NALA with guests at the rail and an ocean sunfish alongside

New Vessel In Oceanside Meet Nala

News · March 26, 2024 · Oceanside, CA

Oceanside Adventures launched NALA, our second whale and dolphin watching boat, in Oceanside Harbor on March 26, 2024. She is a 63-foot, double-deck catamaran, and the art on her hull is by the marine life artist Wyland.

63 ft

Custom double-deck catamaran

118

Passenger capacity

Decks, with a raised viewing deck

360°

Unobstructed views from a stable platform

Built for Us in Florida

Cooper Marine custom built NALA for us in Florida. She is the second boat for our company, which the Hansen family owns and runs from Oceanside Harbor. We started there in July 2015 with a 47-foot custom catamaran, also built by Cooper Marine.

Captain Shane Hansen leads the family operation. He oversaw the new build from 2020 and has run our trips since 2015.

NALA cruising through Oceanside Harbor, seen from above, with the OCEANSIDE letters on the bluff behind — NALA in Oceanside Harbor

A Blue Whale Mother and Calf by Wyland

NALA carries a custom graphic wrap by Wyland, who has worked with the Hansen family for years. It shows a blue whale mother and calf along the hull.

It is the second image Wyland has made for us. In 2019 he designed the humpback whale mother and calf on our first boat, Oceanside Adventures.

Decks, Seating and Views

NALA has covered and open seating, a large galley and a raised deck for viewing. Clear isinglass runs all the way around the deck, and she is a very stable platform with unobstructed, 360-degree views.

The upper deck takes a smaller number of people, with comfortable seating that won’t block anyone’s view. GatorStep flooring on both decks adds comfort and support.

NALA’s upper deck beside the enclosed helm, with bench seating along the rails — The upper deck

The galley counter in NALA’s main cabin, with windows all around — The upper deck

Which Trips Run on NALA?

NALA sails our two-hour whale and dolphin cruises along the Southern California coast all year round, alongside our first catamaran, Oceanside Adventures. She also runs private charters. When she launched, demand for charters had risen sharply as new hotels and properties opened in Oceanside.

We are elated that Oceanside Adventures continues to invest in bringing top-notch visitor experiences to our city. This new vessel is a welcome addition to the harbor and signals continued optimism for Oceanside’s growing tourism industry.
Leslee Gaul, President of Visit Oceanside

Minutes from the Open Sea

The warm waters off Oceanside have sea life all year, including whales, dolphins, harbor seals and California sea lions, and thousands of whales migrate through the area each year. Our dock in Oceanside Harbor is minutes from the open sea, so we reach the viewing area fast.

Worth the Wait

At the launch, Shane Hansen said he was eager to introduce NALA to the Oceanside community and to the thousands of visitors who already love our trips, and that she had been worth the wait.

It was always our intention to launch a larger vessel as we knew the demand was there. Thank you to the City of Oceanside who has been a wonderful partner to work with.
Mike Hansen, Shane’s father, and Donna Kalez, Shane’s aunt

All Oceanside Adventures captains are US Coast Guard licensed and American Cetacean Society Certified Naturalists, and they narrate each trip.

Book a Cruise on NALA

Our two-hour whale and dolphin cruise leaves from Oceanside Harbor on NALA or Oceanside Adventures. Read what a cruise aboard NALA is like, see all our Oceanside boat tours and cruises, or compare both of our boats.