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Caribbean Basin

4,500 Nautical Miles via Antigua, Aruba, Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, BVI
This is the trip for the adventurer who's looking for more - a full semester's worth of credits and 3,000 miles more. Miles you'll navigate through tides and currents with strangers turned friends; passengers turned crew. Along the way, you'll explore the Lesser Antilles, The ABC Islands, Jamaica, Cayman the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands. You'll scuba dive (day and night) among century-old shipwrecks, writhing reefs and glowing bioluminescence. You'll hike one of the world's only two boiling lakes and inside ancient volcanoes--absorbing the history, geography and culture of the islands along the way. Sailing full circle, you'll compete in the world-famous Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta at the adventure's climax.
  • Days
  • Credits
  • Students
  • Term
  • Tuition (USD)
Upcoming Semester Information

We’re sorry, but there are no voyages planned at this time. Please contact us for more information.

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Life Aboard

Sails Up Anchors Down

USF Accredited Academics

Certification Courses

Activities

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Educational & Cultural Tours Hiking & Trekking Service Personal Time

The Voyage

Your Adventure Starts Here
Caribbean-Basin-Map-Animation-v1
Welcome aboard!

The journey begins at the historic Nelsons Dockyard in English Harbor, Antigua. It won’t be hard to find our 112-ft schooner, S/Y Argo, tied alongside the dock with an eager crew of 6 staff waiting to help you with your luggage. 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 Caribbean waters is now your home and classroom for the next 90 days as you embark on the voyage of a lifetime.

Sample Trip Itinerary*
Area Ports of Call
Lesser Antilles Antigua, Les Saints, Dominica, Martinique Grenada, BVI
Netherlands Antilles Aruba, Bonaire
Greater Antilles Jamaica, Grand Cayman
Honduras Roatan
Cuba* Cienfuegos, Havana
Bahamas New Providence, Eleuthera
*Dependent on U.S. State Department permitting. Please note that all destinations are weather dependent and subject to change.
passage
Learning the Ropes
8-10 days

After spending a couple days exploring the rich history of Admiral Nelson’s dockyard, we cast off our lines and the journey truly 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 four 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.

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Rite of Passage
Island Hopping and Passage Making

It’s amazing to realize that a 112 ft. schooner is your new home, classroom and mode of transportation, however once this starts to settle in and become your new normal, you truly begin to fine tune your skills in sailing on this voyage throughout the Caribbean Basin. From here on out, the distances between ports will range from half day adventures to 3-5 day nonstop passages. Regardless of the length, each passage will bring the crew closer together as you share the responsibility of piloting S/Y Argo over the open sea. 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.

study-abroad-semester-antigua
Les Saintes
(8-10 days)

One of the reasons you’ll love the Caribbean is the cultural diversity between each individual island.  Due to colonialization in the 1500’s, Guadeloupe & Les Saintes are to this day considered to be a region of France.  The minute you step off the boat you’ll realize that the islands  are very much steeped in French culture.  The best examples are found in Fort Napoleon (yes that Napoleon) in Les Saintes.

> Next stop: Dominica
adventure-study-abroad-caribbean-martinique
Dominica
(3-5 Days)

Although you can see Dominica from Les Saintes, the cultures of these neighbors might as well come from different sides of the planet. Nicknamed the Nature Isle of the Caribbean, Dominica is often considered one of our students’ favorite islands of the voyage.  With the help of our good friends, local Dominicans Pancho and Sea Cat, you’ll hike through the rainforest to the world’s largest boiling lake, all while refreshing yourself in one of its dozens of natural hot springs.

>Next stop: Grenada
study-abroad-caribbean-grenada
Grenada & The Grenadines
(5-7 days)

From Dominica you’ll embark on your longest passage yet, 3 days of beautiful downwind sailing to the islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines. During your time in the Grenadines you’ll get the chance to tour the unique whaling culture of Bequia or swim with turtles in the bluest water you’ve ever seen in the Tobago Cays or maybe a hike to the top of the epic Seven Sisters Waterfalls in Grenada sounds good to you?

> Next stop: Bonaire & Aruba
bonaire_15
Bonaire and Aruba
(2-4 Days)

The ABC islands might be just off the coast of Venezuela but life on shore is closer to life in the Netherlands. Windsurfers from all over the world flock to the windward side of Bonaire where the conditions are ideal for experts and beginners alike! The island also offers some of the best deep diving, wildlife, and pristine reefs – and it’s all accessible directly from the beach! Aruba is a short hop away and a necessary stop off point for Argo and crew to not only restock the ships provisions but also spend some time relaxing on the Marina’s private island with a local population of flamingos

>Next stop: Jamaica
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Exploring the Underwater Realm
20-25 Dives

Wether in Dominica or the Bahamas, students onboard Argo during the Caribbean Basin voyage will experience some of the world’s best scuba diving. Over the course of the 90-day voyage, you’ll become an experienced diver, completing between 20 and 25 dives. However, the novelty of breathing underwater won’t disappear.

Whether working towards a new certification in 15 feet of water, researching on a barrier reef, or just exploring a wreck at 100 ft. – 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 Dive Certification as well as the Advanced Open Water Dive 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.

Seamester Study Abroad Gap Year Brochure
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Giving Back
20-30 Service Hours

Creating an opportunity to give back to the amazing communities that welcome us is a component of any Sea|mester voyage. While projects vary from voyage to voyage, in the past we’ve done anything from collecting data underwater for local marine parks to building new structures in schools. Our students have also done a little teaching themselves, working in schools to teach local students a little about marine biology and why protecting their environment is critical.

Regardless of the project, making time to give back is a great way to connect on a deeper level to the Caribbean community.

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Anchors Down – Jamaica
(4-6 days)

Sail into Port Antonio, known as the gateway to the most idyllic tropical jungles and waterfalls Jamaica has to offer, and throw your lines to the handlers at the quaint Errol Flynn Marina in time to sample some locally spiced Jerk Chicken. Spend time with the Argo crew exploring the famous Blue Lagoon and taking surfing lessons in Boston Bay.

> Next stop: Roatan, Honduras
212
Anchors Down – Roatan, Honduras or Cayman Islands
(4-6 days)

Depending on time and weather your next destination will either be the Cayman Islands or Roatan, part of the Honduran Bay Island chain. Whether its one or the other, both are known for their incredible diving. Explore 7 mile beach on Grand Cayman or grab an adrenalin rush from one of the worlds longest Zip Lines, beginning at the mountain top and traversing right down to the beach under the canopy of lush Roatan Rain Forrest. Both ports of call provide great opportunities to continue your underwater training.

> Next stop: Cuba
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Anchors Down – Cuba
(4-6 days)

A favourite vacation destination for Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. Your time in Cuba will begin by sailing through the cut into the town of Cienfuegos on the South Coast where you will collect scientific data in Guanaroca Lagoon as part of a Cuban national species identification study. Next stop is Isle de Juventude as Argo sails through the Canarreos Archipelago enroute to the capital, Havana. Once in Havana, docked at the Hemmingway Marina, you will have the chance to explore the old city and marvel at the mix of Spanish colonial history, vehicles from a time past and the vibrant personalities of the city’s local population. Cuban Marine Scientists from the Islands Universities will also be on hand to talk about the conservation and marine management programs currently being exercised.

> Next stop: Bahamas
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Anchors Down – Bahamas
(4-6 days)

Nassau, located on New Providence, is Argo’s first port of call in the Caribbean Archipelago of the Bahamas. Comprising of over 700 islands The Bahamas is where Colombus made first landfall in 1492, consequently discovering “the new world”. Up next is San Salvador, an exceptional location for those aspiring PADI Rescue Divers to finish up all their training and celebrate with a BBQ on one of the pristine white sandy beaches.

> Next stop: Back to Antigua
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Antigua Yacht Regatta
8-10 days

After spending 70 days fine tuning your nautical skills sailing through the Caribbean, you will return to where it all began, Antigua.

The last ten days will put all of your newfound skills to the test as we enter Ocean Star into the world famous Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta.  Operating since 1967, Antigua sailing week attracts almost 200 yachts, so you will get the opportunity to sail alongside some of the finest sailing vessels in the world.

As the chairman Kenny Coombs says…

“Everyone here is on teh same level, whether you come in flip flops or a private jet.  We’re here for the sailing.”

Time to Say Goodbye

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…

90 days. 4,390 nautical miles. 22 people. 18 dives. 37 shopping carts. 628 biscuits. 11 countries. 4 wins at Race Week. However you break down the numbers, this has been an incredible semester — one which we as staff have enjoyed immensely. Not everything about this trip can be broken down into numbers, though, and as our students leave us and make their ways back home to friends and family, we know that they’ll come to understand this in the coming days. We wouldn’t do this work if we didn’t believe that what we do is special, and trust me when I say that Sea|mester has magic in it. You feel it when you’re up on night watch, looking up at the stars flung across the sky and the bioluminescence lighting up dark waters below. You feel it when you come back to the boat from a day ashore bubbling with joy and enthusiasm, having just experienced something so incredible and unique you struggle to put it into words. You feel it when your team drops the headsails in less than a minute, when you feed 20 people an awesome meal for the first time, when you bare your deepest secrets on bow watch and the person sitting next to you just smiles, hugs you, understands.

Trip Logs

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Day 90
By Tina D.

Day 90: All Good Things Come to an End…

90 days. 4,390 nautical miles. 22 people. 18 dives. 37 shopping carts. 628 biscuits. 11 countries. Four wins at Race…

Read More
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Day 85
By Orren F.

Day 85: The Final Days

As the end of our semester approaches, all of Argo’s inhabitants donned clean, cozy Argo sweatshirts while waiting for the…

Read More
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Day 84
By Benjamin G.

Day 84: Winner’s Vacation

We woke up after a fantastic night out and award ceremony to a tasty fruit breakfast. This was our last…

Read More
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Day 83
By Katelyn D.

Day 83: Sweeping the Antigua Classics Week Regatta

Today was our fourth and final race, the Windward race. It all started as another morning waking up at 7…

Read More
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Day 80
By Emily H.

Day 80: Off to an Awesome Start!

This morning we woke up bright and early for our first day of racing. We prepared Argo and ate delicious…

Read More
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Day 78
By Oscar vdG.

Day 78: Getting Ready To Race

Today started bright and early after yesterday’s easy evening. After an awesome cinnamon roll breakfast, we launched into cleanup and…

Read More
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Day 75
By Keenan R.

Day 75: The Baths

It was a slow start on Argo this morning; everyone is beginning to show the wear of long days of…

Read More
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Day 73
By Isaac L.

Day 73: Diving the RMS Rhone

A hasty wake-up call this morning was partially prompted by the heady aroma of chocolate chip pancakes and an urgency…

Read More
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Day 71
By Simona S.

Day 71: Land Ho!

After a long six-day passage from San Salvador, we were able to call “Land Ho” this morning as we arrived…

Read More
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Day 64
By Zachary H.

Day 64: A Beautiful Day in the Bahamas

What a day! The Bahamas are obviously gorgeous, so what better way to spend our day than to go diving…

Read More

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Vocational Certifications

Depending upon previous experience, students will have the opportunity to complete a number of the following certifications during their voyage.

Seamester is a PADI 5 Star Resort

Scuba Certifications

Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Rescue Diver
Divemaster
Learn more about scuba
 

Seamester is an International Yacht Training partner school

Sailing Certifications

International Crew
VHF Operator
Navigation Master
Master of Yachts 200 Ton Offshore Theory
Learn more about sailing

Seamester Safety Certifications

Safety Certifications

Emergency First Response - First Aid & CPR

Need To Know

Our 90-day Global Sea|mester Voyages offer the most comprehensive experience in terms of the geographical area covered and both academic and vocational classes and certifications earned. During the program, up to 12 academic credits are offered for the Seamanship, Student Leadership, Oceanography, 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.

Meet our team

The short answer to this question is, great! Well, usually anyway! In the Caribbean, the trade winds blow a steady 8-14 knots and the average temperature is 80 Degrees Fahrenheit with 76% humidity and 79 Degrees Fahrenheit water temperature. What’s great about the Caribbean weather is that there is always a breeze, so it feels very comfortable almost all the time. Yes, it does rain now and then, but it is more of a tropical shower, lasting only a few minutes, rather than a complete day of rain.

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.

Nitty Gritty

Students come from all over the world, so coordinated travel is vital.

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 begin and end in English Harbor, Antigua (airport code ANU)

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.

Recommended Travel Agents

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:

  • Organizational Name: Global Expeditions Group
  • Vessel Name (select): Ocean Star, Argo or Vela
  • Vessel Registry: British Virgin Islands

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.

Passports

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.

Visas

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.

  • Contact our office and request a definitive list of the countries we will visit on the voyage. Please do not rely on the sample itineraries listed on our website.
  • Verify visa requirements for your nationality by contacting the local embassy or consulate for these destination countries.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

We do not currently require proof of vaccination in order to enroll.

Other Immunizations

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.

Sea|mester tuition includes the following:
  • Sea|mester academic instruction for the applicable courses offered during the voyage
  • University of South Florida (USF) academic credit for all academic classes offered during the program.
  • Full room and board
  • All group excursions, field trips and destination-focused educational experiences
  • Non-professional sailing instruction and certification costs
  • Non-professional scuba instruction and certification costs
Not included in the Sea|mester tuition:
  • Travel expenses from home to the program (flights, visas, ferry, taxi, baggage, taxes, etc.)
  • Required International SOS and MedAire membership & emergency evacuation insurance. (20-day voyages = $100 | 40-day voyages = $175 | 80 & 90-day voyages = $250) LEARN MORE >
  • Vaccinations (if required/selected)
  • In-country COVID-19 testing fees – Dependent on voyage itinerary and individual country health requirements. Expect $200 to $500 USD.
  • PADI required course books and materials
  • Personal spending money
  • Travel & Tuition Protection insurance – LEARN MORE >

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!

Students come from all over the world, so coordinated travel is vital.

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 begin and end in English Harbor, Antigua (airport code ANU)

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.

Recommended Travel Agents

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:

  • Organizational Name: Global Expeditions Group
  • Vessel Name (select): Ocean Star, Argo or Vela
  • Vessel Registry: British Virgin Islands

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.

Passports

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.

Visas

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.

  • Contact our office and request a definitive list of the countries we will visit on the voyage. Please do not rely on the sample itineraries listed on our website.
  • Verify visa requirements for your nationality by contacting the local embassy or consulate for these destination countries.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

We do not currently require proof of vaccination in order to enroll.

Other Immunizations

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.

Sea|mester tuition includes the following:
  • Sea|mester academic instruction for the applicable courses offered during the voyage
  • University of South Florida (USF) academic credit for all academic classes offered during the program.
  • Full room and board
  • All group excursions, field trips and destination-focused educational experiences
  • Non-professional sailing instruction and certification costs
  • Non-professional scuba instruction and certification costs
Not included in the Sea|mester tuition:
  • Travel expenses from home to the program (flights, visas, ferry, taxi, baggage, taxes, etc.)
  • Required International SOS and MedAire membership & emergency evacuation insurance. (20-day voyages = $100 | 40-day voyages = $175 | 80 & 90-day voyages = $250) LEARN MORE >
  • Vaccinations (if required/selected)
  • In-country COVID-19 testing fees – Dependent on voyage itinerary and individual country health requirements. Expect $200 to $500 USD.
  • PADI required course books and materials
  • Personal spending money
  • Travel & Tuition Protection insurance – LEARN MORE >

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!

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