Observations of the soft X-ray transient Nova Vela 1993 are presented. These are the first observations, taken during quiescence in 1995 and 1996. An orbital, ellipsoidal modulation is found in the R-band photometry (mean magnitude of 20.6), with an amplitude of 0.23 mags at 6.86 +/- 0.12 h. The H-alpha emission spectra is presumed to arise from the accretion disc. The spectral type for the secondary is estimated to be late G early K, consistent with the mean density of the Roche lobe filling secondary, obtained with the orbital period. The optical ellipsoidal modulations of the secondary star are modeled to determine a 95% lower limit to the binary inclination of 37 degrees.