Seamester: Virgin Islands to Antigua - 20 Days

In my final semester at USF I was required to take an international trip with classwork for at least 2 weeks. This 20 day sailing adventure from the BVI to Antigua and back was the perfect fit! My next step in schooling was a PhD in marine geology at the University of Miami, so having the ability to dive in this wide variety of locations was truly eye opening. In addition to the extensive dive training, learning how to properly sail was an amazing experience. As a kiteboarder, I have always loved the wind and water, but have never made any large passages at sea by sailing vessel. This allowed me to do that, and learn how to sail these complex tall ships. The food was great, from cooking together in teams in the ships galley, to going out in foreign countries for dinner, this is a great experience that you want to sign up for! The friends you make will be remembered forever!

Once I landed in Tortola, carried my duffel bag down the marina to Fire Bolt and Ocean Star, I knew I was in for an incredible 20 day voyage. An experience like no other, engages me and the fellow college students to step outside the confines of their standard classroom and live aboard a boat in the middle of the ocean. The lessons I learned were life changing because I was never exposed to diving with a regulator or understanding points of sail. When I jumped in the salty water, covered many nautical miles, watched the anchor at various late hours of the night, and made a second family with the staff and other students aboard, I could feel a new door open with joy and excitement. This was a new chapter in my life and I loved being at sea with people I now call my good friends!

By faaarrr, the best experiences of my life. Every Seamester I’ve been on, I could relive them 100 times over. Every staff and student have been incredible. The relationships and friends I’ve formed through these adventures will stay with me for the rest of my life. I couldn’t urge and encourage more strongly whoever reads this, Seamester is an experience everyone must go through! I’m in love with this program. Everyone involved is a rockstar. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and experienced. I’ve been on several Seamester’s and every one, though different, every one has been exceptional! I’ve made life long friends that I still talk to and we still see each other! Seamester takes you to places you’d never dream of going! It’ll change your life, and for soo much better!

This trip completely changed my life. I was So nervous going into it but within the first 2 days I knew I had Already made lifelong friends. the staff did a great job of making me feel comfortable onboard, helping us constantly, and even making us feel like friends and comrades rather than just being our instructors. Living on board was also an experience in itself. Overnight sails were my absolute favorite, getting to see the sunset and seeing all the stars was amazing. Between going on dives, going ashore for hikes or even horseback riding, it was an amazing experience. If you get the opportunity to go, do it. You will not regret it. I made memories and friends I will have for the rest of my life. I am So thankful I got The opportunity to go on an expedition with SeaMester

Water has been one of my favorite things ever since I was little. At one my parents went on a sailing vacation and I have never been away from water since then. This trip deepened my love for not only the water but nature as a whole. Being able to live on a boat in which I received an exemplary education on and about sailing that was entirely a hands on experience altered my life. Furthermore, literally deepening my understanding of the water through the scuba diving experience gave me a new insight on the water as well as a new activity to take part in. Lastly, this whole experience exposed me to how important our nature is and how important it is to protect both land and sea. I loved my life aboard, and love life now more because of it. From this point on I wish to pursue sailing and traveling more so than ever. If you have the opportunity TAKE it. If you are looking to become a better person and learn through hands on experience then this is for you. I wish I could live the SeaMester life forever, but since I cannot... I hope you live your best adventure for me.

Going into this program, I had very little idea of what to expect.
Although I had been on boats before, I had never been sailing, traveled out of the country by myself, and had never scuba dived. All these and more were just the beginnings of my firsts aboard the Ocean Star, and were completed within the first few days of the program.
Along with the unforgettable experiences of learning how to sail, dive, and experience living on a boat, I met some of the most amazing and inspiring young adults (and instructors) that continue to be a close and amazing resource for me today. I would recommend this program to anyone with an adventurous spirit and sense of adventure (and I have)
This program was absolutely amazing, and I could not have asked for a better way to meet new people, travel the world, and learn so much about myself and sailing.

This trip truly changed me for the better. It sparked a love of travel and exploration that was so beneficial for me, I can barely put it into words. It helped me grow as a person on so many levels. I learned valuable skills and life lessons that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Given the opportunity, I would go back in a quick heart beat. There's nothing like living and working on a boat like Ocean Star. In fact, she was more than just a boat. Ocean Star was home to everyone aboard and we quickly became our own little family unit out there on the water. It's an adventure worth taking because it truly is unlike anything I've ever experienced before, and I am forever grateful that I had the opportunity to experience it all. I loved it.

This was the absolute trip of a lifetime and if you get the opportunity to go I highly recommend it. It will challenge you in ways you would never expect but also help you grow as an individual. Everyday you engage in new things that you would never expect and you visit amazing places that you will probably never see again unless you travel in the Caribbean a lot. Each moment spent on the vessel, on land, in the water, etc is very valuable. The friends you will make on your magical journey become family forever. I definitely would go on another semester trip in a heartbeat if the opportunity arises again. From anchor watches to watch teams to trying to scuba dive it is all amazing. Push yourself to the best that you can be and you will go far.