Nothing fishy in this fish playground

A number of stingrays are huddled on top of us. They quietly look on at the banquet that’s spread before them and the people that have gathered that night. Sharks are watching us, too. They swim by shyly, maybe wondering what all the fuss is about.

They may never really know it, but this night is for them. Yep, sharks, stingrays, and all of their over 20,000 friends are the real guests tonight. We are simply the audience, holding a dinner in their honor. Tonight, we all welcome these marine creatures into their new home, the Manila Ocean Park.

The Manila Ocean Park is the latest in a series of aqua-inspired projects for China Ocean’s Group Ltd. Its marine portfolio includes many other marine-themed ocean parks, such as the Nanjing Underwater World, Tai Ping Yang Underwater World, Qin Huang Dao Xinao Underwater World, and Chong Qing Xinao Underwater World in China, along with the Sahara Star Hotel in India. And with the establishment of its subsidiary China Ocean’s Philippines, Inc., the Manila Ocean Park is set to become a premier marine playground, the biggest of its kind in the country.

An exhibit of vast aquatic beauty, the Manila Ocean Park is now what many marine creatures call home. After all, the Philippine waters comprise a major part of what the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) refers to as the Coral Triangle. Bounded by the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas, the Coral Triangle is reportedly home to as many as 450 coral species not found anywhere else in the world. What this means, too, is that the country is significantly rich in marine life biodiversity. And if you want to see some true marine exotic beauty, all you have to do is pay attention to everything in this park that is swimming by.

Tonight, it feels like I have been swimming by, too. Swept through sections and chambers of rich marine life, I spot various aquatic species filled with color, charm, and intrigue. There are just so many of them, dancing underwater so gracefully. Some are more recognizable than the others. But all can mesmerize.

To any child (and child-at-heart), the place opens up vast possibilities for fun fish discovery. After all, this is a marine playground. And in certain sections of this oceanarium, one can even touch and feed the creatures.

Fact is, there’s a Touch Pool waiting for you right at the Manila Ocean Park’s first section called “Agos.” An exhibit that depicts the natural flow of water from land to sea, the marine creatures found in this rainforest-like zone include a number of species of crabs, along with a giant arapaima, little Velvet Oscar, freshwater high-fin hammerhead shark, Japanese and African catfish, and some piranhas. As soon as you’re done playing with the starfishes, sea cucumber, and a baby dog shark in the touch pool, head right onto the park’s second zone, which features some distinct coral creatures from the reef.

The Bahura or reef zone is where you’ll find a spectacular display of coral reefs. You will also find out that the colorfully playful anemone clownfish likes being around other sea creatures, like the yellow tang, gray tang, lionfish, damsels, and pufferfish. Another special guest in this zone is none other than the king of all king crabs, the enormous Japanese spider crab.

 After swimming through the reef, you’ll find yourself swept into the “Laot” or fishing grounds. See if you can spot the giant grouper swimming here, all 660 pounds of it. Afterwards, catch sight of all the other fishy creatures that are quite familiar to you, including a whole school of yellowtail fusilier.

After a trip throughout the Laot, you will be led into Manila Ocean Park’s most exciting chamber, the “Buhay na Karagatan” or living ocean zone. Here, one can walk through a 25-meter-long acrylic underwater tunnel, which features various marine creatures that live and play together. See if you can get the giant freshwater stingray to swim over your head. If not, maybe the rather shy moray eel will do. There are many other fish and sea creatures here, including the cowfish, triggerfish and parrotfish. 

After that, step into the deep or the “Kalaliman” zone. Here, get up close with various grey sharks, reef sharks, stingrays and barracudas.

Meanwhile, on the second floor activity area, you can view the sharks some more and afterwards, head onto the Fish Spa.

The moment you become hungry after seeing all those edible fish, there’s the Ozeano Restaurant on the second floor that serves dishes made by Tamayo’s Ozeano Philippines, Inc.

More is in store for this fast-developing fish playground. There’s a marine-themed mall rising near this park soon as well as a boutique hotel and restaurant row.

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The Manila Ocean Park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The entrance fee is P400 for adults and P350 for children. Visit Manila Ocean Park at www.manilaoceanpark.com.Fish playground: This 20-foot-long tunnel gives a good glimpse of Manila Ocean Park’s marine playground.