Dolphin watching and Sea lion encounter at Ocean Adventure, Subic Bay

Are you looking for an outstanding performance of trained dolphins, whales, sea lions and a lot more kinds of animals? Well, you only need o take a 2-3 hour ride from Manila to Olongapo. 

I hope my visit to Ocean Adventure in Subic Bay Freeport Zone can help you choose your next most affordable getaway for the whole family especially those who have small kids in tow. I am very confident that they will be very much delighted by the extraordinary tricks they will see. Take note, this is not just - another - animal - show because the founders of this as described  in their official website are leaders in animal care and welfare, true environmentalists and conservationists. Their show is not designed entirely to delight the audience but also to remind everyone to take part in the conservation of our ocean, forest and the environment we live in. 

When it comes to the location, again borrowing their very own words, Ocean Adventure is nestled between the blue waters and a  triple canopy forest. How is that for a home to different species with spectacular talents?  The Ocean Adventure is a half - day performance divided into 4 segments: Dolphin Friends, Walk in the Wild Side, Balancing Act with the African Acrobats and the Sea lion Marine Patrol. 

Once you get inside, make sure to keep the show schedule printed in a piece of paper that will be handed over to you. Please do not lose it because it will tell you the order, time and duration of each show. Since the part is quite big, the map of the place is very useful. You will save a lot of time from asking where is the next one.

Let me now give you a glimpse of what's going on here:

1. Dolphin Friends

Three kinds of dolphins (bottlenose, rough - toothed and pantropical spotted) and a whale (false killer) will showcase their incredible talents. They will dance, do some tricks, create sounds, flip in the water at an eye blink and toss their trainers up the air at the speed of the wine coming out from the glass after the cork has been opened up for the first time etc.

2. Walk in the Wild Side

The bear cat, giant fruit bat, grass owl, palm civet, sea eagle, reticulated python are animals that have become quite rare nowadays. Their kinds are not the usual ones being domesticated in a typical Filipino home but in this show, they will prove that they can.

You will also learn how the Aetas survive in the thick forest and be able to make fire using just the stone and bamboo only, cook food etc.

3. Balancing Act with the African Acrobats 

This is the only segment that showcases human participation.  A group of African acrobats will fascinate you by showing their very agile body moves,  those you see in a circus play. Then another dancing performance will follow bearing a message of conservation to our environment.

4. Sea lion Marine Patrol

I find sea lions literally ugly but after the show, I realized that they are one of the most intelligent and entertaining animals I have ever seen there.  This also reminded myself that you really cannot judge anyone or anything by the outside appearance. NUNCA... I enjoyed watching one lucky participant who was able to shake the flipper, get a kiss and a hug from one of the sea lions out there.

There's a lot more that Ocean Adventure can offer aside from the ones I narrated above for the young at hearts. You can swim with the dolphins or have your family (6 persons maximum) to enjoy an exclusive dolphin encounter in the shallow water.  For certified divers, they can go deeper and activities and feed blacktip reef sharks, jack fish, sea turtles and an array of reef fishes. The best of all is to join their animal training team for half a day of fun.

And oh I and my sister Issa loved taking photos in front of the aquarium filled with a lot of fish and squids. Our reflections show and we loved it.

The Ocean Adventure address is Camayan Wharf, West Ilanin Forest Area, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo City,  Zambales 2200 For more details you may visit their official website here.