Seamester: Transatlantic, Mediterranean to Caribbean - 90 Days

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.

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.

I can’t thank Seamester and their staff enough for providing the best summer of my life. Countless jokes and amazing experiences with the other crew members are something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Everything was amazing , from small boat sailing, to scuba diving, to exploring every island! I also can’t thank Steve, Tom, Amy, and Alex for always keeping us on our feet every hour of every day ! Some of my favorite memories include drinking seamoss, scuba diving in Saba, exploring the boujiness of Saint Barths, meeting all my new crew members/friends in the airports as we all flew to S/Y Ocean Star, the squeeze every night after dinner, sunrise watches sailing from port to port, Tom for always having a smile on his face, and the steel drums in Antigua !

This experience changed my outlook on life and helped me find out who I really am, and I got to do it all at sea! I made lifelong friends who I keep in contact with everyday. The adventures we had were like nothing else. There is so much more to this world than just laying on beaches and suntanning and this trip showed me that. It showed me the back alleys that I didn't know existed. It showed me the lives of people I would never meet otherwise. I got to see how pottery was made FROM SCRATCH. I was shown to shops that many people didn't know were there, but sold great things. I tasted foods that I wouldn't dream of in a million years. It also showed me the messier sides of life. I learned how to do my laundry by hand. I learned how to clean a bathroom. I learned how to cook. I learned how to stay organized in a small space. These are valuable life skills that I will use until the day I die. This was the best three months of my life. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I applied for this trip because I love sailing and I wanted an abroad experience that would allow myself to see as many beautiful places as possible. What I did not realize is that my fellow crew members would become my second family. From the very first time we were underway to the last, everyone was always looking out for one another to ensure their safety and to make sure we all had the best experience possible. Learning outside of a typical classroom was one of the best aspects about this program, while underwater learning was absolutely incredible. For me, I didn't think I was going to love SCUBA diving as much as I did, and now I can go diving whenever I want. Sailing under the stars, through beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and rainstorms were all what made this adventure so much fun. Waking up in a new country with a sense of adventure and excitement almost every day is something I am truly going to miss. Letting go of the rest of society, only worrying about yourself and shipmates, and living on the little island of Argo is an unforgettable experience.

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.