I did the Bali to South Africa voyage, and I LOVED IT, I think about it everyday. It is an incredibly challenging program, physically and mentally. You have to change everything about the way you live to adapt to sailing life (sleeping schedule, diet, social habits, no phone, etc.) but I truly cherished this experience more than any other in my life, and even more so for the parts that were challenging. You learn so much more than you would in a classroom--sailing, navigation, diving, cooking, cleaning, riddles and jokes, dancing, the list goes on. If you're looking for a life changing adventure that will challenge you in ways you couldn't imagine, but also be the most rewarding experience of your life, with a group of people who you will come to love like family, do it!!

Going on Sea|mester was the best choice I made for myself in 2025, and its impact on my life cannot be understated. There is no feeling in the world that compares to sailing alone in the vastness of the Indian Ocean at 2am, thousands of stars studding the midnight velvet of the sky, sea so calm that the stars are reflected in its surface, while sparkling bioluminescent phytoplankton lights up the path Vela carves through the water. It’s hard to put into words how this experience truly grew me as a person, stretching me beyond what I thought I was capable of, and challenging me to be a better and open-minded human. Learning to work with others to sail a boat across an ocean to an entirely new continent has given me so much confidence in my life on land, and I truly feel that nothing is out of reach for me now. The flexibility and quick adaptations we had to constantly have (especially regarding time management and studying for classes) on Vela has prepared me so much for the struggles and unpredictability of real life. Learning about subjects like marine biology and oceanography while they directly pertained to our lives was unparalleled! There’s nothing like catching and dissecting a wahoo you caught on passage for marine biology, and then getting to have fish tacos for dinner later, or learning how to navigate via nautical charts in class and then getting to do it for real on boat checks. My trip also helped me build lifelong bonds with the other students, and I feel so blessed to call 15 other people across two countries and 13 states my good friends. If you are considering Sea|mester, go! Do whatever you can to make it possible to go on one of these trips. It will change your life, self- identity, and concept of humanity for the better.

Seamester was an amazing, incredible, unique experience. It challenged me in ways I expected, and in ways I didn’t, and I wouldn’t trade a single moment of it for anything. Studying abroad with Seamester is not for the faint of heart, but if you’re looking for adventure and willing to work hard I highly recommend this program!!! It’s a great way to see less-travelled-to parts of the world and you can collect some amazing friends and unforgettable experiences along the way. Highly recommend for someone wanting a unique study abroad experience!

Greatest three months of my life so far. Obviously there were some issues socially, with sicknesses, with staff, and with adapting to life away from home and at sea, but that’s simply what comes with an entire new experience, and was nothing that defined my trip. The places I saw, the people I met, and the relationships I made on board have been absolutely incredible. I’ve been able to see things so many people will never see in their lifetime and I’m so grateful. I’ve so many people with different backgrounds and navigated through new challenges, this trip has made me excited for what’s next in my life.

I has such a good time of Sea|mester all of there staff and students I was surround by where just the coolest people ever. I had such a great time going on all of the hikes and ocean swims. I loved being able to wake up when we got to a new port and go up the companion way to see all of the nature around us after only seeing the ocean for days. I had a great time fishing when we were underway and being able to cook the fish we caught was really cool. Some of my favorite memories where when all of the students would sit up on the bow and talk for hours to each other at night.

I was one of Argo's maiden voyage shipmates in the summer of 2006 when she launched in Thailand! Even though it was about 13 years ago, I still have very vivid memories of many different experiences on board.

It was an unforgettable experience completing night watches with my watch team, seeing pods of hundreds of dolphins riding our bow wake, navigating under the stars at night, watching the incredible sunrises... life at sea really teaches you a unique lesson of living in the moment. If you have any doubts, know that you grow so much by doing something you are unfamiliar with... and you'll also come home with some crazy stories!!

I did this trip in 2014 and I had an incredible time. I learned a lot about myself as a person, became a more proficient sailor, learned how to use my leadership style to my advantage, and became a good member of a team. There are so many soft skills you learn while living in this environment with this many people it's difficult to quantify. You learn plenty of hard skills around the boat that will follow you after the trip as well. You get to run the boat as a team while becoming very close with your mentors as well. The simplicity of life underway was one of my favorite parts. You're surrounded by a huge family on an incredible adventure, seeing beautiful countries and make memories that last a lifetime. I have nothing but the most positive things to say about this program and the impact it's had on my life.

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.