Caribbean to Tahiti

6,500 Nautical Miles via Panama, Galapagos, The Marquesas

Sail to Bonaire and awake to flocks of Venezuelan flamingos flying through a misty sunrise. Toss the dock lines up to the lock workers of the Panama Canal, cross the lake and prepare to enter the Pacific Ocean. Watch the latitude hesitate on zero as we cross the equator. See blue-footed booby birds hitching a ride on deck back to the Galapagos Archipelago. Linger no more as every day of the next 20 will be spent at sea until we make landfall in the Polynesian Islands of the Marquesas, the place where Paul Gauguin found his inspiration and love. You too will love arriving in Tahiti in the Society Islands, but, after all, that’s just a place to secure the schooner. You will have secured lifetime memories along the way.

Days
Credits
Students
Term
Availability
Tuition (USD)

Jan 15 - Apr 14, 2021 - Aboard S/Y Argo

90
12 credits
24
Spring
Open
TBA

Learn More About Financial Aid >

Life Aboard

Sails Up Anchors Down

USF Accredited Academics

Certification Courses

PADI Scuba Certifications>
IYT Sailing Certifications>
Safety Certifications>
Skipper & Crew Training>

Activities

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

The Voyage

Your Adventure Starts Here

Welcome aboard!

The journey begins at our home base at Soper’s Hole in the west end of Tortola. 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 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 Caribbean waters is now your home and classroom for the next 90 days as you embark on the voyage of a lifetime.

Learning the Ropes

8-10 days

Early on day two, we cast off 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 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.

Sample Trip Itinerary*

Area	Ports of Call
Caribbean	BVI, Les Saintes, Dominica, ABC’s
Central America	Cartagena, The Panama Canal
Galapagos	Isla San Cristobal, Isla Santa Cruz
Marquesas	Nuku Hiva, ‘Ua Pou
Tuamotus	Ahe Atoll, Rangiroa
French Polynesia	Moorea, Tahiti
*Please note that all destinations are weather dependent and subject to change.

Exploring the Underwater Realm

20-25 Dives

Between the Caribbean and the South Pacific, students onboard Argo during the BVI to Tahiti 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.

Anchors Down – Guadeloupe & Les Saints

(2-3 Days)

After the completion of your first passage, you’ll arrive in what seems like a different world from the one you left behind. Guadeloupe & Les Saintes are to this day considered to be a region of France so the minute you step off the boat you’ll find yourself fully immersed in this enclave of European culture. Hike to Fort Napoleon, enjoy an espresso after siesta, or take out a Hobie Cat with one of your shipmates to live the lifestyle unique to this small corner of the world.

>Next stop: Dominica

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: Bonaire & Aruba

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!

>Next stop: Cartagena

Cartagena, Colombia

(1-3 Days)

As a Unesco world heritage site, Cartagena’s colonial city is one of South America’s most enthralling destinations. The vast network of plazas and churches connected by cobbled alleyways is enough to explore for weeks. Time in the open air cafes on the fashionable peninsula of Boca Grande with shipmates who are quickly becoming like a second family is a perfect way to say goodbye to the Caribbean.

>Next stop: Panama

The Panama Canal

(6-8 Days)

When you reach the 81-foot high steel gates of the first lock in the Panama Canal, you’ll understand why it is considered one of the greatest engineering achievements ever completed by human beings. With the help of your crew and the Panamanian dock workers, you’ll connect two different worlds over the course of several days with multiple opportunities to explore the crossroads of the Americas.

>Next stop: Galapagos

Rite of Passage

Life and Rhythm on the Big Blue

It’s amazing to enter the Pacific 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 becomes greater. You’ll cross the equator, battle squalls, navigate the doldrums and make the tradewinds work for you as you learn to soak in passage life. Throughout your 90-day voyage, the longest passage can be up to 20 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.

Giving Back

10-20 Service Hours

As you hop from country to country and culture to culture, you’ll quickly realize how much you gain from each stop along the way. It’s natural to feel as though you should be giving back in some way. Unique to the BVI to Tahiti voyage, you’ll have the opportunity to do just that with many of the friends and partner organizations Sea|mester has picked up along the way. Whether it’s cultural exchange at an elementary school in Dominica or working alongside endangered giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research center in the Galapagos – you’ll leave knowing you’ve made a positive impact on the places that have given so much to you.

Anchors Down – The Galapagos Islands

(3-5 Days)

Known to many as the archipelago that inspired Charles Darwin’s “Origin of Species,” the Galapagos islands will live up to every bit of hype that surrounds them. Here you’ll swim with sea lions and tour the Darwin Research Center with 100 year-old tortoises, blue-footed boobies and the world’s only marine iguanas. You’ll explore hidden freshwater pools, traverse the highlands, and dive alongside the world’s friendliest sharks in the land that time forgot.

>Next stop: Marquesas

Marquesas Islands

(3-5 Days)

You’ll have some mixed emotions about planting your feet on solid ground after roughly 17 days at sea but the hills of The Marquesas Islands and the adventure they promise are bound to excite you. You’ll get the chance to properly stretch your legs on a hike through dense forests and while advanced divers run training scenarios in Hakatea Bay everybody gets to enjoy some downtime and get used to the boat at anchor. Although Marquesas represents the first port of call in French Polynesia, you are still over 750 nautical miles from the final destination of this voyage.

>Next stop: Tuamotus

Tuamotus

(2-4 Days)

The beauty of atolls is nearly impossible to describe. They form after islands sink but the barrier reefs continue to grow. You’ll put your navigation skills to the test by guiding Argo through the barrier islands and drop the anchor in a South Pacific paradise. The pristine reefs and the wildlife that live here are ideal for fun dives and exploring the famous black pearl farms that drive the local economy.

>Next stop: Tahiti

Moorea & Tahiti

(1-3 Days)

The astounding beauty of Moorea and Tahiti make the perfect backdrop for not only finishing up the academic aspect of the journey but also reflecting on the time you’ve spent onboard your new floating home. Boom swings, scavenger hunts, and long days of onshore exploration help you realize just how close you’ve gotten to everyone onboard. A drive by the main island’s airport on the way to surf the infamous waves of Teahupo’o acts as a gentle reminder to soak in this beautiful place as your voyage of a lifetime comes to an end.

>Next stop: real life.

First Step to Becoming a Captain!

Academics

For those who have the prior requisite experience, a passion for sailing, and hope to work in the maritime industry, all our 80 & 90-day voyages aboard S/Y Argo offer the Professional Skipper and Crew Training course (PSCT).

Typically only 3 to 4 students will choose to take this course. You’ll have the opportunity to work towards your Master of Yachts 200 Ton Offshore License by completing the theory portion. This course contains in-depth examinations covering subjects such as Meteorology, Navigation, Tides & Currents, and Collision Regulations.

Academics Aboard

12 USF Credits

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!

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…

“This trip started out with many “firsts.” The first time we stepped foot on Argo, the first time we were underway, the first time we raised the sails, the first time the head was clogged, the first time we went bilge diving, the first time we really felt like a team. As the trip progressed we became a family, we learned to live in a small space with a large number of people. We learned to appreciate great conversations and beautiful sunsets. We learned how to be busy, and cram a week's worth of activity in one day, but we also learned how to do nothing, how to just be content in each other's company during our 17-day passage halfway across the Pacific Ocean. Throughout this trip, we covered 6804 nautical miles making 14 stops along the way. However, as the trip came to a close, the trip started to be about the “lasts.” The last swim, the last sail raise, the last passage, the last squeeze question, and the last night together as a boat [At this moment, Emily begins crying and hands the blog off to Ford to finish it]. The shipmates want to thank the Argo staff for making this experience so unforgettable.”

Leah S.Papeete, Tahiti

Day 87

By Stephanie V.

How Many Happy Birthdays Is Too Many?

Waking up to a beautiful and lush green island around us has been my favorite part of our time in…

Day 86

By Bianca G.

In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle

Today started with early wake ups and a big surprise up on deck: Ian was found panicking in the water,…

Day 72

By Alexa Y.

Day Ashore

Today was a busy day full of fun. Last night, after the blog was posted, we watched a great movie…

Day 50

By Alexander C.

Time to GalapaGO …….to Tahiti……..I’m Here All Week……or at Least Until Tomorrow

A banner day started with the crew having some lovely cinnamon rolls on deck at the early hour of 7…

Day 48

By Alexa Y.

Island Tours

Today was a really busy day. We started with a good breakfast of eggs, beans. Sausage and bread (not toast…

Day 47

By Jack D.

Seamounts and Prom-posals

Day one in the Galapagos Islands, and it is evident why these islands are so famous among biologists and outdoor…

Day 46

By Bryant T.

Landfall in the Galapagos and Neptune’s Visit

Today the sun rose over Argo as she entered the Galapagos. Flocks of shearwaters fluttered over the ocean’s surface and…

Day 40

By Jack D.

No-Way-it-is-Day-40-What-Kind-of-Time-Warp-is-This

Good Saturday evening to all those who read this interweb blog. Let me set the scene: You finally get to…

Day 38

By Bianca G.

Straight into the Pacific!

Today started with a lot of excitement as we had to prepare the boat to exit the Panama Canal. After…

Day 37

By Seby B.

A Blog to Go Down in the C-an(n)als of History

Today was our last day at the Shelter Bay Marina. After partaking in “Mad Nuts Flapjacks” a la Tim for…

Day 35

By Kaiya W.

Jungle Adventures

Our morning started with a fire alarm wake up call as a result of the cooking of some very delicious…

Day 32

By Ian M.

Kuna Yala

A pod of very relaxed dolphins decided to grace us with their presence this morning. As Argo is usually underway…

Day 30

By Brittany B.

Dolphin Fish and Dolphins!

Another exciting day on Argo today, still underway to the San Blas islands. Watch rotations are going smoothly, and everyone…

Day 25

By Amy G.

Scales, Sails and Scalpels

Today was another jam-packed day aboard Argo where we made the most of what was around us. Our first activity…

Day 23

By David D.

More Diving and Windsurfing

Today was very similar to yesterday. The students have split up into two groups again. Those who went diving the…

Day 22

By Bryant T.

A Full Day of Diving and Windsurfing Adventure

This morning was already off to a successful start at breakfast. Chefs Seby, Ivan, and Sophie prepared and delivered a…

Day 21

By Peter L.

Making Land in Bonaire

First thing I did this morning was wake up to the sight of Bonaire in the distant horizon. Super excited,…

Day 17

By London B.

Boiling Lake

Today, we woke up bright and early to prepare for our hike to world’s largest boiling lake. We were warned…

Day 16

By Jenna C.

Bubbles Bubbles Bubbles Bubbles

April showers bring May flowers, but Dominica rain brings a couple of dozen rainbows a day. As the day comes…

Day 15

By Ivan A.