Emily Mall

Growing up in Michigan, Emily spent her summers swimming in freshwater lakes but always imagined a saltier future. That path eventually led her to Florida, where she worked for a nonprofit organization teaching children how to snorkel and educating the public about marine conservation. She also organized community beach cleanups, and picking up trash remains one of her favorite pastimes.

It was in Key West that Emily first began working aboard sailboats, launching a maritime career that continues today. Drawn north by an interest in marine mammals and Alaska's coastal ecosystems, she later moved to Alaska to work as a naturalist and deckhand on whale-watching vessels. While building sea time toward her captain's license, she joined National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions as a deckhand before becoming a National Geographic Certified Field Educator and Naturalist/Expedition Diver.

Emily enjoys helping travelers better understand the marine environment and has spent years following whales throughout their feeding grounds in Alaska and Antarctica. Her work combines marine education, field experience and a longstanding interest in ocean conservation.

Continuing her commitment to marine science, Emily is currently pursuing a master's degree in Marine and Antarctic Sciences in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. She remains involved in conservation efforts and encourages practical actions that support healthy oceans, whether through beach cleanups, citizen science projects or broader environmental initiatives.