Oceanarium Bournemouth on the south coast of the UK is to unveil a new £115,000 interactive dive cage experience to visitors in October.

The 6.25sq m (67sq ft) cage will use three large plasma screens to provide a 270-degree continuous under-sea view.

From inside the cage, guests can select which ocean they would like to explore and then use a touchscreen to go through a series of six or seven experiences, animations and challenges.

Up to 12 people can be in the cage at once, with one person controlling each screen at any one time. Guests outside the cage will also be able to view the graphics.

A spokesperson for the attraction said to experience everything the cage has to offer would take an hour – 20 minutes per wall – but that the Oceanarium expected people to stay for around 10-15 minutes.

James Eels, general manager of the Oceanarium, said, "We are all very excited about this new experience within the aquarium, particularly as it is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK.

“Our market research showed that visitors enjoy interaction during their visit; the dive cage will not only achieve this but also give us the opportunity to educate people about creatures we could never have on display at the Oceanarium, such as blue whales, great white sharks, giant squid and manta rays."

The project was created by London-based MICE Amigo and funded entirely by Real Live Leisure, parent company of both the Oceanarium Bournemouth and the Aquarium of the Lakes.

Further creatures and oceans will be added to the experience in spring 2007. Details: www.oceanarium.co.uk UK,