Grande Island Resort: Top 6 Recommended Water Activities to Do (Subic SBMA Zambales)

So I've shared my top 6 recommended land activities.  Now, for the more exciting part is my top 6 recommended water activities to do at Grande Island Resort.

1. Go Swim

 

You can swim at the Beach until 5pm.  The water is pristine clean.  The sand is a bit stony on the first part but go further towards the rocky edge part where the sand is fine and soft.  I was very happy with their Beach because it was so isolated and private.  The sea water is very salty so you'll easily float away.  Bring goggles if you want to enjoy seeing what's underneath.

For those who have kids like the Korean guests we saw, you can opt for their large Pool which is open even at night.

2. Test Your Teamwork Balance with Banana Boat

Grande Island Resort offers a 5-Seater Banana Boat at the rate of 230 php per round.  Since I'm usually a solitary wanderer, it was my first time to ride a banana boat and boy am I glad to finally try it.  It was tons of fun!  It was fun to ride and bounce around.

photo credits to www.momsworldofartsandhappiness.com

 And, falling from the Banana Boat into the deep blue sea is just as sensational so everyone in the team probably intentionally attempted to make us fall off =p.

Falling Off

Not to worry though since the boatman will jump to the rescue and assist you back to the Banana Boat in every fall.  Just relax,  float away, be patient and enjoy the cool sea water.

3. Go Under the Sea with Helmet Diving

Speedboat to the Helmet Diving Station

Helmet Diving Station

For 1,000 php per head, Grande Island Resort offers a 20-minute Helmet Diving.  We were all enthusiastic first-timers but we all found it easy to do with the effective orientation and assistance by the staff.

Upon reaching the Helmet Diving Station, we were given adequate instructions: a. Underwater sign languages for communication and safety measures b. Ways to equalize the pressure by swallowing, chewing and blowing our nose.  c. How our helmets (36 kilos) can be carried on our shoulders at the seabed (around 1 kilo).

I've tried Snorkeling and fish feeding at Puerto Princesa before but walking underwater with the sand on your feet and be part of the calm and vast under the sea world is a whole new experience.

Some of the fishes were familiar to me as they were the same as the once I saw in Palawan. But, there were lots of new once too like Leopard scaled ones.  Underwater, I was able to see how schools of small fishes based themselves on the ciral reefs.  They were all sorts of starfishes.  I was able to grab and touch a rough and stone-like starfish and a purple smooth one.  By feeding the fishes with bread, we were literally surrounded by fishes that it felt like we were swimming with them.  I was able to hold a stone with a live coral with baby fishes swimming in them.  That was amazing! 

4. Go Turbo on the Jet Ski

photo credits to thepromdiboyadventures.blogspot.com

What made my Grande Island Resort experience epic was the Jet Ski Rental.  We rented their Masalugi (1200 cc) for 30 minutes at the rate of 2,500 php.  My friends took turns riding it.  Since it was my first time, I had a staff rode with me at the back for assistance. 

5. Try Kayaking 

photo credits to thepromdiboyadventures.blogspot.com

Rent a kayak and paddle away.  I've learned that paddling on a calm sea is easier while stronger waves delivers a more rewarding work out on the muscle.

6. Sail Away On a Speed Boat

For 2,500 php, you can sail away in a speedy way via speed boat.  To save time to go back the Subic Terminal, we rode the Speed Boat and had a super fun and windy ride.  I've learned that a calm sea offers a less splashy ride.

These are our Travel Tripsters recommended water activities because these are the only ones we've tried.  There's more water activities to try at Grande Island Resort like Scuba Diving and Snorkeling.

Grande Island Resort
Address	Structure 684, Waterfront Road, Freeport Zone, Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines
Budget Per Person	150-2,000	Grande Island Resort Map
Payment Options	Cash
Operating Hours	Monday to Sunday: (even holidays) 9 am-10 pm
Reservation Required	No (Encouraged)
Contact	(632) 584-4359 | (632) 463-7868 | (6347) 252-2883 |  (63927) 7240999 | (63919) 366-9999 | reservation@grandeislandresort.com | info@grandeislandresort.com

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Grande Island Resort: My Top 6 Recommended Land Activities to Do (Subic SBMA Zambales)

I've shared our accommodation at Grande Island Resort.  Now, I'll be sharing how fun it is to be on an isolated island when there's so much land activities you can do.  Here are the land activities we tried and I recommend them for you too.

1. Ride a Bike

Grande Island Resort offers bicycle rental for 150 php an hour.  We decided to take a bike and explored the area. 

They have safe pathways from the port leading to the very last house.  Biking not only gave us an opportunity to exercise, it also allowed us to go to a greater distance at ease.  We were able to observe that they also had horses while we were biking.

2. Watch the Sun Set Along the Sea Shore

Photo credits to www.lifeofaci.com

Enjoy the fresh sea breeze as you watch the sun set along the sea shore. 

 Watch the sun paint the skies with orange hue.

 

The scenic view by the sea shore, rush of the cool air and the melodious sound of the crashing waves will surely offer you the relaxation that you can't get in the city.

3. Get Educated with the Historical Island Tour 

The Historical Island Tour time schedules are 6 am, 9 am and 3 pm.  The duration is 30 to 1 hour for 250 php per person.

According to Kuya Bert, our tour guide, the 42-hectare Grande Island was first discovered by the Spaniards during the 1600's.  A war between the Spaniards and Americans ended with the latter as the victor.  The Americans built underground power lines and water pipelines from SBMA as the source of electric and water.

Back Beach

We were taken to the undeveloped back beach where we saw picnic tables built by the Americans.  The beach was so beautiful but not safe for swimming as the water is the breeding area for sea creatures such as jellyfish, sea urchins, stingray and sharks.  You can see some of the jellyfish, sea urchins and corals even on the shallow parts.  If you go to the deeper parts, you can find baby stingrays and sharks.

Chiquita Island

Chiquita Island is a nearby island that is part of Grande Island Resort.  It is a 4-hectare island which serve as a bird sanctuary.  They offer nature trekking there too.

Picnic Area Built by the Americans

Battery Flake Tower

As the island is not a warzone but used as a fortress and battery, it has canons and heavy machine guns for anti-air and water ambush and defense.  The Battery Flake Tower still stands and is great for picture taking.

Maid's Quarters

We also saw the Maid's Quarters.

Hospital

The lake used to be their football field.  We're told that the rain forests are home to geckos which go out around 3 pm.

4. Speed Downward Via Zipline 

JA of thepromdiboyadventures.blogspot.com

 Grande Island Resort's 300-meter long and 40-feet high zipline.

Me on the Zipline (photo credits to thepromdiboyadventures.blogspot.com)

The zipline is a good activity that is safe even for kids.  

5. Explore by Horse Back Riding

You can go up the mountains and see more of the island via horse back riding at 500 php per hour.

6. Eat, Drink and Be Merry
 

Orchid Hall A

Orchid Hall B

Food and drinks are not allowed to be brought on the island so I had a heavy breakfast before our 9 am ferry ride.  And yet, after all the biking, swimming, boating and diving, I found myself constantly looking for energy replenishment.  Good thing that Orchid Hall serves food anytime.

Eat By the Pool

You can have food delivered to your room and eat at your comfort by the veranda (additional 20% room service fee) or eat by the Orchid Hall A or B or by the pool (Only 10% SBMA and Service Charge).  Since we wanted to eat and bond as a group, we chose the latter.  The food was reasonably priced as an order is good for 2-3 persons.  Being a group of 10 allowed us to explore to selections.

Sweet & Sour Fish (355 php)

Pork Sinigang (375 php)

Shrimp Sinigang (395 php)

Bulalo (455 php)

Chopsuey (295 php)

For lunch, we  had the Sweet & Sour Fish (355 php), Pork Sinigang (375 php), Shrimp Sinigang (395 php), Bulalo (455 php), Chopsuey (295 php) and Plain Rice (50 php).   For dinner, we had the Sweet & Sour Fish again (Yes, my companions loved this!),Garlic Shrimp (375 php), Beef Broccoli (355 php) (the meat was tough), Pork Sinigang again (This is the best dish as the group raved for this non-stop.  It didn't even reach my end of the table), Pinakbet w/ Bagnet (325 php), Pork Sisig (325 php) and Plain Rice. 

Omelet

For breakfast, we were fortunate to have a breakfast buffet which they serve when guests are 20 or more.  They have an omelet station with three choice of ingredients: cheese, ham and green and red bell peppers. 

They had hot water for coffee and rotating toasted for toasted bread served with jam and butter.

The buffet selection includes: Hot Lugaw with chicken, hard boiled egg and black pepper, Buttered Carrots and String Beans,Tapa, Tocino and Fried Bangus.  It also.includes Orange Juice for drinks.
 

I'd like to thank our server Ver who gave as the best dining experience in terms of service. 

 

You can also buy snacks such as Chippy (50 php) and beer (90 php) for a great bonding time.

So this sums up our Travel Tripsters recommendation.  Enjoy!

Grande Island Resort
Address	Structure 684, Waterfront Road, Freeport Zone, Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines
Budget Per Person	150-2,000	Grande Island Resort Map
Payment Options	Cash
Operating Hours	Monday to Sunday: (even holidays) 9 am-10 pm
Reservation Required	No (Encouraged)
Contact	(632) 584-4359 | (632) 463-7868 | (6347) 252-2883 |  (63927) 7240999 | (63919) 366-9999 | reservation@grandeislandresort.com | info@grandeislandresort.com

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