Program Reviews

I had done two years of Action Quest prior to my decision to try SeaMester. It seemed like a big jump and a much more serious undertaking- and it was, in the best possible way. My six weeks aboard Argo remain a few of the most significant of my life thus far. During that time, I was responsible for my own well-being as well as that of my fellow shipmates. It was an environment that did not lack in struggle, but was rich with fun, camaraderie, learning and friendship.

You must be prepared to embrace the work and responsibility, as you will be a member of the crew, but do not take that with any negative connotation. The bonds you will form in that type of environment are unique and strong. The full-time staff are knowledgeable, helpful, often hilarious and, for lack of a better word, awesome. You will meet and make friends with people from all over the world, and learn from people who are different from yourself in a way which is wonderful and eye-opening.

If you are lucky enough to be able to get onboard a ship with SeaMester, do not take it for granted- jump at the opportunity and treat it as the privilege that it is. If you are on the fence, pull the proverbial trigger without any more hesitation. I could not be more grateful to have gone on that voyage across the Atlantic, and I am confident that you will feel the same.

I often find myself wanting to be back on S/Y Argo. There, I found a great community of friends who all pushed each other to achieve more than we thought we could. Since coming home, I've told people how much I miss being in a community where everyone is working hard and motivating others to do the same. Because of this communal work ethic, there was never a wasted day. An important note on this, though, it is very important that you are willing to not only contribute, but do your best in each of your jobs every day. I'm not saying people were perfect, but the ones who tried hard were the ones who made the trip better for the entire boat. So a willingness to fully commit to each task (even night watch from 12 a.m. - 4 a.m., or deep cleaning the boat) is a must. As far as classes go, the workload is challenging, not because the subject matter is impossible. but because each day is so full. Every student found the right balance for them, though, between academics and exploring the South Pacific on the trip. One important thing to note is that the twelve college credits from the trip will make you a transfer student at many colleges. I was a gap year student, and did not realize this until I tried to apply to colleges in the fall, and was told to apply in March as a transfer student. So, if you are on a gap year, make sure you know what your future college's credit requirements are for freshman. Finally, here are some of my favorite memories from S/Y Argo: cooking while underway (aptly described as traumatic yet satisfying), swimming with humpback whales, bow watch (sitting at the front of the boat with one other watch team member) while the sun sets, and scary stories under the beautiful stars on night watch. I left Argo more self-confident and motivated, and was very happy I made the decision to make it part of my gap year.

Sea-mester was the most impactful three months of my life so far. Not only was it super fun, but the amount of growth and learning is something I will have forever.
When I first boarded Argo, I had no sailing or boating experience at all. I thought this would be an issue but it wasn’t at all. They taught us everything we needed to know and were there to answer any and every question.
One of my favorite parts of being on Argo was the community you build with your crew mates. You may arrive knowing no one, but you leave with 20+ friends and family for life. You get to meet people you may never thought to talk to and learn how much everyone around the world has in common.
I can’t think of another program that offers college course, traveling, scuba certifications and sailing experience. This program allowed me to try and see new places I otherwise wouldn’t have an the opportunity too.

The Atlantic crossing was an adventure I still talk about to this day and even became an integral part of my story in my medical school application. It was a thrilling experience to be such an integral part of a diverse team working together to navigate across an entire ocean. I saw so many things, big and small, that I would never have been able to experience in any other setting. For example, I watched satellites zoom across a sky filled to the brim with stars, swam in dead-calm water that was thousands of feet deep, made dolphin sightings part of my daily routine, and discovered a love for the Azores hundreds of miles of the coast of Spain. If you've always wanted to learn how to sail in the most unique of ways I highly recommend this trip. Ever wanted to know how land smells? Want to be able to watch Pirates of the Caribbean and point out all the parts of the ship (and know how to sail it)? Have a passion for salt or learning to cook in a tilted kitchen? I picked up so many large and small skills on my crossing that I use more often than anyone would expect. If you don't mind creating close ties with a group of strangers by accomplishing a feat sailors have been doing for millennia, then this is the trip for you.

SeaMester... where to begin?! I'd highly recommend this to anyone who has the thirst for adventure, but especially for those nautically/marine inclined individuals among us. It is a great opportunity for those who want to learn a lot about marine life, seamanship, and scuba diving, not to mention the various cultures you will visit.
There is something different about traveling to a different country by boat - a certain camaraderie you share not only with other sailors you may come across at a dock or marina, but also with the locals who share the love for the ocean that is a large part of their lives.
Definitely do this program if you want to get out of the norm and learn A LOT. You get out what you put into it, so be open to learning and experiencing new things!

From the start the staff made sure that everyone was known and welcomed. With every night watch under the endless stars and every day in the kitchen with your sous chefs, we got to know each other a bit better. Even when we were sleep deprived, nauseous, and hangry, everyone took care of each other and we became fast friends. By the time Thanksgiving rolled around (in the middle of the Atlantic no less), it didn't feel like we were away from home. We all had good food, and we felt like family anyway.
The diving was my favourite part, as we got to dive in some of the most beautiful locations and see incredible creatures. Each location was different with a million colours, edges, and textures. Our instructors were highly skilled and taught us to recognize and care for the creatures we saw.
Academics were challenging and interesting, but I learned the most outside of the classroom. I can now negotiate underwater shipwrecks, barter with Moroccan vendors, and lead a sail raise.
I'll never forget the starry nights, endless ocean, and my boat family. It was unequivocally the trip of a lifetime and I would go again in a heartbeat.

I had an incredible time on this trip I'm not sure where to start. I chose this program because I actually wanted to sail and not be a tourist motoring around in the Caribbean or Pacific. I was taught how to sail relatively quickly and was able to partake in a lot of the boat handling activities. Being on watch during the night in the middle of the Pacific delivered the best stars I will ever see, there is nowhere with less light pollution than the middle of the ocean. The dives were amazing, I got my padi certifications and saw all the sharks and mantas you could ever wish for. I loved eating different food in every new place we went to and getting to hike and explore each new place, it was wonderful. In the end, the staff made the trip, I learned so much from them and had a blast working with all these knowledgable people that were not just teachers, but friends and work partners. I wish I could do it all again it was one of the best adventures of my life so far.

Sea|Mester not only provided me with amazing experiences and memories, but after the 90 days were over I had a solid group of close friends I will have for a lifetime. I have visited many of my crew-mates, from California, to Colorado, and Switzerland even, after the program ended! It was definitely character building and flung me out of my comfort zones many times. However, there are no rewards without a little risk! I remember waking up in the middle of the Atlantic on my 19th birthday to my friend Andrew yelling that there was a pod of dolphin jumping at the bow! This trip was a beautiful blessing in my life, truly. The staff genuinely care and in my opinion is what really made the experience an enjoyable one.

This was easily the best decision I ever made. There are obvious reason why this was an incredible experience, the diving, sailing, culture, and sailing were all amazing. But what I found to be the most remarkable and life changing was the new perspective it gave me. Being away from home and learning things in this environment created so much growth. You become so connected to nature and the ocean and develop a new understanding of the environment. Diving with animals was incredible and swimming in truly open water was euphoric. Waking up for night watch to stars that almost touched the water is something You would never see anywhere else. It helps you to appreciate what you have and show you a lifestyle you would never experience otherwise. The people we met along the way were wildly diverse and interesting. I’ve come home with so many stories that my freinds and family hardly believe. This program is definitely a get out what you put in and an amazing way to face your fears. I would recommend it to anyone!

Seamester and life aboard Argo was easily one of the best decisions I have ever made. It can be a big leap of faith for anyone to go abroad, especially with a program like Seamester. I had never been on a sail boat and had never been SCUBA diving before the program, but I felt fully comfortable and couldn't have been happier with my experience and what I had learned. Every day was special and unique. You're never ever bored and there's always something to do. It was an incredible challenge that enriched my life daily. I wouldn't trade my experience for anything. You're living on a boat in the middle of the ocean. You and your crew only have each other. It is a nerve-racking, but liberating feeling when the only thing in the world that matters is that moment.