Program Reviews

I had an incredible time living on Argo this past summer, sailing the Coconut Run. I met great friends, some students and some staff, that have made lasting impacts on me. But it's important to remember that nothing is perfect, and neither is Sea|mester. Our summer was a challenging one, with many hurdles to overcome, but that was part of the journey I signed up for. If you are intrinsically motivated and desire the most out of your experience, this program has fruitful offerings. I became a divemaster, navmaster, competent crew member, and true adventurer. Have reasonable expectations about this impressive journey and channel optimism in the hard times. Any opportunity to sail, study, and dive is precious--a worthwhile investment for life.

Choosing to sail the Caribbean on SY Ocean Star for my study abroad is by far the most important decision I have made thus far in my academic career. While the classes on board fun and educational the true learning comes from everyday life onboard. You won’t just learn from a textbook on this study abroad. You learn to appreciate the ocean and it’s marine life because you will swim/dive everyday. You learn how to live/cook/sail/study in an 88 foot space with 16 other people. For maybe the first time your professors will also become your peers. You’ll be exhausted but you won’t even notice because you’ll be having so much fun. But most importantly you will leave with life long friends, memories, and skills. Thanks to Ocean Star I have found my best friend and my passion for sailing. Both of which I would not have found without SeaMester. The staff members became not only my friends but also my role models. I cannot say enough amazing things about SeaMester.
If you’re looking for adventure, excitement, and the experience of a lifetime SeaMester is the program for you.

This is an awesome study abroad program with the ability to complete tons of certifications and simultaneously receiving college credit. The summer trip was very busy with lots of fun activities planned so there are no "off-days". Living aboard an 88 foot boat with 20 other people is actually less stressful and more comfortable than you might assume! It was an incredibly unique experience and I would highly recommend it for a study abroad program. Adjusting to academics on board is the most difficult part but I think that just takes time and would be easier with a longer trip. Completing the academics and multiple certifications in the 40 day trip was a pretty tight squeeze, if I could do it again I would take a longer trip so I could spend more time enjoying the experience and less time stressing over all of the different exams.

Going into this program, I had very little idea of what to expect.
Although I had been on boats before, I had never been sailing, traveled out of the country by myself, and had never scuba dived. All these and more were just the beginnings of my firsts aboard the Ocean Star, and were completed within the first few days of the program.
Along with the unforgettable experiences of learning how to sail, dive, and experience living on a boat, I met some of the most amazing and inspiring young adults (and instructors) that continue to be a close and amazing resource for me today. I would recommend this program to anyone with an adventurous spirit and sense of adventure (and I have)
This program was absolutely amazing, and I could not have asked for a better way to meet new people, travel the world, and learn so much about myself and sailing.

This summer I had the life-changing experience of living on a boat for 40 days. The program itself was jam-packed, with scuba diving, first aid certifications and learning how to properly navigate a boat. It gave me skills I use in my everyday life and gave me a love for the ocean that I hope to have for the rest of my life. The beautiful landscapes and deep blue seas made an impression on me that will never fade. I wish i could go again. I would recommend this spectacular program to anyone who wants the adventure of a lifetime. The crew members were encouraging and also wanted to see you succeed in whatever you were doing. they challenged and aided us as we were sailing through rough waters or identifying types of coral in the ocean. truly amazing 10/10

This was an absolutely awesome trip. The Staff was just incredible in every way. They were supportive, friendly, and knowledgable about so much. They made you feel totally welcome and comfortable, and were awesome to talk to. Every place we were was unbelievable and the daily excursions were just great. The sights were so remarkable and super unique. We went biking, horseback riding, sailing, and hiking. We also got free time to explore the islands by ourselves. I learned so much about sailing, oceanography, scuba diving and marine biology. The staff was able to meet anyone at their level so that beginners to masters of any of the subjects could learn more. I also made lifelong friends and really bonded with many of the people on the trip.

My experience on the Seamester trip was nothing like I have ever done before. I have very mixed feelings about what I went through. If I am 100% honest I loved a lot of it and also strongly disliked a lot of it. I will start off with what I did not like. I was very out of my comfort zone the entire time which I know is common. I was expecting this and did not mind it. The main thing I did not like was the sailing which was of course a big part of the trip. I got very sea sick every time, and did not have any interest in learning about sailing like many of the other students did. A few things however that I loved were the things we did on land. I loved visiting the different islands and exploring them. My absolute favorite part of the trip was hiking the waterfalls in Dominica. That was something I would love to do again in my lifetime. Overall it was a fantastic adventure that I will never forget. I am very glad I did it because of all the great benefits that came from it as well as it helped me really grow as a person.

This trip changed my life in one of the most amazing ways. It allowed me to meet a new group of people and visit places I wouldn't have gone to on my own. This trip was definitely out of my comfort zone but I knew it was something that id be able to overcome and it was well worth it. A year ago today I never would have thought I would have been able to handle 40 days on a boat but after this experience I would do it all over again. The sailing was beyond fun and it was great to be a part of a crew rather than being catered to the entire trip. on top of that, the certifications we received are once that I am excited to have and are beneficial for what i see myself doing in my future. This trip also gave me to oppertunity to scuba dive in some very unique areas seeing shipwrecks and beautiful reefs

This trip truly changed me for the better. It sparked a love of travel and exploration that was so beneficial for me, I can barely put it into words. It helped me grow as a person on so many levels. I learned valuable skills and life lessons that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Given the opportunity, I would go back in a quick heart beat. There's nothing like living and working on a boat like Ocean Star. In fact, she was more than just a boat. Ocean Star was home to everyone aboard and we quickly became our own little family unit out there on the water. It's an adventure worth taking because it truly is unlike anything I've ever experienced before, and I am forever grateful that I had the opportunity to experience it all. I loved it.

I had an amazing time sailing around the Caribbean. I would not have been able to complete all of my certifications at home or without the support of the amazing, encouraging, and patient staff. I was able to meet people from all over the United States that I would never have met without this program. Even though I initially struggled with scuba diving, the staff was willing to work extra with me so that I could conquer my initial fear until I was able to enjoy diving and eventually looked forward to. I got open water and advanced scuba certification, sailing certification, and first aid certification. I appreciate my time on the boat and have definitely learned a lot from it. After traveling to the various islands, I got a strong desire to help with pollution and have started looking for ways to help protect the islands from home.