Subic is a seaside area on the west side of Luzon Island in Zambales Province in the Subic Bay region. Subic Bay is a former US naval base that was converted into a beach town in the greater proximity of Manila. The main industry is the free port and the airport which is used by transport companies.
This guide covers an area known as the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone which is commonly known as Subic or Subic Bay. The relatively developed portions of the Subic area are referred to as the Subic Freeport Zone, although the whole Subic economic zone covers portions of Bataan and Zambales provinces; specifically the city of Olongapo and the town of Subic in Zambales and the towns of Hermosa and Morong in Bataan. Olongapo, often associated with this area, is covered separately. Portions of Subic town in Zambales outside the Subic Freeport Zone is likewise not covered in this guide.
The area's history began as a shipbuilding facility by the Spaniards in 1885. After Spain handed over the Philippines to the United States at the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, Subic became a major naval outpost which existed until 1991. Volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Pinatubo also affected many buildings and facilities inside the naval facility while the American forces started to leave. Since the United States forces left, it was converted into a mixed-use area with industrial and retail zones.
Public transportation methods such as jeepneys and motorized tricycles plying in areas around the Subic Freeport Zone (SFZ) such as in downtown Olongapo, are not allowed to go inside the SFZ.
From Manila, Subic is connected by expressway, the Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEx, formerly Subic-Tipo Expressway); it connects with the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) onward from Pampanga.
From Bataan, you can enter from Morong, which is connected through a winding road that passes near the airport.
Vehicles entering Subic Freeport are subject to inspection at entry points. Traffic enforcement is stricter. Being a former U.S. Navy base, there are many three- or four-way stops and center two-way left-turn lanes that are otherwise rare or unusual in the Philippines. Signage is otherwise the same as in most of the Philippines, with speed limits at kilometers per hour on red circles and red triangles with a symbol for warnings.
The tourism office for the area calls Subic Bay the "Pearl of the Orient" and much like a pearl inside an oyster, its true value is hidden unless you know where to look.
Subic Bay offers some of the world's best shipwrecks, all within recreational diving depths, as well as tranquil coral and artificial reefs that explode with marine life. Unlike Coron, and other wreck diving locations, where you ride for hours to get to a wreck site, the majority of Subic Bay dive sites are a quick 15 minutes trip from the dive centres.
The bay is a unique "wreck heaven" because its sheltered waters allow calm year-round diving (except in the strongest typhoons), with short duration transits to the dive sites and a fantastic collection of exceptionally well-preserved historical wrecks.
Just how many wrecks are there in Subic Bay? That is a difficult question. Unlike Coron or Truk, whose wrecks occurred over a relatively short period, Subic’s World War II wrecks covered almost the entire war period. No fewer than 25 Japanese ships were reported sunk during the war years. Some of these may have been removed in the late 1950s as salvage operations were conducted to open up the bay for shipping. Additional ships were sunk after the war either as targets or victims of mother nature. It is widely believed that an additional ten large ships may lie within the bay. The area is not limited to World War II wrecks. At the entrance to the bay alongside Grande Island are the remains of the Spanish–American War wreck, San Quintin. Outside the bay in deep water lie the remains of a Spanish galleon as well as a 16th-century Chinese junk (beyond diving range).
The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 did an enormous amount of damage to Luzon and the Zambales/Subic Bay area was hard hit. A meter of ash covered the area, including homes and businesses. Within days, a typhoon entered the area, turning the ash into mud. Many homes and businesses collapsed under the weight. One resident stated that the river looked just like the cement coming out of a cement mixer. A large percentage of coral was killed lying under the ash.
When the navy occupied the naval base at Subic, many of the wrecks were closed to diving. However, divers had the advantage of diving in water that was crystal clear with 40 m or more of visibility on the wrecks that were open. The bay was the home of different varieties of sharks, dolphins, and turtles. While a few turtles still nest on the beaches, sharks and dolphins are no longer here. The visibility is returning slowly and the coral is recovering. Perhaps the turtles, sharks and dolphins will return in abundance also, but this is not likely. Populatios of turtle, rays and sharks just outside the bay seem to be on the rise.
There have been increasingly more common sightings of bull sharks around the deeper wreck sites, along with Eagle Ray around the USS New York, LST, and El Capitan, and black tip reef sharks around the outside of Grande Island.
Underwater photographers have been reporting success with macro critters, such as harlequin ghost pipe fish and many species of nudibranch.
There are more than ten full-time dive operators in the bay area. These dive operators serve a variety of scuba training agencies, including PADI, SSI, ANDI, PSAI, BSAC and DSAT. They provide a collection of entry-level and specialist scuba training courses, including (of course!) basic and advanced/technical wreck diver training.
All Hands Beach Subic, All Hands Beach, San Bernardino Rd, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, +63 47 250-2270. Air-conditioned beachfront rooms and cottages. Bamboo huts, function rooms and pavilions are also available for family, business or special events.
Arizona International Hotel, 47 National Hwy, +63 47 224 4557. Minutes away from Subic. From
Bayfront Hotel, Blk. 19 Lot 1 Moonbay, Marina Waterfront Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, +63 47 252-3148-49, bayfront@subictel.com. Mediterranean-inspired hotel with villa set-up. Clean, comfortable accommodations. From USD51
Casablanca Hotel Subic, Lot 14 Agronaut Hwy, Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Fully furnished condo-hotel that has a pool side bar, Jacuzzi, and restaurant that serves international cuisine.
Court Meridian Hotel, Waterfront Road, SBMA, +63 47 252-2366. Air-con rooms equipped with cable TV, private toilet and bath with hot and cold running water. Business center, jet ski, bar, and restaurant. From USD72
Elmolina Beach Resort, 135 National Hwy, Barrio Barretto. Budget beachfront accommodation. Kayaking, banana boating, snorkeling, and jet skiing.
Grand Hoyah Hotel, Lot Nos 5B and 6, Block B, Manila Ave, Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. In the central business district of Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Deluxe accommodation.
Hotel Interpark, Bldg 663 Dewey Ave Corner Santa Rita Rd, Subic Bay Freeport Zone (1 block from Waterfront Rd and Oriental Paradise Casino). Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
Lighthouse Marina Resort, Moonbay Marina Complex Waterfront Rd, CBD Subic Bay Freeport Zone, +63 2 8711 0019. Three-floor, 34-room boutique hotel capped by a lighthouse.
The Pub Hotel Subic, National Hwy, Barrio Barretto. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. Amid the nightlife district of Barretto. Seconds walk away from beachfront restaurants and bars as well as the famous go-go bars of Subic.
RK Hotel, SBIP Phase 1 Commercial Complex, Subic Bay Gateway Park Rizal Hwy. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. The hotel has 64 well-appointed rooms, private KTV rooms, a sports bar, swimming pool, conference and meeting facilities and its own Oriental spa. The hotel is near duty free shops, spas, and restaurants that serve international cuisine.
Subic International Hotel, +63 47 252-22-22. Labitan and Sta Rita Roads, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, This hotel used to be naval barracks. From
Subic Oceanview Hotel, 202 Purok 6, National Hwy, Calapandayan. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. All the guest rooms are equipped with a work area.
Subic Park Hotel, Moonbay Marina, Waterfront Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, +63 47 252-2092, +63 47 252-2093, +63 47 250-2039. 30 comfortable rooms offer views of the bay and the forested mountains surrounding it. From USD33
Terrace Hotel, Blk 1 Lot 2 & 3 Moonbay Marina, Waterfront Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, +63 47 250-2730. Rooms equipped with TV with cable channels, coffee/tea maker and mini-bar. It also has a business center, rooftop patio, and swimming pool.
Vista Marina Hotel and Resort Subic, Waterfront Road, Block 3 Lot 2, Moonbay Marina Area, Subic Bay Freeport Zone. A Mediterranean-inspired hotel on the beach.
Olongapo, geographically in Zambales, but is politically Independent of it, is just to the north. Part of Subic Freeport lies under its jurisdiction; the rest, including the airport, belongs to Subic also in Zambales, and Hermosa and Morong in the province of Bataan. As like with entering, vehicles leaving Subic are subject to exit inspections.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division