A false killer whale jumps and glides effortlessly in pristine and crystal waters while a short distance away Siberian tigers roam freely in a secured area built within a vast, triple canopy rainforest, all as excited tourists await entry to the eco-tourism escapade being offered in Subic Bay Freeport, Philippines.

Want an experience you'll treasure for a lifetime?  Ocean Adventure, southeast Asia's only open-water marine park, offers tourists a chance to actually swim with dolphins and whales.

This 45-minute experience begins with a short presentation on marine mammals.  Visitors will be provided with a life vest and then hitch a ride with a whale to a floating platform into spacious and natural lagoon.  Into the deep blue water, tourists will be joined by other animals for rides, hugs, and photos.

Not far away from the ocean park is the Zoobic Safari Adventure, which forms part of the 50-hectare "Forest Adventure" being developed inside the world-class Subic Bay Freeport.

The tiger safari is one of the park’s many highlights showcasing more than a dozen of golden-eyed tigers, bred within the facility by the Yupangco Group of Companies.

The petting zoo will allow visitors to have a wonderful time with diverse exotic animals roaming and frolicking in their natural habitat, not to mention the exhilarating sight of colorful birds and others of the Philippines' best animal collections.

Unlike the African safari where travelers and explorers use open Land Rovers, Land Cruisers or minivans, Zoobic Safari offers a unique ride authentically -- Pinoy style  in a "safari jeep" which comes painted in tiger-inspired golden stripes.

"But that's not all Subic is offering to tourists," says Subic Freeport administrator Armand Arreza. "This former U.S. military base which is located about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila, is being considered as Asia's emerging top  tourist destination, not just because of the tax and duty free zone as in Hong Kong or Singapore, but because it has a diverse eco-system from marine resources and lush-Subic forest."

The Subic Bay Protected Area has unique and complex ecosystems and a plethora of flora and fauna species found nowhere else. The three-layered virgin forest of Subic Bay provides home to the world's largest and smallest bats.

The giant flying fox (Acerodon jubatus) weighs up to 2.5 pounds (1.1 kilograms) and measures six feet in wingspan while The Philippine bamboo bat (vespertilionid) measures about four centimeters (1 1/2 inches) in length and has a wingspan of 15 cm.

An educational tour into the rainforest is available, which includes a guided tour of the Jungle Environment Survival Training (JEST) forest trails. During the tour, an Aeta, the local aborigine provides an outdoor orientation on basic mountaineering, fire building, trap making, wildlife identification, and other wilderness survival technique.

The best time to dive is between February and June. Accommodations are plentiful inside the zone and nearby Olongapo City and Barrio Barretto, a popular laid-back tourist retreat.

The Subic Bay area's location on the coast means that fishing boats supply fresh fish and seafood to restaurants daily. As a result, seafood features prominently on local menus. One of the most popular ways to prepare fish and seafood is to grill it… say a yellow-fin tuna or a blue marlin.

Whether its scuba diving, going on a tiger safari or playing with dolphins, Subic Bay Freeport has something to offer everyone.