Manila Ocean Park Oceanarium
I’m so excited to be able to share this news with you! As a biologist, I’m thrilled that the Philippines finally has its own oceanarium.
The state-of-the-art Manila Ocean Park had its soft opening last week, on February 29. It’s gorgeous and truly world-class! Let’s take a tour, via Mel & Joey:
The oceanarium is just the first phase of construction which will eventually include a hotel and mall, and open marine habitats. Already, it has the following sections open to visitors:
1. Agos (Flow) - a rainforest motiff complete with 8 tanks of freshwater fishes.
2. Bahura (The Reef) - exihibition of artificial corals in 48 tanks
3. Laot (Fishing Ground) - features big fish and Eagle-spotted rays in a long tank.
4. Kalaliman (The Deep) - showcases marine animals found in the deepest parts of Philippine waters.
5. Buhay na Karagatan (Living Ocean) - the main attraction of the oceanarium is a 25-meter long walkway tunnel with 220-degree curved acrylic walls similarly seen in Ocean Park Hong Kong, Singapore’s Underwater World in Sentosa, Siam’s Ocean World in Bangkok, Thailand and Kuala Lumpur’s Aquaria in Malaysia. The difference between MOP’s is a 220-degree curved tunnel as compared to the standard 180-degree curved tunnels seen in other Asian countries.
6. Overhang Tank - variety of rays fly over while you’re under this unique Overhang Tank.
7. Pating (Shark) - features several species of shark.
Let’s finish the tour with this second segment from Mel & Joey:
Isn’t it great!!? This is a definite must-see in Manila! The Manila Ocean Park is located behind the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park (Luneta).
Check out this information page for entrance fees, operating hours and phone numbers to the Park.
via Wikipedia
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POSTED IN: Places to Visit, Science in the Philippines, Travel and Culture
March 4th, 2008 at 12:42 am
hello maricar, i sent you and grace an email… the email i sent to grace bounced and i don’t know if you received it. I also forwarded the same email to tips@b5media… thanks
March 4th, 2008 at 4:30 am
I heard there were always so many people waiting to enter the park, creating very long lines. Better wait for April or May when the crowd thins, then.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Hi Jepoy,
I got your email, thanks. I’m looking into it now.
Hi Gian, Thanks for the tip. Have you had a chance to see it?
March 4th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
we should all go!
March 5th, 2008 at 2:58 am
Its amazing!!! The CAVA Affiliate plans to tour the Global Village Team from Japan. How can we contact Manila Ocean Park Management for inquiry and booking of visit?
March 5th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
How much is the entrance fee? I’m hoping the less fortunate can afford to take their children to the aquarium?
March 5th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
how much is the ticket
March 5th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
how much is the ticket for entrance
March 6th, 2008 at 1:33 am
pls inform me the schedule of the oceanarium….what time it will be open and closes…..is it open everyday?
March 7th, 2008 at 4:12 am
[…] shares her excitement over the first oceanarium opening in the Philippines, with her post Manila Ocean Park Oceanarium. It’s just in the first stage of construction, but there will eventually be a hotel, […]
March 8th, 2008 at 7:03 am
hi…my family and i were planning to visit the ocean park next week. what would you advise for our preparation?thanks!
March 8th, 2008 at 7:04 am
hi i’m excited to visit the ocean park. my family and i were planning to visit next week.
March 8th, 2008 at 7:38 am
magkano po entrance? and pano pumunta diyan? may way ba diyan pag nag jeep? or fx? san sasakay? if you have a map it would be better tnx! i really want to go with my family or my partner…
March 8th, 2008 at 7:40 am
anu pong oras nag bubukas? and till what time po? wer can we buy the tiket? kailangan pa ba magpareserve?
March 8th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
hello. how much is the entrance fee for student and for regular people?
March 8th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
nga pala wat tym ung bukas and wer kami maka bili ng ticket, para db d n maghanap hahaha sayang oras eh ^^,
March 9th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I haven’t been to the MOP yet as I plan to go visit when things have calmed down a bit …. lesser crowd and HOPEFULLY more courteous staff as what I have read from the post of remzamora in http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2007/11/manilaoceanpark.html.
I too have seen the oceanarium in HK and even the gigantic oceanariums in the U.S. Yes, I agree that the fishes in the Tunnel are small fish as compared to the ones I have seen overseas based from most of the photographs and videos of the MOP online.
However, the one BIG thing that disappoints me and is very noticeable even in the photographs and videos is the design and seascaping of the aquarium interior. I was hoping to see a more natural effect …. one that mimics the naturalness and natural look of the ocean floor. What I mean here is that in the photos, I can clearly see objects that are man-made structures. The drain on the flooring of the aqaurium inside the tunnel is so clearly visible. In some aquariums, I can see man-made, objects like a ship steering wheel inside … I am aware that the designers are trying to add some sort of “seascaping” (as opposed to landscaping) but those man-made decors becomes more of a distraction to the naturalness of the seaquarium instead of enhancing it. I think that the interior designers of the seaquariums should adopt a more natural and more calming look to their seascaping effort.
March 9th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
..uhm, how much poh ung entrance?.. hehe..
March 10th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Magkano po ang entrance fee.may bayad din po ba ang 2 years old pa?wat tym magbubukas at closing time?open po ba saturday at sunday?thank you.
March 10th, 2008 at 2:46 am
Hello,
Just want to know if they open on the easter weekend as I have plan to bring my whole family.
thanks
March 10th, 2008 at 3:35 am
galing po ng management! hindi na po kailangan pumunta sa ibang bansa, meron na tayo dito sa pinas. mas maraming oppurtunity na makapagbigay ng trabaho sa mga pilipino, pwede pong mag apply… hehe
March 10th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
how much the entrance fee?
March 10th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
hi. wow this is really great..additional attraction for our countrty! pero how much naman po ang maintenance nyan!!!
March 11th, 2008 at 1:14 am
magkano po ang entrance fee? open po b ang ocean park s march 18? wat time po pla open at wat time close?
March 11th, 2008 at 2:25 am
akala ko ba it is showcasing Philippines’ marine life? bakit yung isang fresh water specie from South America daw galing?!