This trip has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something I will never forget. I have made so many lifelong friends that I will continue to keep in touch with and see again. Sea|Mester is the greatest thing I have ever done. It opened my eyes in so many different ways and has made me change in so many great ways. I made many great memories I will cherish forever. All the staff was incredibly kind and made sure all of my needs were taken care of. I could talk to the staff about anything and always had fun talking with them. The staff treated us as equals which was super nice. All the classes were taught very well and every teacher was very passionate about their course. For me, the most valuable aspect was the social factor. I was pretty nervous coming into this trip about meeting new people and broadening my social circles. I have always been anxious about introductions and showing people my true self and this trip helped me so much. This trip allowed me to be myself and unlock a part of me I didn’t know I had. Everyone embraced me for who I was, which was great. I owe a great deal of this trip to my fellow crew members who were so kind and funny. Sea|Mester is awesome. Don’t change anything. This trip is probably the greatest thing I’ve ever done and I’ll remember it forever. I have lifelong friends all over the world now.

SeaMester was an absolutely life changing experience, I don't think there would have been a better way to spend three months. The lessons are invaluable, the staff is amazing, the locations are unforgettable. I participated in this program nearly five years ago and the effects are still rippling through my present day. I had did first open water dive aboard SY Argo back in 2019 and just this past year was able to get my PADI DiveMaster. I am currently saving up for a small sailboat of my own to explore and dive in with my friends (probably will have some of my SeaMester pals onboard to crew with me). I'm so excited for the day that I can revisit these wonderful places in my own boat, sailing & diving with the friends I made back during SeaMester. Not only was the trip incredibly fun, it was so informative. I started my semester thinking my girlfriend was silly for not using plastic straws and left that semester absolutely horrified at the state of plastic pollution in our beautiful oceans. SeaMester will open your eyes, teach you lessons, and inspire new passions to last a lifetime. DO IT!

Being a crew mate on STV Vela was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sometimes I find it hard to search for words to encompass the voyage I had, for it has fundamentally changed who I am. Who knew I could drive a 112-foot sailboat? Who knew I could be a certified rescue scuba diver? I never could have imagined setting foot on an uninhabited island, with a never-ending supply of coconuts. My favorite parts of the trip are as small as discovering my new favorite fruit and as grand as completing a 23-day Pacific Ocean crossing!

I had such a great experience, from enrolling in the program until the very last day of the trip. First, the office staffs. One word: incredible. They are always there for any questions you have and answer very quickly. They follow the whole trip and make sure everything goes smoothly (and if it doesn't - we had a surprise - they work their heart out to make everything possible).
Second, the trip itself. For me, it was a dream coming true. As a student, I wanted to learn how to sail, and Sea|mester being a school abroad experience was the perfect match. I arrived the first day in Antigua with a mix of excitation and anticipation, but when I met a part of the group, I just became more excited for the adventure. It turned out to be a real adventure. Our first overnight passage, the staff helped us rising up the sails and when we turned off the lights, I still remember the awe that went through the group at the sight of the stars. So many, so bright. We started our 4 hours watches - 8 hours off. It was not easy at first and the crew was tired, but in longer passages, we got used to the unusual schedule. While in passages, we had two classes of one hour in the afternoon. Not everybody was focus ;). We did many activities, sometimes going on land, some other times, going diving. We swam with dolphins, turtles, rays, fish, sea lions and so much more. I can tell you that when you learn about manta rays during the trip and you get to swim with one, it's an indescriptible feeling of excitation and awe.
In my trip from Antigua to Tahiti, we crossed through the Panama canal, which was a bit intimidating at first, but was pretty fun after all. Going through the locks with a pilot onboard and seeing the water level rises and drops until the last doors finally open to the Pacific is something I never thought I would be doing. A few night after the canal, we left for the Galapagos and had the chance to see bioluminescent dolphins swimming at the bow with us. It was incredible. Two days after we left Panama, we had to turn around and go back to Panama because our propeller broke. The sailing was great and our newly acquired skills was put to use. We did end up going to the Galapagos and then to Tahiti with a few days delay.
This experience wouldn't have been such a adventure without all the challenges we went through. It wasn't always easy, but every difficulty brought the group closer. We started our trip as strangers to each other and ended up feeling like a family. Vela became our home and when the time came to say goodbyes, we had memories to brought back with us. Not everybody from the crew will go on a boat again, but for some like me, this adventure found its mark. Raising the sails, steering Vela through the waves, listening to the sound of the ocean sometimes under a scorching sun have woken up a new passion and a desire to go back, to feel the wind in the sails and to push my knowledge further.

This program is beyond words. It's hard to believe how much we fit into just 90 days. I felt like we had plenty of time to explore each port, and fully take advantage of our time on land. What I really enjoyed most was growing as a team and as a family on board and getting accustomed to being part of the crew. You'll find that you'll learn just as much from your fellow shipmates as you would in the classes on board. It's one thing to learn from a lecture, but with these hands on exercises and field trips it makes the experience incredibly immersive and rewarding. I can't recommend this program enough if you enjoy the ocean, sailing, traveling, and making lasting relationships with your shipmates. 90 days seems like a long time, but by the end of our voyage I didn't want it to end. As a result of this voyage I am continuing my education in the maritime industry and am pursuing a career working on the ocean.

About two years ago I embarked on S/Y Argo for this voyage and still think about think about my three months aboard daily. Specifically I go back to about the unique way you are able to explore some of the most incredible places, and the tight-knit, family-like community you have while aboard. When I chose Seamester I had a feeling I would experience something totally new and unique, and I figured I would get to explore some incredible places. Those two expectations were met and exceeded, however I couldn't have guessed that I would gain 30 lifelong friendships or that I would learn so much, not only about the ocean, the earth and navigation. But also cooking, leadership, myself, and what it means to truly be happy. If you make the decision to take part in a Seamester program not only will it be the best adventure you could imagine, but it will also leave a lifelong impact.

Live out your dreams of becoming a pirate. Experience the open waters like you never have before. Enjoy a breathtaking and new view every single day. Try to keep track of all the shooting stars you'll see on night watch. Learn all about our oceans and how they work. Seamester is a fantastic program that I wish I knew about sooner. I struggled a bit in the beginning of my voyage due to not being able to scuba dive but I absolutely have no regret doing seamester and still to this day wish it didn't have to end. The people I met and the memories I made will stay with me forever. Time really flies aboard Argo so be sure to try and enjoy every second of it. Take photos and videos to share with friends and family but don't forgot to live in the moment. Who knows when you'll be able to visit some of these beautiful remote places again.

I am writing this review almost three years after I sailed from the Caribbean to Tahiti on S/Y Argo and I can still say that it was one of the best decisions I made during my undergraduate career. Although I was a pre-med undergrad student, I chose Seamester because it was such a unique experience that allowed me to explore while being an active member of the team. I loved that the students really did become active crew members during the trip and took on important responsibilities. The required courses were great and set a solid foundation for sailing, marine biology, and oceanography. However, I learned so much beyond the courses; I was able to learn about myself and how to work well in groups during stressful situations. Living with 25 people on a 112-foot boat really allows for a strong group bond to form.