By | February 11 2012 8:07 AM

The U.K.'s first underwater viewing zone for giant otters will open next week.

Built at a cost of £250,000, the giant otter centre is first of its kind in Europe where people can see the otters diving for food, through large underwater viewing windows.

This new enclosure is at the absolute cutting edge of design in terms of both animal welfare and the exciting viewing opportunities it offers the public, Simon Mann, Chester Zoo's development director, was quoted as saying by the Associative Press.

Giant otters are charming animals and it's fascinating to see them swimming underwater. We think people, and the otters, are going to love it, he added.

Check out the photos below: 

A giant otter at Chester Zoo, where the UK's first underwater viewing zone for giant otters will open next week.

Photo: PA

A giant otter at Chester Zoo, where the UK's first underwater viewing zone for giant otters will open next week.

Giant otters at Chester Zoo, where the UK's first underwater viewing zone for giant otters will open next week.

Photo: PA

Giant otters at Chester Zoo, where the UK's first underwater viewing zone for giant otters will open next week.

A giant otter at Chester Zoo, where the UK's first underwater viewing zone for giant otters will open next week.

Photo: PA

A giant otter at Chester Zoo, where the UK's first underwater viewing zone for giant otters will open next week.

Giant otters at Chester Zoo, where the UK's first underwater viewing zone for giant otters will open next week.

Photo: PA

Giant otters at Chester Zoo, where the UK's first underwater viewing zone for giant otters will open next week.

A giant otter at Chester Zoo, where the UK's first underwater viewing zone for giant otters will open next week.

Photo: PA

A giant otter at Chester Zoo, where the UK's first underwater viewing zone for giant otters will open next week.