Seamester: Antigua to the Virgin Islands via Dominica - 40 Days

Seamester: Antigua to the Virgin Islands via Dominica - 40 Days

Location
Multiple Locations +5
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Dominica
  • Guadeloupe
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • British Virgin Islands
Term
Summer
Subject Areas
Communications Environmental Studies Marine Biology Oceanography

Program Details

Program Type
At Sea
Degree Level
Bachelors
Housing
Boat
Language
English

Pricing

Starting Price
13790
Price Details
Your tuition covers life onboard from day one: shipboard accommodations, all meals, and every planned academic excursion. It includes daily instruction from professional staff, course materials, and six transferable credits issued through the University of South Florida. Program fees also cover training equipment and standard certification costs, with opportunities that may include IYT International Crew, Navigation Master, Master of Yachts 200 Ton Theory, and PADI training from Open Water through Divemaster, based on experience. The only major costs not included are travel to and from the vessel and personal spending.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Classes Meals
What's Included (Extra)

Includes staff instruction and supervision, course materials, use of onboard training gear, non-professional IYT and PADI certification fees, transcript processing for 6 USF credits, program local transport on excursions, vessel operations, safety gear, and required permits.

What's Not Included
Airfare
What's Not Included (Extra)

Personal spending money.

Jan 19, 2026
Aug 25, 2022
19 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

This 40-day Sea|mester voyage focuses on progression, moving beyond intro skills to longer coastal passages and leadership on a modern schooner or catamaran. You refine sail handling, anchoring, and coastal pilotage while rotating through nav, helm, and engineering roles during day and occasional night sails. Field learning centers on island contrasts from Saba’s pinnacles and Statia’s historic roadstead to Guadeloupe and Les Saintes, then south to Dominica’s rainforests, hot springs, and waterfalls. In the water, training emphasizes buoyancy control, navigation dives, and reef surveys suited to your experience. Daily logs, weather briefs, and deck maintenance connect seamanship to clear decisions and teamwork. By the end of your Sea|mester, you earn six college credits, add recognized certifications, and carry confidence built through real responsibility and miles under sail.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

This program offers a unique blend of sailing, scuba diving, and island exploration with supportive staff and a strong community.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • 🏝️ Explore Saba, Statia, St Barts, Antigua, Les Saintes, Guadeloupe, Nevis, Dominica
  • ⚓ Learn seamanship with watch standing, coastal navigation, anchoring, and docking
  • 🤿 Become a certified PADI scuba diver
  • 🌋 Hike Dominica’s rainforests and volcanic terrain, then study nearby reef systems
  • 🎓 Earn 6 transferable college credits from the University of South Florida

Program Dates

Application Deadline
Program Dates
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Program Reviews

4.85 Rating
based on 13 reviews
  • 5 rating 92.31%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 7.69%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4.75
  • Support 5
  • Fun 4.5
  • Housing 5
  • Safety 5
  • Housing 4.7
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.9
  • Value 5
  • Safety 4.8
Showing 9 - 13 of 13 reviews
Izy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience!

It’s hard to describe this trip without a novel length review, so I’ll hit the highlights: The staff are amazing. They’re not afraid to challenge you, and I’m so glad that’s the case because I learned from every one of those intimidating experiences. I employ the lessons I learned daily, all thanks to a passionate staff willing to take 18 crazy sailors on a wild journey. The bond I formed with my crewmates during night watches and sunrise hikes and rough waters is something I will have for the rest of my life. And all of this happened while diving and learning how to sail in some of the most beautiful places in the world. If I had to choose again, I would choose this voyage in a hearbeat and if you have the opportunity to go, do it! Thanks to all the Ocean Star and Sea|Mester staff who made my trip amazing, I won’t forget it!

157 people found this review helpful.
Elizabeth
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Seamester=Awesome

Going on Seamester was the best decision I've ever made. I cannot even describe everything that I learned and experienced. My two older brothers also went on this trip before me and my whole family loves this program. (3/3 loved it!)
Only when you're out in the middle of the ocean with the stars above you and the bioluminescent below you, do you understand how beautiful it all is. Semester was able to take us out there without any trouble, even though most of the students had no idea how to sail before we got there. As a land-locked novice to sailing I had the best time and learned SO much. The islands we visited were beautiful and interesting. I loved every hike we went on and every dive we dove and every minute of this trip.

158 people found this review helpful.
Anya
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

sail the seas!

I absolutely loved this trip. I made incredible friends and learned to sail, all while taking a class that I could use at my college. I was very sad to leave after my 40 days, and would recommend a trip to anyone who wants to meet amazing people and have an adventure every single day. The SCUBA diving was amazing and I felt much more comfortable in my skills by the end of the trip. Even if you have never sailed before, it doesn't matter. You learn everything and by the end of the trip, we were all teaching each other new duties.

107 people found this review helpful.
Amanda
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sailing outside your comfort zone

I can't describe this voyage in words, it is something that I wish everyone could experience and I highly recommend that if you have the opportunity to, do it! This was a completely life changing and rewarding trip, with memories I will never forget. One of my favorite memories was hiking to the last boiling lake in the world on the island of Dominica. The hike was beautiful and we got to end the day long hike with swimming in a refreshing river complete with waterfalls and natural whirlpools.

What would you improve about this program?
The only thing I would change would be allowing the students to sleep in a bit longer after night passages.
110 people found this review helpful.
Max
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Summer Ever

The trips from the BVIs to Dominica may be rough, but they're all worth it. Dominica has some of the most incredible diving and hiking that I have ever done. Thank god Seamester plans the longest stay there because there are endless activities to be done. The boiling lake hike, while challenging, is one of the most rewarding experiences. Once you leave Dominica it is all smooth sailing back up island. The courses may seem to get more intense at this point, but they're never overwhelming to the point of interfering with the overall experience.

What would you improve about this program?
More free time on shore could benefit the program
103 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers