Your journey begins in far-off Darwin, Australia. It won’t be hard to find our 112-ft schooner, S/Y Vela, tied alongside the dock or out at anchor with an eager crew of 6 staff waiting to greet you with a smile. After dropping your bags in your cabin, it’s time to take a breath, look around and realize that this beautiful schooner floating atop crystal clear Australian waters is now your home and classroom for the next 70 days as you embark on the voyage of a lifetime.
| Start Location | End Location |
|---|---|
| Darwin, Australia (DRW) | Bali, Indonesia (DPS) |
| Area | Ports of Call |
|---|---|
| Australia | Darwin, Tiwi Islands* |
| Indonesia | Raja Ampat |
| Micronesia | Palau |
| Indonesia | Komodo National Park, Gili Islands, Bali |
| *Please note that all destinations are weather dependent and subject to change. | |
As you awake after your first full night’s sleep on board S/Y Vela, we cast our lines and the journey begins. As with all Sea|mester voyages, the first week to ten days of the program is a crash course on how to be successful in your new environment. With the guidance of our staff, you’ll learn the in’s and out’s of how to live, work and learn in such close quarters with others – from sailing to cooking and everything in between.
Those new to scuba diving will spend quite a bit of time underwater working towards the PADI Open Water Certification. Those arriving with more experience will get reacquainted with the underwater world by taking a few refresher dives.
During the first week, you’ll also have your first lectures for each of the three college-level courses. While the structure of the syllabi might look familiar, you’ll quickly find that learning from the deck of a boat couldn’t be more different.
The only thing that’s typical about a day with Sea|mester is that it’s going to be anything but typical! While living aboard you’ll be involved in every aspect of running the 112 ft. school ship S/Y Vela. Whether standing watch at 2 AM under a blanket of stars, monitoring the ship’s systems, or planning, provisioning and cooking the meals for your team, by the end of the experience you’ll feel the accomplishment of knowing that you played a big part in the success of the expedition.
Throughout this adventure aboard Vela, whether a novice or advanced, students will have the opportunity to sample some of the world’s best scuba diving. Over the course of the 70-day voyage, you’ll become an experienced diver, completing between 25 and 30 dives. However, the novelty of breathing underwater won’t disappear.
Whether working towards a new certification in 15 feet of water, researching on a fringing reef, or just exploring the wreck of an old WWII plane, you’ll gain a lifetime worth of stories from places few people get to see.
If you’re new to diving, you’ll earn the PADI Open Water Diver Certification as well as the Advanced Open Water Diver Certification. Depending on time, conditions and student interest, many groups also earn the PADI Rescue Diver certification. If you’re already an experienced diver, you can work all the way up to the professional Divemaster certification. If you feel that scuba diving is a passion, this is definitely the voyage to consider.
Throughout the voyage, it’s easy to forget that this is College even though academics are an integral part of the experience. Our instructors schedule 3 or 4 lectures, discussions, or labs per class each week and each course includes quizzes, research projects, midterms, and finals.
Learning in an environment that combines academia with experience allows you to truly interact with your education. It brings academics to life, adding relevance and practical application to the material. Learning has never been this fun!
It’s amazing to sail along the beautiful coastline of Australia and through the Gili Islands and reflect on what you’ve already accomplished, but once life at sea starts to become your new normal, after you’ve gone through your station drills, man overboard scenarios, fire drills etc. – it will be time to put your new skills to the test on this transoceanic passage. From here on out, the distances between ports become greater. You’ll cross the equator, and battle squalls as you learn to soak in passage life. Throughout your 70-day voyage, the longest passage can be up to 10 days long with the average passage being 2-5 days. Make no mistake, as a Sea|mester student you are not a passenger, you are the crew responsible for making the ship sail. You’ll be an integral part of a watch team sharing the responsibility of navigation, bow watch, engine checks, sail trim and steering the ship to its intended destination.
The best way to explain what it means to say goodbye after such an incredible experience is to use the words from someone who had to do just that…
Day 90. Letting that number sink in took a while for everyone, but it is hard to believe that just three months ago we were assembling on the banks of Australia with optimism in our hearts. Tomorrow we would be spreading across the globe back home, to other countries, and to new adventures. Today however was another day aboard the beautiful sailing yacht that we called home. The shipmates spent the day packing, cleaning, preparing for the final dinner out as a crew, and the inevitable goodbyes that would follow. The final squeeze question for the crew was what person or event made a significant impact on your life this trip and to say any final goodbyes. For over an hour and one by one we each reminisced about how our lives might be different and the people that we will leave yet still hold so close to our hearts. Our dinner out as a crew was filled with good food and conversation. Emotions began to grow with the realization that soon people who we had spent every waking moment with for 90 days were about to be suddenly gone. After a few hours, or minutes, of sleep, we joined on deck for our first group leaving for the airport at 4 am. Tears filled eyes and hugs held together friends one last time as dinghy rides began shuttling people to shore. We will leave Argo changed, in some way in some manner. You’ll see some of your kids return different from when they left. It may be startling and it may be subtle, but I assure you that each and every one of us has been affected by the other and for that we have grown as a crew and as a family. Alas we depart from our journey, not fearful of change or depressed in sadness, but focused so intently for the moment life gives us the chance to do it again.
Depending upon previous experience, students will have the opportunity to complete a number of the following certifications during their voyage.
Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Rescue Diver
Divemaster
Learn more about scuba
International Crew
VHF Operator
Navigation Master
Master of Yachts 200 Ton Offshore Theory
Learn more about sailing
Emergency First Response - First Aid & CPR
Our 70-day Global Sea|mester Voyages offer a comprehensive experience in terms of the geographical area covered and both academic and vocational classes and certifications earned. During the program, up to 9 academic credits are offered for the Seamanship, Student Leadership, and Marine Biology classes taught aboard. In addition, there are several vocational courses offered for those looking to further their professional development in the maritime industry. For more information on our classes, please visit our academics page.
None at all. All you need is a great attitude and a willingness to fully participate in every aspect of the experience.
Six professional staff members live aboard full-time. There will be the Skipper, the First and Second Mate and two Marine Biologists (who are typically scuba diving instructors) and a sixth staff member who could also be an EMT or someone with other special skills. Take a look through our team page for more information.
The weather in Northern Australia at the beginning of the trip should be fantastic with some warmer sailing conditions as we begin heading north into Indonesia. It is likely that we will see varying tropical weather conditions during our passages through Indonesia, including the occasional rain shower.
When we are ashore or close at anchor there will be plenty of opportunities to communicate with friends and family at home. That said, while aboard we have guidelines as to when it is appropriate to use your personal communications devices. The environment we strive to create relies heavily on each individual remaining focused on the group and our experience. Being tied to the modern world of “instant communications” can, in certain circumstances, be a hindrance to the personal and group processes aboard.
Cell Phones: Check with your provider before you go, but so long as you have a sim card, your cell phone will likely work in most global locations.
Internet: While our vessels are not wifi equipped, another way to communicate is by email, text, Facetime or Skype using shore side internet. The internet is often free or available to purchase in most of the locations that we visit.
Both on the vessel and ashore, the answer is up to you. The vast majority of the meals during your trip are prepared and eaten aboard. For meals aboard, each person on the crew takes a turn as head chef to plan and cook the meals for an entire day with the help of another person acting as sous-chef. We all work to stay within a budget, with both students and staff responsible for stocking the vessels. We endeavor to accommodate everyone aboard while providing what any alumni will tell you, was a great dining adventure. During your free time ashore you will have the opportunity to eat more adventurously. With this voyage starting in Australia and moving through Indonesia, students will get to sample some unbelievably delicious traditional meals! Prepare your palate as the food has every opportunity to test your spice and heat toleration.
You can choose to book on your own, yet we suggest that you start by requesting a quote from one of our recommended travel partners as they will provide you with service on-beyond an online booking service or search engine.
This voyage is scheduled to:
When booking travel, students should be aware that the program start date is the date upon which students should arrive aboard the vessel. The program end date is the date on which students should depart the vessel and start their travel home.
a. TRC Travel Center
Leah Hernandez is our primary travel coordinator, and she works for a company called TRC Travel Center. Leah obtains great fares and provides close monitoring and assistance on travel days in case of flight difficulties. Leah will also maintain your flight details in the Student Portal on your behalf, ensuring their accuracy in the event of flight changes. Connect with Leah –
Phone: +1.281.528.7727 (9am – 5pm Central Time)
Email: leahctn68@hotmail.com
b. Global Marine Travel
An alternative is to contact Global Marine Travel (GMT) to request a quote for a “Marine Fare” ticket. Marine Fares may be cheaper or more expensive than a regular fare, but in most cases will be more flexible should you need to change your ticket and will include the provision for a larger number of checked bags. Do the research to figure out which ticket suits you best. Connect with GMT –
Phone: +1.954.761.9595 (24hrs)
Email: info@flygmt.com
When contacting GMT, you will need to reference the following:
c. Other Booking Options – Air Miles & Self Booking
We cannot be responsible for coordinating flights booked in this way, so please ensure that you are booking the correct itinerary (dates/destination) before purchasing a ticket online or through a source other than our recommended travel partners. If you have any questions regarding the date or time of arrival for your voyage, please call us to confirm any proposed flight itinerary before you book it. Once booked, you will be required to enter, then maintain accurate flight details in the relevant section of the Student Portal.
Your passport’s expiration date is of utmost importance to the immigration officials in the countries we visit. Each government mandates a “minimum validity,” with many using a six-month rule, meaning that the visitor’s passport must remain valid for six (6) months AFTER the last day of travel in that country. A few nations have more lenient minimum validity rules, but since we typically visit multiple countries throughout the voyage, meeting the six-month standard is compulsory in most cases. If your passport expires sooner than six months after the final day of your program, we recommend that you talk to the passport office about their backlog and renewal timeframe. You may also contact our office to learn more about whether you would be able to travel on a passport that expires earlier than six months after your trip ends.
US Citizens: Those traveling on a US passport rarely need to apply for specific country visas in advance of the program. In certain circumstances, we are required to process a vessel cruising permit or visitation visa on your behalf before the trip. If this is the case, we’ll let you know in advance whether there are any steps that we need you to take.
Students traveling on non-U.S. passports: Aside from needing a valid US ESTA to transit through the United States (if applicable), students traveling on a Canadian or an EU passport rarely need to apply for any other specific country visas in advance of the program. Learn more about the ESTA requirements, and whether this applies to you here – https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/.
Citizens of Asian, African, and South American nations may need to apply for specific visas. Since we cannot apply for visas on your behalf, you must take the following steps as soon as you can.
We do not currently require proof of vaccination in order to enroll.
We know that each individual has unique medical considerations and understand that families have varying opinions on immunizations as a whole. While we are not physicians and cannot provide official or specific medical advice, we recommend that you talk with your healthcare provider to discuss the trip and check that all standard immunizations and boosters are up to date.
The CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website at www.cdc.gov contains an excellent section that focuses on Travelers’ Health. This is a useful resource as you consider which precautions you might want to take. When completing your research, bear in mind that your voyage is almost 100% coastal. Many of the CDC’s recommendations are specific to agricultural or rural areas or regions within the country which we do not visit.
Though the fundamentals of our voyages do not change, specific logistics evolve over time and can be subject to change based on any number of factors, most of which relate directly to risk management planning.
For this reason, the map and voyage timeline portions of this page should give you a basic understanding of the places we’ll go and activities we’ll do, but you should expect your voyage to be unique. If you take a look through the Trip Logs for previous voyages you’ll see that they can differ significantly.
With that in mind, we encourage all students to “live in the moment” while on the program. Travel, even on organized trips, requires flexibility and a willingness to accept adversity and change. We hope you’ll take the bumps in stride, and enjoy the adventure!
You can choose to book on your own, yet we suggest that you start by requesting a quote from one of our recommended travel partners as they will provide you with service on-beyond an online booking service or search engine.
This voyage is scheduled to:
When booking travel, students should be aware that the program start date is the date upon which students should arrive aboard the vessel. The program end date is the date on which students should depart the vessel and start their travel home.
a. TRC Travel Center
Leah Hernandez is our primary travel coordinator, and she works for a company called TRC Travel Center. Leah obtains great fares and provides close monitoring and assistance on travel days in case of flight difficulties. Leah will also maintain your flight details in the Student Portal on your behalf, ensuring their accuracy in the event of flight changes. Connect with Leah –
Phone: +1.281.528.7727 (9am – 5pm Central Time)
Email: leahctn68@hotmail.com
b. Global Marine Travel
An alternative is to contact Global Marine Travel (GMT) to request a quote for a “Marine Fare” ticket. Marine Fares may be cheaper or more expensive than a regular fare, but in most cases will be more flexible should you need to change your ticket and will include the provision for a larger number of checked bags. Do the research to figure out which ticket suits you best. Connect with GMT –
Phone: +1.954.761.9595 (24hrs)
Email: info@flygmt.com
When contacting GMT, you will need to reference the following:
c. Other Booking Options – Air Miles & Self Booking
We cannot be responsible for coordinating flights booked in this way, so please ensure that you are booking the correct itinerary (dates/destination) before purchasing a ticket online or through a source other than our recommended travel partners. If you have any questions regarding the date or time of arrival for your voyage, please call us to confirm any proposed flight itinerary before you book it. Once booked, you will be required to enter, then maintain accurate flight details in the relevant section of the Student Portal.
Your passport’s expiration date is of utmost importance to the immigration officials in the countries we visit. Each government mandates a “minimum validity,” with many using a six-month rule, meaning that the visitor’s passport must remain valid for six (6) months AFTER the last day of travel in that country. A few nations have more lenient minimum validity rules, but since we typically visit multiple countries throughout the voyage, meeting the six-month standard is compulsory in most cases. If your passport expires sooner than six months after the final day of your program, we recommend that you talk to the passport office about their backlog and renewal timeframe. You may also contact our office to learn more about whether you would be able to travel on a passport that expires earlier than six months after your trip ends.
US Citizens: Those traveling on a US passport rarely need to apply for specific country visas in advance of the program. In certain circumstances, we are required to process a vessel cruising permit or visitation visa on your behalf before the trip. If this is the case, we’ll let you know in advance whether there are any steps that we need you to take.
Students traveling on non-U.S. passports: Aside from needing a valid US ESTA to transit through the United States (if applicable), students traveling on a Canadian or an EU passport rarely need to apply for any other specific country visas in advance of the program. Learn more about the ESTA requirements, and whether this applies to you here – https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/.
Citizens of Asian, African, and South American nations may need to apply for specific visas. Since we cannot apply for visas on your behalf, you must take the following steps as soon as you can.
We do not currently require proof of vaccination in order to enroll.
We know that each individual has unique medical considerations and understand that families have varying opinions on immunizations as a whole. While we are not physicians and cannot provide official or specific medical advice, we recommend that you talk with your healthcare provider to discuss the trip and check that all standard immunizations and boosters are up to date.
The CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website at www.cdc.gov contains an excellent section that focuses on Travelers’ Health. This is a useful resource as you consider which precautions you might want to take. When completing your research, bear in mind that your voyage is almost 100% coastal. Many of the CDC’s recommendations are specific to agricultural or rural areas or regions within the country which we do not visit.
Though the fundamentals of our voyages do not change, specific logistics evolve over time and can be subject to change based on any number of factors, most of which relate directly to risk management planning.
For this reason, the map and voyage timeline portions of this page should give you a basic understanding of the places we’ll go and activities we’ll do, but you should expect your voyage to be unique. If you take a look through the Trip Logs for previous voyages you’ll see that they can differ significantly.
With that in mind, we encourage all students to “live in the moment” while on the program. Travel, even on organized trips, requires flexibility and a willingness to accept adversity and change. We hope you’ll take the bumps in stride, and enjoy the adventure!
