I swam with the dolphins at the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP)

The title says it all. I had the rarest oppurtunity to swim with the cuddly dolphins at the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine park or more popularly known as MOAP in the town of Sinacaban in Misamis Occidental.

From Ozamis City, Marc, Sinjin and I woke up early in the morning to take a30 minute jeepney ride to Sinacaban. The LOTRADISCO jeepney terminal is located just beside Gaisano Shopping Center. Since it was our first time in the city, we informed the driver even before we left that were bound for MOAP.

when traveling from Ozamis, MOAP is on the right side of the highway. The roaadnetwork is pretty impressive. We never got to experience bumps, or rough roads.

From the highway, it is just a short walk going to the MOAP entrace gate. A minimal entrance fee to the facility is required. Since MOAP is a provincial government property, always ask for the entrance ticket.

Inside the park is a small zoo, and several ponds where they get to breed shrimps and other fishes. But the highlight of going to MOAP is visiting the Dolphin Island. It’s not actually a real island but a facility built in the middle of the sea where the dolphins are located.

Entrance fee to the Dolphin Island is PHP250. The Swim with the Dolphins progam is pegged at PHP50 for 20 minutes. During your close encounter you will be given half kilo of fishes that you can feed to the dolphin.

Photo by Marc

The dolphins really lookso cute from afar, but honestly, I felt scared during the first few minutes of seeing them up front. Their saw-like teeth scared to me death. hello, ikaw kaya magpakain ng isda dun, at ang dami daning ngipin bbuka sa harap mo? Haha but it was really fun.

Then suddenly our guide asked me “You want to touch them?”, “of course, I said. so off w went to the deeper part of the enclosure where larger dolphins swam around me. Ang kulit nila! They were very very playful. From time to time they’d jump out of the water, or would go under water and do some stunts. The guide would then feed them some fish while I get to tounch or embrace their back. Ang laki nila. Mas lakai pa sila sa akin! hahah

Photo by Marc

After my close encounter with the dolphins, we moved to another park where a large sea turtle is swimming freely. We only had a quick photo op from there, then I got to snorkel around whole place.

There were so many giant clams! I have seen so many giant clams in El Nido befopre, But the ones in Sinacaban is probably the biggest I have ever seen. We also got the feed a lot of fish. twas really fun! then there’s one cute evil fish who bit my finger. ahehe

Photo by Marc

then we continued to snorkel some more. We also got to pass by a whole school of fish, or shall I say a batallion of fish? Ang dami talaga nila. And I am just so amazed at how organized they move. Parang nasa National Geographic lang!

All in all it was a very very fun experience. Sayang lang, I wasn’t able to get a Dicapac for my point and shoot digicam. I swear I’d go back here again soon!

Photo by Marc

While I got very excited and rally enjoyed the whole trip, the other half of me is also worried because of the situations of the dolphins. know the animal rights activists do not like parks like these because they all prefer the animals to be in the wild.

I just hope that the dolphins in MOAP won’t be stressed so much. I wonder how these dolphins would react to human encouonters during peak season.When I was there, I was the only gust who was at the enclosure, since it was a weekday.