Description of the attraction
Subic Bay, located on the island of Luzon, has always attracted attention as a prime location for military bases. In 1885, the first military base was built here by the Spaniards. However, after a couple of years, control of the Philippines passed to the Americans, and they took this place. During World War II, the Japanese were able to capture Subic Bay, but immediately after it ended, the Americans returned and rebuilt the largest military base outside the United States on the shores of the Gulf. It wasn't until 1992 that the Philippine government decided to close American bases throughout the country, and the Stars and Stripes flag was lowered over Subic Bay. Today, the bay primarily attracts divers from all over the world, who come here in search of sunken ships from the American-Spanish War and World War II. You can get to the bay from Manila - the road will take from 2, 5 to 3, 5 hours.
Among the most popular dive sites in the bay are the remains of the Japanese merchant ship Oreku Maru, known as the Hell's Ship. The vessel was converted to transport prisoners of war and workers, exported by the Japanese from the occupied territories. In 1944, it was flooded by the Americans - there were more than 1.5 thousand people on board. After the war, US military divers blew up the ship for safety of navigation.
Another interesting ship resting at the bottom of Subic Bay is the cruiser New York, built in 1891. Over the years, he took part in the Chinese Revolution, the Philippine-American and the First World Wars. Since the late 1930s, the cruiser stood in the bay, but with the outbreak of World War II, it was sunk by the Americans, who feared that the ship's guns might fall into the hands of the Japanese. Today, colonies of grouper, lobster, lionfish and barracuda can be seen aboard the New York.
Another popular dive site is the El Capitan ship, whose bow is only 5 meters deep. And the oldest ship sunk in the waters of the Gulf is the Spanish gunboat San Quintin - it was sent to the bottom in 1898 by the Spaniards themselves, who thus tried to close the passage between the islands of the Gulf for American warships. In addition to the ships, the remains of the F-4 Phantom jet can be seen in Subic Bay. And, of course, you shouldn't pass, or rather swim, past coral reefs - they are especially good near Grande Island and in Triboa Bay.
Residents of Manila love to come to rest on the shores of Subic Bay - in addition to diving, here you can simply soak up the sandy beaches, visit an underwater aquarium, go on a tour of the mangrove forests or walk through the numerous duty-free shopping centers. Wildlife lovers will also have something to do in Subic Bay - among the animals living here, you can find the smallest Filipino bat - the bamboo and golden-headed flying fox, giant fruit bat and wild boars, rare species of Asian monkeys and about 300 species of birds!
