Dolphin!!!!
We had planned to do so many things during this trip like exploring the Hundred Islands, make a trip to Baguio, Ocean Adventure, and go to the beach for a day or two while enjoying some of my uncle’s cooking. Uncle is an amazing cook and one of my all-time favorites especially when it involves the beach is tuna cooked in charcoal, buried under the sand while we enjoy our day. I told Lily about this, so she was under the impression that we would be looking for buried food everywhere. In fact, the last thing she said the night before our trip, and the first thing when she woke up the next day was,” We are going to find buried food on the beach!”
Unfortunately, the weather was so bad that we were not able to experience finding the buried food or even go to the beach. We were, however, able to experience some new and amazing things together that was a pleasant surprise for us. We got to touch and feed a Dolphin!!!! As a desperate bid to do something besides stay cooped up in the house for the rest of our trip, we went on a ride through town, and the old Navy base trying to find something to do.
During this drive, we saw bats hanging off some trees looking like black fruit ready to fall. We saw horses grazing by the side of the road, and waterfalls in some unexpected places. Lastly, we stopped at a place called Ocean Adventure in Subic Bay which Paul, our family friend, recommended we take the kids to. I am glad that we did!
We were some of the first people to get to this place so it wasn’t overly crowded. There were seven of us all together which included two cousins and my Uncle. Admission, food, snacks, dolphin encounter for myself and my kids, plus pictures with a sea lion and a dolphin costs roughly $200! We all enjoyed our time here, and we would gladly come back to experience it again.
There are three different packages to encounter the dolphins. I chose the cheapest, and most convenient (bad planning on my side) due to the weather. It was raining heavily so I did not think that we would have any encounters with the dolphins in the first place. The encounter we chose allowed us to sit on the dock by the dolphin pens where we could feed, touch, and take pictures with a dolphin.
No cameras are allowed here so that if you want to receive any pictures you must purchase them from the shop. Not bad really considering 20 pictures with a possible once-in-a-lifetime experience with a dolphin costs roughly $12. Another encounter with the dolphins was to sit in the shallow water, and a dolphin would come up and be right next to you for a period of time so that you could touch it, as well as take pictures with it. The last encounter with the dolphin would be to spend some time swimming with it.
Yes, you read that right. Swim with the dolphin. There was a package for a family of 4 which would cost 10,000 pesos for this experience which at the exchange rate of 46.50 pesos, was roughly $215. Just so you know, the admission was separate from any animal encounters. The price to have a dolphin come to the shore was 2,500/person.
These dolphins are all rescue animals harmed by the dynamite fishing still practiced in some areas. Some of the dolphins were heavily, physically scarred, while others were rendered permanently deaf. Still, these creatures are so beautiful, graceful, and gentle in their movements. The show that they put on for us alongside their trainers was one of the most amazing I have seen. The choreography, acrobatics, and music all came together to make a show that would be very hard to forget!
Sea Lions!!!!
We really only stayed for two shows at the Ocean Adventure park, but we were very happy with these new experiences. The last show that we watched was the Sea Lion show. This show was about a competition between one of the Sea Lions and a volunteer from the audience. I have to say this was incredibly funny. There were three tasks that each had to perform.
The first was to see who could spin the most, the second was to roll, and the last was to slide across the stage and stop at the edge and perform a handstand. Well, the volunteer wound up falling into the water and being helped out. He was a great sport though and was told to go to the gift store and get a new shirt, pants, and pair of shoes.
Before we left there was an individual walking around with a camera asking if anyone wanted to take pictures with the sea lions. We already had a picture with a dolphin, so I just had to add a picture with the Sea Lion too! Lily was pretty scared to get close to the sea lion because he was so big but she did it. We got to have three different poses with it. The most surprising for me was the one where I got a kiss from this animal! I tell you the whiskers were extremely bristly, and having his face pressed to mine was unnerving, but I would take another picture with him anytime!
http://www.oceanadventure.com.ph/
Mary H
About Ocean Adventure Subic Bay
Ocean Adventure is a marine theme park located in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, on the western coast of Luzon in the Philippines. It sits within the former U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, which gives the whole area an unusual character — wide roads, a mix of old military infrastructure, and natural jungle that has reclaimed much of the land since the base closed in 1992. The park focuses on marine mammal conservation and education, and all of its dolphins and sea lions are rescued animals, many of them injured by the illegal dynamite fishing still practiced in some parts of the Philippines.
Admission, animal encounters, and shows are all priced separately, which can make budgeting confusing if you are not prepared. For our group of seven, including the dolphin encounter for myself and the kids and a photo with the sea lion, the total came to roughly $200 USD. Considering what we got — a dolphin feed and touch session, the sea lion photo, and two full shows — that felt very fair. The dolphin swimming package at 10,000 pesos for a family of four (roughly $215 at the time) is the premium experience and worth saving up for if it is in your budget.
The Dolphin Shows: What to Expect
The main dolphin performance at Ocean Adventure is legitimately impressive. These are well-trained, well-cared-for animals, and the choreography between trainers and dolphins is tight and joyful to watch. The acrobatics — synchronized leaps, tail walks, and spiraling dives — are accompanied by music that builds the energy in the outdoor amphitheater. The show is educational as well, with the trainers incorporating information about dolphin communication and behavior into the performance.
What surprised us most was how different the private encounter was from the public show. During our dock-side session, a trainer brought one of the dolphins to us individually and we were able to feed it, touch the smooth firm skin along its side, and get photos. Up close, these animals are enormous — bottlenose dolphins are far bigger than most people expect — and the way they look at you with what genuinely seems like curiosity is something no aquarium tank visit through glass can replicate.
Subic Bay: What Else Is There to Do
We did not have enough time to explore Subic Bay properly on this trip, but the area has a surprising amount to offer beyond Ocean Adventure. The former naval base has a large nature area with zip-lining and jungle trekking. Camayan Beach, a private resort about 20 minutes from the main freeport zone, is excellent for a beach day. The Triboa Bay Marine Sanctuary offers snorkeling in clear water over a protected reef.
If you are visiting from Angeles City or Manila, Subic Bay is about a 2 to 2.5 hour drive. The roads are significantly better than most of the Philippines, a legacy of the American base infrastructure. The Subic Bay Freeport Zone is a separate administrative area with its own entry point but no additional fees for visitors — you just drive through the gate. The whole area has a relaxed, slightly retro atmosphere that is very different from the energy of Manila.
Practical Tips for Visiting Ocean Adventure
- Book encounters in advance. Dolphin swim packages in particular have limited slots per day. Walk-in availability is not guaranteed on busy weekends or holidays.
- Arrive early. We were among the first visitors and the park was peaceful. By mid-morning it was significantly busier and the encounter wait times had grown.
- No outside cameras during encounters. The park sells photos of your encounter session, and while the policy can feel frustrating, the photos we received were actually very good quality. Budget for them.
- Bring sunscreen and light clothing. The park is largely open-air. Subic Bay has a tropical climate and the midday sun is intense.
- The sea lion photo is worth it. We nearly skipped it to save money. Do not. The whiskers are surprisingly bristly and the expression on Lily’s face when the sea lion turned toward her is one of our favorite photos from the entire Philippines trip.
Final Thoughts: Was Ocean Adventure Worth It?
Absolutely yes. The original plan for the Philippines trip was beaches, buried tuna, and family time at my uncle’s place. The weather took that plan apart. Finding Ocean Adventure as a pivot was one of those happy accidents that happens when you travel with flexibility and no fixed expectations. Touching a dolphin, getting kissed by a sea lion, watching my daughter overcame her fear just long enough to hold still for the photo — that is what we have from that day, and it is considerably more interesting than a sunburn.
If you are in the Philippines and anywhere near Subic Bay, Ocean Adventure is worth the detour. The rescued animal focus makes it one of the more ethically sound marine park experiences in Southeast Asia, and the quality of the shows and encounters is high by any standard. Budget about four hours for the full experience and book your dolphin encounter slot in advance.
The Subic Bay Freeport Zone has an interesting energy that is different from anywhere else in the Philippines. The former US Navy base infrastructure means wide roads, lower traffic density than most Filipino cities, and an unusual mixture of American-era buildings and tropical jungle. Monkeys live in the forest sections of the base and you will see them on the side of the road if you drive through the nature area. The whole zone feels like it is still figuring out what it wants to be, which gives it a slightly Wild West quality that we found charming.
For families visiting from Manila or Angeles City, Subic Bay makes a logical multi-day trip: Ocean Adventure for one day, a beach day at Camayan or another resort beach, and a morning at the nature park for zip-lining or trekking. If you have even more time, the Hundred Islands National Park is a few hours further north by road and is one of the most beautiful natural areas in the Philippines. We wanted to go and the weather said no. It remains on the list.
A trip that lost its original plan to rain and ended with dolphin kisses and sea lion whiskers pressed against our faces is exactly the kind of trip this family runs on. Ocean Adventure, Subic Bay — fully recommended. Go with an open budget for encounters, book your dolphin slot in advance, and arrive ready to be surprised by how much you feel from spending an afternoon with rescued marine animals.
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