329 indexed
Nautical Tattoos
Nauticaltattoo work from artists across the TattooNOW network. Each image links to the artist’s portfolio.
About Nautical Tattoos
Nautical tattoos are woven into the origins of Western tattooing, born from seafaring sailors — anchors, ships, compasses, swallows and lighthouses, steeped in maritime tradition and superstition.
- Each symbol carries sailor lore: anchor (stability), swallow (returning home), compass (guidance)
- Ships represent life's journey; lighthouses, guidance through dark times
- Most at home in bold old-school traditional, built for it; also great in B&G realism
- For traditional pieces, look for confident outlines and solid color that will age well
- Flexible in scale — a small anchor on the forearm, or a full ship across the back
Last updated June 2026
Japanese waves and clouds half sleeve in progress
Jasons cover up
Compass
Posiedon
Outdoor, camping, landscape, lake and sunset full sleeve tattoo by Haylo
Anna Mia Jelly Fish
Straw Hat Pirate Ship
Finger Wave Sock
untitled
Black-and-grey pirate ship sleeve, forearm
Family Crest Arm Tattoo
rose cover up
Wave
Nautical Bonsai Sleeve
Seahorse girl
Anchor
Black and Grey Clock
realistic color octopus tattoo sleeve
realistic color puffer fish and octopus tattoo
From Canvas to Skin
Cover Up Pirate Ship, color, neo traditional boat, art nouveau filigree
Close Up Skull & Skeleton, blood, flowers, neotraditional art nouveau, color, leg
Black and Grey sun Skull Snake Art Nouveau Neotrad Yorick Tattoo
Japanese Water Dragon Full Back
Skelly Mermaid
Calypso Sleeve
Elephant
Aquatic Skull
Koi
Black-and-grey map and compass half-sleeve
Troubled Waters (Fresh)
venice sleeve
the old man and the sea
nautilus skull
Pirate Betty Pinup Rework
Pirate ship
Realistic color custom octopus tattoo
Black And Gray Palestinian keffiyeh pattern Added To Anarchists Of Chicago Sleeve
(not) another bloody compass
Poseidon
dotwork indian traditional mandala chest pattern tattoo
Pin up Mermaid
black and grey dotwork mandala black forest cuckoo clock
Black and Gray Ship Tattoo
Sunset on the Beach Color Tattoo
line work dotwork ornamental mandala
Great horned owl and compass
Atlantis