Did you ever wonder what it was like to be a mermaid, to be Arielle (of the famed Disney movie The Little Mermaid), and be surrounded by sea creatures while playing with best friends Flounder and Sebastian?

To answer that question, you need not go far. Your curiosity or nose for adventure should lead you to an oceanarium, to be specific, the Manila Ocean Park, located at the heart of Manila and be transported into a magical aquatic world, a place where sea creatures, big and small, live harmoniously.

The journey begins in Agos where guests are made to enter a rainforest inhabited by various flora and fauna. Walking through the forest, you will see a waterfall flowing into eight different water tanks. Each tank is inhabited by an aquatic animal such as the Philippine crocodile, red pacu, alligator, red tail catfish, Indonesian tigerfish, silver arowana, and archer fish, among others.

The rocky shoreline, showcased in a Touch Pool, will enable visitors to physically encounter sea animals such as starfishes, sea cucumber, blue-spotted string-ray, and other small fish species.

Inside the Bahura, be fascinated with the multiple hues and diverse marine life set up in 46 tanks which give an exact image of the pristine coral reefs which the Philippines is known for. Each tank resembles an underwater garden where different fish species and other marine animals subsist.

Here, you can meet new friends such as Nemo the Clownfish and Doris the Regal Tang as well as other aquatic animals such as Moorish Idol, lobsters, crabs, tetras, and cichlids, among others.

Four gigantic aquariums where spotted Eagle rays dwell characterize the Laot. The impressive exhibits are definitely a sight to behold as one gazes at the corals and the “sunken ships” where the schools of various big fishes swim around.

Further down, at the heart of the oceanarium, is the Buhay na Karagatan, a breathtaking 25-meter underwater tunnel where marine animals interact with each other in their natural habitat.

This attraction provides a close encounter with the rich underwater world, with a 220-degree curved acrylic wall that separates the marine world from humans. One can see stingrays gracefully sliding in the deep, sharks cutting through the water, invertebrates, and schools of fish in various hues and sizes.

The “Tiger of the Sea” barracuda, resides in Ang Kalaliman, along with other deep sea creatures such as sharks.

In Pagi, be mesmerized as a variety of rays “fly” over. Walk beneath the overhang tunnel and marvel at the rays as they swim and interact with each other. Among the ray species that are housed in the overhang tunnel include the Atlantic stingray, thorntail stingray, Southern stingray, bull ray, freshwater whipray, and so on.

Come face-to-face with the most popular predators of the sea, the sharks, in Pating. Several species of sharks such as nurse sharks, mackerel sharks, and mako sharks live in the huge aquarium.

To get closer to the sea creatures, head on to the second floor and ride a glass bottom boat that sails over the Buhay na Karagatan and marvel at the fish species swimming right under your feet.

The journey is not complete without knowing the wonders of the doctor fishes in Park Fish Spa. Dip your feet at a small pool and let the small fishes nibble away the affected and dead areas of the skin, leaving the skin smoother and softer.

The fish spa started in 1917 when a shepherd who was wounded dipped his leg into the water where a school of doctor fish lives. The little fishes nibbled away at the dead skin from the wound. Soon, the wound healed. Although fish spa makes no medical claims, the nibbling massage makes one relaxed and rejuvenated.

After a relaxing massage, explore the rest of Manila Ocean Park. A water marine habitat allows guests to go snorkeling and diving in the outdoor swimming pool with diving facilities. There is also a marine-themed boutique mall which boasts of over 25 restaurants where customers can dine al fresco while watching the sunset at Manila Bay, and a marine-themed hotel. All these are located in one complex at the back of the Quirino Grandstand, near the historical Manila Hotel.