SEA Semester

I had always wanted to attend a study abroad, but never really knew when would be a good time to do so. I had spoken to some people about SEA Semester and got really interested. I would not trade the experience for anything. Receiving college credit for standing as lookout on the bow of a ship or counting phytoplankton while undersail is a pretty unique experience. The bonds that were built between students will last a lifetime, as will the memories of the amazing sights encountered while at sea.

The SEA Semester is unlike other study abroad programs. Spending several weeks out in the ocean may seem daunting, but life out at sea is incomparable to any other study abroad. The Protecting the Phoenix Island program comprised of three weeks on the Woods Hole Campus, and then six weeks out in the Pacific Ocean. During the time at Woods Hole, a strong camaraderie is built among all students. All the classes at Woods Hole are well structured, and although they are only three weeks long you learn a lot from them. During the time at sea, all of the information you learned on land is applied in your independent research and policy discussions. Actually being inside of a marine protected area and seeing it ecosystems while discussing how to better protect them provides more depth and gravity to the topic than just a lecture in a classroom. Just as important as the academic component, the social aspect of SEA is spectacular. Through the Protecting the Phoenix Islands program, you form strong bonds with all of you shipmates leaving lasting friendships. You are also able to experience the culture of the people on Kanton with a large celebration party with everyone. Life at sea offers its own culture as your values and your perception of day to day events change. It is not uncommon to feel stress free, appreciate all the little things, and often reflect on who you are as a person and what you are going to take away from this experience. Lastly, and probably the most important to people considering this program is the coral reefs and islands. The coral reefs you are able to snorkel on display vivid hues of green, purple, and blue. All the reefs are expansive, and seemingly undisturbed by man kind. There is a plethora of ocean wildlife to see, from whales and dolphins, to sea turtles, sharks, and manta rays. On days when we were allowed to explore the islands, everyone would just spend hours looking at all the birds, consuming numerous coconuts, and realizing just how beautiful nature can be. This program was once that truly changed my perspective on what I want to do with my future career, and what I want out of life. If you are looking for a study abroad program with lasting impacts and exposure to vibrant oceanic landscapes, this one is perfect!

I went to PIPA on S-287 in summer of 2019. This trip has had a serious impact on me, and I am not sure I will ever experience anything like it. If you are at all into the outdoors, the ocean or communal living, sailing with SEA is a great experience. I can’t speak to a social scene, because for six weeks I saw no one but the 40 people living on Kanton in Kiribati and the 35 people on the SSV Robert C. Seaman’s, but the people I met on this boat have become extremely close friends, and the things I’ve seen are unlike anything else. I learned so much about the kind of life I want to lead, and am so thankful to SEA for making this kind of adventure accessible to students. I wouldn’t recommend this to folks who are not okay with being constantly active or uncomfortable, as sailing can get really crazy, and the watches make for an intense schedule.

Every part of this program was well worth the price. The staff were great, the classes were interesting and informative (for someone with little science background), the facilities were phenomenal...there really was nothing I did not like. I completed this program after college due to scheduling conflicts, and I am so glad I did, because I can say with confidence that I have never been happier than during those two months at sea. Granted, if you get sea sick easily, you might not enjoy it as much as I did. But I highly recommend you give it a shot if you have any interest at all in sailing.

The best part of this program is that you are the crew. You may be a student, with classes and homework, but you are also responsible for the function of the ship. It is not easy, but it is a hands-on learning experience that will teach you a lot about yourself as well as the topics covered in class. I want nothing more than to go back to French Polynesia to sail once more. I did Semester at Sea as well during my college years, and while it was informative and fun circumnavigating the globe, it was not nearly as rewarding as actually steering the ship, navigating using nautical charts, and setting sails.

An absolute ten out of ten adventure from start to finish!