National Geographic Sea Lion

Before they built the National Geographic Venture and National Geographic Quest, U.S. shipbuilder Nichols Brothers built the twin ships National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Sea Bird. Nimble, reliable, and intimately scaled, they both continue to sail the waters of the west coast of North America and Central America.

A U.S.-flagged vessel, she and her sister, National Geographic Sea Bird, discover domestic waters.

National Geographic Sea Lion and her sister ship, National Geographic Sea Bird, sail the waters of the west coast of North America and Central America.

With a shallow draft and small size, she can easily reach places inaccessible to larger ships. She can venture into fast-moving channels where whales come to feed, transit a series of locks in the Pacific Northwest, nose up to waterfalls in secluded coves, and sail into protected anchorages in small bays perfect for snorkeling and kayaking.

National Geographic writer Andrew Evans called National Geographic Sea Lion the “closest thing to Cousteau’s Calypso” he’s ever had the pleasure to be on.