Manila Ocean Park

Looking for something to do in Manila? Visit the newly opened Manila Ocean Park. It’s not fully completed yet but there is a fair amount of things to see. The oceanarium is open from 10 AM to 9 PM. Reminded me of Ocean Adventure’s [in Subic] aquarium thingy. I liked the manta rays and the sharks, especially. The entrance fee is P400 for adults and P350 for children 4.5 feet and below. Children 2 feet and below are free of charge. A 10% discount is given to Manila residents with valid ID. The standard 20% discount is also given to senior citizens. For prebooked and prepaid groups of 25 and more, there is a 5% discount plus a complimentary ticket for every 25 prepaid tickets.

Getting There
If you’re bringing a car, there’s ample parking space beside the park, but it costs P40. Check the official website for directions and a map.
If you’re going by public transport, the nearest LRT stop is UN avenue. From there, take a jeep going to Lawton or City Hall and walk from Rizal Park. Better yet, take a cab.

There are lots of food stalls scattered around the place. Along the streets, near the entrance, on the concourse plaza, you name it. First stop is the oceanarium. You can bring your cameras here but flash photography is not allowed. The first part of the oceanarium is called Agos (Flow) which displays freshwater species in an open forest-like backdrop. There’s a Touch Pool where you can encounter the animals on display.

Touch Pool

The first time I went there, they only had starfish in the tank, but the second time, they added small sharks. You can touch and lift the starfish, just make sure you don’t get them out of the water. As for the sharks, it’s not advisable to touch them at all. Next, you will enter Bahura (The Reef) which showcases different colorful fish usually found in coral reefs. They are displayed in aquariums with artificial corals. It’s dark in here so remember not to use your flash or you’ll scare the fish. Laot (Fishing Ground) features fish in large tanks. There are seats in the center so you can also take a quick rest in this area. Walk through a 25-meter underwater tunnel in Buhay na Karagatan (Living Ocean). This is the coolest part of the oceanarium for me since it offers a glimpse of what a diver sees underwater. And it’s just plain fun to be in a tunnel surrounded by water and imagining it breaking while you’re inside. Just kidding. The first time I went there, there were lots of rays in this tank and it was amazing seeing them swim above you. I never knew manta rays moved so gracefully, like ballet dancers, in the water. But it seems that lately, they transferred some of the rays. It would be cool to see more variety and big sea creatures in this tank. After you exit the tunnel, to your right is Ang Kalaliman (The Deep) featuring the barracuda. From here, look up and you’ll see the Overhang Tank containing lots of rays. But from where you’re standing you’ll only see lots of the undersides of rays. Of course, the oceanarium wouldn’t be complete without sharks. That’s what the Pating (Shark) section has to offer. The sharks were still very little, but intriguing all the same. You just have to imagine they were much bigger. I wonder where they’ll keep the sharks when they grow into adults [assuming they can]. They could release them into Manila Bay and create some excitement, Jaws-style. That could make headlines. Good publicity.
On the second floor, you can actually dive into the shark tank and wade in the manta rays’ shallow pool. But I’m not sure the management would approve of that. I don’t know what the sharks and the rays would think, either. Wouldn’t be worth getting wet, would it? On this floor, you also get a nice view of Manila Bay.

Sunset at Manila Bay

There are also some activities you can try for a fee. If you’re feeling tired after journeying through the oceanarium, why don’t you go and soak your feet in the fish spa? For P100, you get to have doctor fish from Turkey feeding on your feet’s dead skin. Sounds ticklish. You can also feed the sharks and the rays if you want from 10 AM to 5 PM. On top of the Buhay na Karagatan section, you can take a glass-bottom boat ride if you want to have a different point of view from the tunnels below. But honestly, I don’t really see the point. Anyway, the boat can accommodate 10 people and the ride lasts for 20 minutes. If you feel like making hermit crabs race, you can do that, too. If you don’t have anything better to do.
The Ozeano fusion restaurant by Steve Tamayo is also on the second level. You don’t have to get tickets to eat here, although you do have to pass through it when leaving the oceanarium. The restaurant offers a buffet meal for P600 per person.
You have to pass through the souvenir shop, too. Of course, they sell the usual overpriced items, so just look around without buying anything. The first marine-themed mall is not yet open to the public, but I could care less. Restaurants and stores? That’s nice. But isn’t Manila already teeming with those?
So, what I’m really looking forward to is the completion of the open water marine habitat where you can go diving or snorkeling without leaving Manila! Now, that’s something new.

Harbor View is just nearby so we went there for dinner. This place has a lot of foreigners. I don’t get why this restaurant appeals to them so much. Each dish we ordered took about one hour to be served. I grow more and more disappointed every time I come here. I tried their special cocktail called Red Tide, which wasn’t all that bad, but it was a little sweet. Still, I wouldn’t say no to another glass [and I didn't].

I’ll update this post as soon as I can get another visit and see what else is new. For more details, visit the park’s official website. View pictures of our visit on flickr.

~ by lisvn on August 4, 2008.