Having sailed over 50,000 miles and completed seven ocean crossings since the pandemic began, our three vessels are ready to cast off once again. Learn more, then enroll to leave virtual, hybrid, or compromised learning behind and spend your college semester or gap year at sea, living aboard full-time and exploring the world from the deck of a sailing vessel. Study abroad while crossing oceans and experiencing cultures and continents with strangers turned friends. Earn college credit in marine sciences and seamanship as you earn sailing and scuba diving certifications. Each new wonder — whether it’s a pod of dolphins accompanying you on a leg of your voyage or the shout of “land ho” signaling your next shoreside excursion is near — is a testament to the discovery and accomplishment of you and your crew.
Enrollment is open to all college and gap year students, as well as high school graduates. Aside from an adventurous spirit and willingness to give it your all, no previous experience is necessary to join our team.
After two years of preparation, planning, and construction S/Y Vela was launched in mid-July 2020! Her first compliment of student crew joined Vela in the Maldives for an epic Indian Ocean adventure to Cape Town, South Africa. Marking Sea|mester’s 20th anniversary, the decision to build our third vessel was an exciting and exhausting event. Vela has an incredibly bright future ahead, yet our build blog will remain on our site as a testament to those that made the creation and birth of our newest floating classroom possible.
While studying abroad with Sea|mester gives unique opportunities to travel the world, discover new cultures and take part in the adventure of a lifetime, the backbone of the experience is a comprehensive academic curriculum, accredited through the University of South Florida (USF).
In the Sea|mester environment, combining academics with the experience allows students to truly interact with their education. It brings your education to life, adding relevancy and practical application to the material as well as never-ending opportunities to learn.