Program Reviews

I really enjoyed my the experiences provided and loved becoming close to everyone on the crew. The most valuable aspect of Seamester was the experience of living on a boat for so long in such close quarters with an amazing group of people. The staff were also a very inspirational group, and I think everyone on board was quite envious of the life they lead. This was the end to my gap year, and it really made me very glad that I decided to take a gap year. It was the perfect culmination of having fun while still being able to accomplish a lot.

Sea|Mester is an experience of a lifetime. I would do it 100+ times over. It was through this program that I discovered my passion. I cannot thank Sea|Mester enough for that. The staff on and off-board are beyond incredible. Each and everyone of the staff members invested all of their time into the students. I looked up to and still continue to look up to the staff on my voyage, Smash, Ash, Sam, and Marley. Their joyfulness, eagerness to teach, and down to earth personalities made Ocean Star home. If anybody is questioning signing up for a voyage, do it!!!! Do it, do it, do it. You'll create personal and professional connections, expand your mind, think in a different way, challenge yourself, and most importantly, grow.

SeaMester is a great way to step outside of your comfort zone and get to know yourself in a new way through learning new skills and having unique experiences. Also, the relationships formed aboard are ones that will last a lifetime. SeaMester has had a tremendous impact on my personal growth because of the nature of the environment we are immersed in. It quickly grew in confidence with my ability to engage and interact with people and I learned how to be more patient and understanding since we were always living so close together. I would highly recommend SeaMester to anyone who is looking for both a physical and an emotional journey!

semester changed my life and was by far the best experience of my life. it showed me what true happiness is and I learned more about my self over those 90 thanks than ever before. I know I have met friends for life and have made relationships with people that will never fade out. here is where I found a true passion for life. and here is where I'll forever dream of returning. sea|mester taught me to appreciate everything life has to offer because there's always a way to see your glass half full instead of half empty.

The fact that I was able to go on this Sea|mester trip has profoundly changed my life and where I think my boundaries lay. I owe a lot of this to all of the efforts of all the staff and crew, so thank you! I would recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in marine biology and expanding their worldview. It is definitely a one in a lifetime experience! You will grow a ton as a person and realize that you are capable of so much more than you thought. Plus you get to see some pretty awesome marine life.

Seamester offered me a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will never forget. I am from Maine but have always had a fascination with warm tropical waters, coral reefs, and ocean exploration. As a student, I had the unique chance to study, sail, and live on a beautiful sailboat (Vela) in the most gorgeous places in the Caribbean. This trip took me to some of the most amazing places-- Island volcanos, rainforests, secluded black sand beaches, pristine coral reefs, uninhabited islands, and lush mountain peaks.

Although I went into the program not knowing a single thing about sailing, I left with three sailing certifications and a passion for ocean travel. The staff was exemplary and, by the end of the trip they felt like family. They seamlessly guided the students through seamanship education and combined marine studies with hands on experience through diving or snorkeling. One of the most important parts of this experience for me was building lifelong friendships with my other crew mates. Seamester has a strong community atmosphere were everyone shares in cooking, cleaning, adventure, and learning.
Overall, I learned so much about myself, the ocean, and how I want to live my life. I am so happy I got a chance to be a part of something so spectacular. I recommend this program to anyone looking to make new friends, travel to stunning new places, and embark on a once in a lifetime experience.

Sea|mester is a great way to get out of your comfort zone, earn college credits, and learn about sailing all at once.
Amanda was a great program manager, organizing activities and keeping the students informed in addition to instructing Intro to Oceanography. Alex taught Intro to Marine Bio very well, explaining the topics to students who knew nothing about marine organisms. Lauren was very informative on deck, and when it came to seamanship class. She was very patient and taught Nav. Master skills in a unique way that worked well for everyone. Captain Steve was also informative on deck, answering all questions that came his way. His instruction in Leadership was beneficial to the students since it was taught in an "open atmosphere."
The most valuable aspect of Sea|mester is the sense of community. Everyone aboard is one team, that comes together to accomplish goals. The goals could range from cooking a meal for 20 people, to a three day sailing voyage. Whatever the challenge, you learn to work with others to accomplish it.

This trip brings new experience and friendships that you just can't find anywhere else. I grew a lot as a person while I was learning tons of new things about sailing, diving, and science. The staff are wonderful and inspiring and ready to help with anything you could need. We went on crazy adventures like swimming with whale sharks and hiking to boiling lakes; and the time in between the adventures was filled with new knowledge and fun we made for ourselves (we threw a boat prom that involved trash bags full of popcorn and a potato someone's date). I recommend this experience to everyone I talk to, but it's especially great for people who want adventures that you can't find anywhere else.

I was one of Argo's maiden voyage shipmates in the summer of 2006 when she launched in Thailand! Even though it was about 13 years ago, I still have very vivid memories of many different experiences on board.

It was an unforgettable experience completing night watches with my watch team, seeing pods of hundreds of dolphins riding our bow wake, navigating under the stars at night, watching the incredible sunrises... life at sea really teaches you a unique lesson of living in the moment. If you have any doubts, know that you grow so much by doing something you are unfamiliar with... and you'll also come home with some crazy stories!!

I did this trip in 2014 and I had an incredible time. I learned a lot about myself as a person, became a more proficient sailor, learned how to use my leadership style to my advantage, and became a good member of a team. There are so many soft skills you learn while living in this environment with this many people it's difficult to quantify. You learn plenty of hard skills around the boat that will follow you after the trip as well. You get to run the boat as a team while becoming very close with your mentors as well. The simplicity of life underway was one of my favorite parts. You're surrounded by a huge family on an incredible adventure, seeing beautiful countries and make memories that last a lifetime. I have nothing but the most positive things to say about this program and the impact it's had on my life.