Adventure like no other at Subic Bay's unique marine park

They could have located in Hawaii or another part of the globe.

But this unique group of investors chose to put up this one-of-a-kind facility in Subic Bay, Philippines. They never regreted the decision.

More than 200,000 visitors, mostly Filipinos, have so far visited Ocean Adventure — Southeast Asia’s first and only open water marine park — since it was opened in October of last year, and the number keeps growing by the day.

Built at a cost of $7.5 million, Ocean Adventure allows visitors to watch and interact with false killer whales in their natural environment. And very soon, dolphins will be included in its prime attractions.

Ocean Adventure president and chief operating officer John Corcoran has definitely fell in love with the Philippines. After his vast experience with Disney USA and as CEO of Ocean Park in Hong Kong, John has now made Ocean Adventure his life.

"I love the business. The Philippines reminds me of a cross between the Caribbean and Hawaii. The Philippines is blessed with one of the richest biodiversity and we wanted to help Filipinos learn to appreciate this gift through our own little way," Corcoran said.

The environment

Aside from the whale and sea lion shows, the discovery aquariums which feature Subic’s marine life, the whale encounter program, and diving with the whales, Ocean Adventure is also involved in protecting the environment and educating the people to take and active role in nature preservation.

Ocean Adventure’s aquarium department initiated just last April the sea turtle nest protection program which specifically serves to protect sea turtle eggs on the beaches in Subic Bay until the time that they hatch and the tiny turtles head for the sea. This program runs concurrently with the sea turtle rehabilitation and coastal watch programs where coastal residents are encouraged not to collect and sell eggs on a ‘nature for reward’ basis. Essentially, villagers are rewarded in cash for reporting nesting events and for protecting the eggs.

The group is also doing giant clam reseeding program, coral reef propagation, and is involved in the marine mammal stranding network. About 10 percent of the staff’s time is set aside for participation in community development and conservation projects.

But Ocean Adventure’s genuine concern for the environment is more reflected in the way it does its business. Instead of a man-made pool, the project proponents opted to take care of the whales and sea lions in their natural environment.

The director for marine mammal animal care program of Ocean Adventure has had extensive experience in this area, an Australia who came from Sea World in Australia. A New Zealander is director for the aquarium. "We take stewardship of these animals very seriously," Corcoran emphasizes.

Even in their whale and sea lion shows, Ocean Adventure educates the viewers about the importance of caring for the environment in the smallest way — by not throwing trash into the sea, by recycling.

Things to come

Just recently, Ocean Adventure launched the Adventurer’s Club, which, for a minimal fee of P1,500, would entitle members to unlimited park visits for a year and discounts on food and on park attractions.

It now also has the dive with the whales program, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure taking place in the open water lagoon where one is able to interact with four false killer whales (totally harmless) for 30 minutes — touch them, swim with them, and play with them (Pounder, Hook, and Coral who are all female and Tonka who is the only male in the group).

But there is more good news. Last June 14, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) board awarded to the group a 75-year lease for all the shoreline and water of the entire Ilanin Bay.

The opportunity arose when SBMA had problems operating Miracle Beach. SBMA chairman Felicito Payumo, recognizing Ocean Adventure’s importance to tourism in Subic Bay, offered Miracle Beach to Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium.

With the group taking over Miracle Beach, it effectively increases their total leased area from 13 acres (for Ocean Adventure) to 27 acres.

Miracle Beach will be renovated and will soon feature 48 overnight dwelling units, an open air sea front restaurant, comfort room and shower facilities to accommodate 900 people per day, beach cabanas and shade structures as well as lifeguard stands, and a sewage treatment plant that will service both Ocean Adventure and the beach resort.

According to the group chairman Tim Desmond, the creation of a Miracle Beach resort transforms the economic potential of the project. "We gain complete control of the surrounding bay. It makes us attractive to major investors who wish to develop adjoining resort sites in the area. It gives us a high degree of control over the environmental management of the area," he said.