Program Reviews

Seamester gave me the opportunity to travel all over the world, learn to sail and scuba dive, and be apart of a community that truly changed my life. This program not only allows people to travel to more than one location in the world, but also fosters personal growth and creates lasting friendships that turn into family. I would recommend this trip to everyone and feel that is a great opportunity for fun, adventure, as well as a great learning opportunity both educationally and about oneself.
In addition to the overall experience, tangibly it is very advantageous to earn all the certificates that Seamester offers. Not only does it allow you to get scuba certificates, but also your ICC, VHF and CPR. These certs not only open doors of opportunity, but they also required me to learn skills that I can use in a variety of situations. Overall Seamester creates a well rounded person and inspires the minds of many.

If you are considering Sea|mester: do it. I could not recommend this program enough—they offer so much, and you finish the program having grown and feeling accomplished. Not only do you get to stop in multiple countries and go abroad, you also take classes and get college credit, learn to scuba dive, sail, make life-long friendships that are genuine, meet new people and make honest connections, challenge yourself in many ways, and more. I knew I would like it, but I never knew how much I would grow to love life living and learning on a boat. The staff is amazing and supportive, and all of your fellow crew make you feel at ease and at home. Meals are excellent and fun to cook. Overall, it is a one-in-a-lifetime experience that you don't want to pass up.

The Sea|Mester program is truly a one of a kind experience. Students sail to a variety of destinations getting to explore each location with some of your new found best friends. From day one, everyone, students and staff alike, are so kind and energized for the voyage ahead. Everyone becomes friends with each other so fast and the relationships only strengthen as you explore, live, sleep and learn with each other for the duration of the semester. Sea|mester could not be more correct when they claim that “there is no room for passengers on our vessels, only crew members.” This is what I loved about the program because each and every student is vital to the success of the crew and plays an active role in operating the vessel. On the first passage students were already trusted with the helm. By day 30 students were completely self dependent and capable of leading a sail raise. The level of trust granted by the staff was more than I could have ever expected. I would strongly recommend this program to anyone who might be interested. There is truly no experience required as everything taught onboard starts with the basics so anyone, of any background, can be just as involved as the rest.

I did this trip because I love sailing and I have always wanted to travel internationally. This trip provided a perfect opportunity to do both of those things. The staff was amazing and I really enjoyed having them aboard, not just as staff members but also as friends. The close quarters necessitated by life on a ship at sea, as well as the challenges presented by sailing and working in such an environment, created a strong sense of comradery among everyone aborad and by the end of the trip, we felt like a family. The places that we visited together, from the beaches of southern France to the mountains of Morocco and the open waters of the Atlantic were all beautiful and magical, each in their own way. I was always excited waking up in a new place, to see what the day would offer and what new adventure we would have.

Sea|mester gave me the opportunity to travel the world, learn to sail, and meet new amazing people. This program is one of a kind and there is nothing else out there like it. The sense of accomplishment when you cross an ocean, the excitement of every new destination you go to, the amazing diving, the interactive classes, the learning and discovering of yourself, are examples of things you get only from Sea|mester. The Captain and staff were always on top of everything, always putting our safety first. I am so thankful for this program and the opportunities it gave me, I would never trade my time on Argo for anything else. This program will not disappoint. This program will give you 15 college credits to prepare you or got towards your undergrad.

This experience was truly unique and a once in a lifetime adventure. For future participants: do everything. Jump off the bow. Get creative in the galley, look forward to anchor watch. Eat something you've never had before. Climb a mango tree. This program reaffirmed my love for the ocean and passion for marine conservation. All the interactions with the locals made me see how much I love new experiences, interacting and meeting new people, learning about new cultures. A useful tip: bring as little as possible and keep yourself open to new experiences.

Earlier this summer I went on a 20 day sailing trip from the BVI's down to Antigua, island hopping the whole way. It was such an amazing experience. I made great friends, saw incredible sights, learned how to sail a boat (not something I saw myself doing), and scuba diving. There was a really nice balance between work time and free time. Everyone on the boat was super nice and accommodating. If you are looking for a once in a lifetime way to spend your summer, go with Sea Mester.

This summer I spent 40 days crossing the Atlantic ocean with some of the most amazing people I have ever met. The passion and energy that the Sea|Mester crew brought to S/Y Argo is what made my trip so special. I highly recommend any Sea|Mester program to anyone who loves to explore, sail, or wants to push themselves to do something simply extraordinary. I will never forget the time on board or the friends I made.

I was on board Sea|mester's 112 ft schooner Argo for the Spring 2018 voyage from South Africa to Antigua. It was the highlight of my gap year, and certainly one of the best experiences I've ever had. The team of instructors were all knowledgeable and fun to be around throughout the trip and my fellow shipmates became close friends. If you are looking for a challenging, life-changing adventure and love the ocean I would highly recommend Sea|mester.

Amazing experience. If you want to sail across an ocean, scuba dive, and see a lot of countries. Choose this program. Full of adventure and discovery. Learning about the oceans and the vessels that sail them. Classes include seamanship, Marine Bio, Oceanography, and leadership. All taught by extremely smart well picked instructors. Seamester was the best experience I ever had, and it is sure to leave the same impression on all others who sail aboard Argo and Ocean Star.