Seamester Study Abroad at Sea

Studying abroad aboard Argo en route from Fiji to Bali (via Palau) was an experience I don't think I will ever forget. In addition to academics I also learned how to sail, how to scuba dive, and (I think most importantly) how to live and thrive in unique and seemingly uncomfortable conditions. The program is one of a kind, as are all the people who you will embark on it alongside. I loved it!

My Seamester trip was genuinely the best 20 days of my life! My biggest regret was not doing a longer trip with them. It was crazy how much I got to experience in just these 20 days. I learned how to scuba dive and got to dive in some of the most stunning dive sites in the Caribbean. I learned responsibility, as we got the opportunity to be full-immersed in sailing an 88-foot schooner. And I learned how to live and work well with others in very close quarters. The friends I made on this trip will be my friends for a lifetime. Seamester does a really good job of cultivating an environment where you work hard and play hard. Additionally, the staff were the most patient, kind, selfless and hard working people I have ever met. I really trusted them to keep us safe, and I learned so much from them. They are amazing role models and had everyone's best interest in mind at all times. I seriously could not recommend this program enough, the only thing I would do differently is never leave :)

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My biggest takeaway, besides the incredible places we visited and sailing, was how inspiring the staff was! I loved meeting new people and hearing about how their paths brought them to Sea|Mester!! It truly opened new pathways that I hadn't imagined, knowing that I could have those experiences too. I had the best time exploring different islands and learning so much about sailing a big boat! My biggest excitement was that every day was a new adventure. I learned so much in just a short amount of time and would highly recommend this program!! (Although my one regret is that I didn't do a longer trip!)

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Living on Argo was the most incredible experience of my life, I absolutely loved my voyage with 30 of my favorite people! I sailed from Fiji to Palau on the 40 day voyage, and I loved every minute of it!

I have recommended the experience to everyone I know. My only regret is that I didn’t go longer. The staff before the trip and on board were so incredibly helpful. Overall I made friendships and memories to last a lifetime. I loved every moment!

I loved learning to sail on Vela, exploring every new place we sailed to like devils island with no inhabitants was pretty cool too. Meeting some of my new favourite people in the form of my crew was pretty sweet too. I’m going to miss it<3

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Seamester was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding. Living on a boat, sailing every day, and diving in some of the most incredible places in the world pushed me far outside my comfort zone and helped me grow so much as a person. The dives were unforgettable, the sailing taught me resilience and teamwork, and the people made it all worth it. I met some of my closest friends and made memories I’ll carry with me forever. It challenged me, changed me, and gave me experiences I never could have had anywhere else. I’m so grateful I did it.

I went into Seamester feeling excited, nervous and worried that my expectations were unrealistically high! I can not stress enough that I was so wrong, Seamester blew my mind, it was more incredible than I could ever have began to imagine. I can not recommend this program enough, you will experience once in a lifetime things and see incredible places. More than that you will learn, learn about the world the ocean and most importantly yourself. You will be challenged in the best way possible and truthfully flourish. I owe this program so much and would do it again in a heartbeat. Go in with a smile and an open mind and it will not disappoint.

Seamester was a last minute decision for me, kind of came out of nowhere. Best decision I could have made. I met 30 incredible people that I am happy to report are some of my closest friends now. This trip was so fun but also extremely difficult. I wouldn’t change my experience for the world though. Thank you Seamester.

What this trip gave me was unreplicatable experiences. I got to live on a boat for 90 days with like-minded individuals, and do things and go places that most people will never be able to. We crossed the Panama Canal, got to scuba dive in Galápagos, and had a special ceremony as we crossed the equator. We visited many remote islands that would be hard to get to otherwise. We sailed the Pacific, and went eighteen days without seeing land. And as we were doing it all, we studied marine biology and oceanography, learned what it meant to be a sailor, and how to be a leader. This is a once in a lifetime experience, and I’m grateful for every story I have brought home with me.

This trip definitely taught me a lot about myself- especially my limits. There was one person on my boat who left because he felt extremely homesick, uncomfortable, etc.. and so did I. The only difference between me and him was that I came on this trip to push myself- I definitely payed attention to the reviews and even warnings on the website that stated this trip isn't for the weak of heart. So, I stayed. I really struggled, though. I'm not the type of person to go on these types of things- ever. So, being said, I may have a different opinion about this trip than most students. Most people on the boat really loved it. Personally, I could deal with the work that we had to do, I knew it was necessary. I couldn't deal with the cockroaches. That was bad. I couldn't deal with the way staff handled some issues. That was bad. I wish there was more personal autonomy on this trip- being able to pick what you want to do for the day, even. I also wish there were more breaks. Almost everyone I know reached a point of complete mental exhaustion (which I know was expected). We were not asking at any point for a full day off- but maybe even just a 4 hour break once every 2-3 weeks. Besides that, this trip really was great. It taught me so much about myself and I have so much more confidence in who I am as a person, and what I can achieve. I genuinely feel like the sky is the limit. I met some lifelong friends and had experiences I will talk about until the day I die. Thanks Seamester!

i really enjoyed this trip overall. i've met some of the best people i've ever met in my life, who i will definitely stay in touch for a long time. it was nice to learn about the basics of sailing as well as getting to see so many different places but i wish we got to have more shore time and we didn't have to suffer in the heat because the captain didn't want to turn the gen on. i didn't like how the staff were more emotionally immature than the teens on the boat, i found it particularly unprofessional, how they would constantly project their anger on us and pick on one person for an unnecessary extended amount of time. i also felt like we did not have enough food and no one genuinely enjoyed their job.

The time I spent on this adventure is something I will never forget. I won't forget the amazing people and places we visited. no matter what I know I will hold this experience I won't forget, and there won't be another like it. The Classes were great as well as the sail handling as well. Thank you for the amazing time I and my freinds had

I would 100% recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in adventure, trying new things, and being a part of a team. When I came across Seamester online, it just felt right from the beginning, and I knew it was something I wanted to do. Actually, going on the trip was even better and like coming home. A value of mine is living life to the fullest, enjoying the small things, and I want to live a life where at the end, I know I did everything and felt everything. I have never felt as alive and so at home as I did on Argo. It is hard to describe all the emotions I've felt over the past 90 days. I have never felt so close to people and myself as I did on Argo. I have learned to love people in a deeper way and gained a new appreciation for everything. I am extremely grateful for all the lifelong friendships made. I am proud of myself for taking the jump and who I've become through the experience. If you share any of the same interests and are considering doing a Seamester, I urge you to do it because it will change you in ways you can't even imagine.

Seamester was an amazing experience. It challenged me in so many ways including physically and mentally, and I grew so much as a person in several different ways. I loved seeing the world on a sailboat and it truely was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Seamester Bali to South Africa was an awesome way to study abroad. The classes can be difficult with little time to study and complete assignments. It is also easy to feel exhausted all the time due to lots of physical activity and no so much sleep, but that is all part of the fun. The classes are also everyday, including weekends, for the most part, which is weird at first but you get used to it. It is definitely a big lifestyle change, but as the trip goes on, you definitely adjust to it and enjoy it. You get super close with the friends you make here and don't want to leave at the end. Although it can be a lot of work, you learn so much. Amazing study abroad opportunity for anyone into sailing and diving.

This was one of the biggest challenges of my life. I learned skills and made memories that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I made lifelong friends during this shared adventure. This was the best thing I could have done for myself.

My Seamester trip changed my life. I was shocked to discover how much I love to sail, explore new places, and live on the ocean! I was really struggling to find something I’m passionate about, but since leaving Argo, I am actively chasing opportunities to work on a boat and continue living on the ocean. I met some of the best friends I’ll ever have, and I cannot imagine a world in which I never met them. The staff were so helpful, supportive, and incredibly caring. I immediately felt like we were all one large family. I cannot recommend this enough. There are hard parts, that’s for sure. I definitely had moments where I was just so exhausted, homesick, nervous, and stressed out. But the lessons I learned in those situations shaped me into a more confident and adventurous person, and I am so grateful for that. If you’re considering going on a Seamester trip, GO!! I highly recommend the Mediterranean to Caribbean trip, the places we went were remarkable and I wish I could go back in time and do it all over again. Seriously, it is worth every penny. I will always remember my trip and if someone else has even half the experience I had, I know they will absolutely love it.

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I had a great time! I’d say the best thing to do is keep and open mind because you may find yourself doing stuff that’s not your favorite, but if you think of it with an open mind it will be super fun. I can also promise you will enjoy passage much more then you expect, it is one of the most fun things I’ve ever experienced and definitely a highlight of the trip.

I sailed with Sea|messter for 3 months from Fiji to Palau and Indonesia. I joined the boat with no sailing or scuba experience and ended up a rescue diver with multiple sailing certifications. All the staff and students were so friendly and the 22 strangers that I met on day one turned into a tight-knit family that was impossible to say goodbye to on day 80. The program is definitely challenging and will push you out of your comfort zone with long-passage and some rough nights but I now look back on those as some of my fondest memories. The boat transforms into a home with people who were put together by chance and now know some of the strangest stories about each other's lives. Nothing can ever beat the feeling of jumping off the boat to swim with manta rays just feet from our floating home or back-rolling off the dinghies to scuba dive across the equator or helming through 360-degree sunrises and sunsets in the middle of the ocean with some of your closest friends. This experience teaches you to be comfortable going outside your comfort zone and to always say yes, it may just turn into one of the best memories of your life.

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