estimated that 600,000 new PADI divers are certified each year, an annual growth of 6%.
Steven Worboys, diving enthusiast and MD of Experience International, which markets over 5000 premium properties along the Red Sea coast, comments,
“The superior diving available along the Red Sea coastline plays a key role in the success of resorts such as Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh and Sahl Hasheesh. Due to the unique marine environment it is possible to step from the sandy shores straight into pristine coral reefs. It is for this reason that more and more people are looking for a permanent base in the area, a second property which they can use at their leisure to pursue their hobby but also rent out to other diving aficionados.”
This way of life appealed so much to Phil Cotton from Stoke-on-Trent, a self-proclaimed “natural born diver and sun lover”, who fulfilled his lifetime dream of living and working by the sea by purchasing an apartment in the popular town of Hurghada.
Phil explains:
“My wife and I knew that Egypt was the right country for us having visited Sharm el Sheikh and Taba in the past. The year round sunshine, the first class diving – the Res Sea is the biggest and best fish tank in the world! – welcoming local people, an established expatriate community and being not too far from the UK were all important factors to us. Added to this, we have seen property values rise over the last couple of years which was a key consideration seeing as this property is our personal pension.”
Phil purchased a 2 bed penthouse apartment in the well positioned Arabia Palace development with direct sea views from the balcony. As Phil says,
“The main appeal of this area is that it is as close to the coast as you can really get, other than in the beach-fronted hotels with fantastic, uninterrupted sea views of the islands off the coast and no buildings being built any higher than ours to spoil the views.“
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