Seahaven Maritime Academy

5.0 Average rating: Read reviews

Seahaven Maritime Academy is a purpose built, full training centre in the port of Newhaven, East Sussex. It is run entirely by professional mariners for professional mariners. We also provide the same high standard of training for leisure sailors who do not have aspirations of working commercially.

As a training centre we are accredited by the MCA, RYA  and we are ISO 9001 approved. We provide STCW full basic training courses, as a package or individually, and refresher courses (Fire Fighting and PST), as well as preparation courses for those working towards their MCA Master's certificates of competence up to 3000gt. Our dedicated trainers have had considerable experience in command of commercial vessels and many years working as instructors. We are well known for "going the extra mile" for our students.

STCW Training Centres

Seahaven Maritime Academy have their training centre located in Newhaven, East Sussex, United Kingdom.

Terms and Conditions

View the training school's Terms and Conditions.


Customer Reviews

Seahaven Maritime Academy reviews as published on Google:

  • Joshua Greensmith

    Joshua Greensmith

    Average rating: a month ago

    It was a great training centre, from the facilities, to the well knowledge/friendly staff. Was amazing from start to finish! All staff members who taught me were amazing (Henry, Spencer, frosty).
    Sam was a lovely lady and helped me from the start, very bubbly and happy!
    Steven was a great person to meet. Very caring and supportive, wanting the best for his students!
    Thank you for everything.

  • Julia Sloman

    Julia Sloman

    Average rating: a month ago

    I spent a week at Seahaven completing my STCW Basic Safety training. It was brilliant in every respect. The trainers - Henry, Spencer and Frosty - were excellent communicators with a passion for sharing their knowledge. They have first hand experience of what they are teaching - navy experience, fireman experience etc. The training materials were also of an excellent quality. The gear for the practical sessions - breathing apparatus and protective clothing for the fire training, life raft for the sea survival etc, was well maintained and suitable. The Office Manager support from Sam was outstanding - assistance with finding well-priced accommodation in the area, good directions, prompt response to my initial booking, always cheery and helpful. Even the group size was just right, and we started the week as strangers and left as friends. And it was a privilege to meet Steve who set the Academy up, because he genuinely wants to help equip his students for our future lives at sea, which is why this is probably the cheapest STCW Basic Training course you can find in the UK. I cannot think of any way it could be improved and I highly recommend the Academy. My husband (who did the course with me) has already signed up for another of their courses!

  • Emma McIntosh

    Emma McIntosh

    Average rating: 2 weeks ago

    I was only at Seahaven for two days to do my refresher. It was a great atmosphere to walk into, with some people having been there for the full week. There was a strong sense of community and camaraderie, and they genuinely seemed to enjoy each other's company, which made it easy to engage in the learning environment. Our trainers and instructors were amazing. Spence had great energy and a positive attitude toward teaching, sharing valuable insights that I will remember, like the raft of the medusa and the Jose survival story.

    We had some excellent practical sessions, thoughtfully designed to build on our skills throughout the day. Everyone worked together, and after the first day, we went to the pub, where the owner generously paid for our drinks, which was a really lovely touch.

    Overall, I had a fantastic learning and social experience at Seahaven, and I would definitely recommend it to friends needing to complete any courses. In fact, I might be back soon to take an RYA course. Also, big thanks to Sam for all the setup and warm welcome to the venue!

  • Craig Tait

    Craig Tait

    Average rating: a month ago

    I had the pleasure of completing this course on Monday last week. The lecturers were absolutely brilliant and the course itself is very professional and fun. I met a fantastic group of people during the day and the level of cleanliness was top drawer!!

    Thanks for a great experience ( C.C.C )!

  • Ashleigh Trinkwon

    Ashleigh Trinkwon

    Average rating: a week ago

    Thanks so much to Spencer, Sam, Henry and the rest of the team who made the week really enjoyable! Learnt a lot and even though it was intense, I really enjoyed it. Would recommend to anyone doing an STCW course!

  • David chown

    David chown

    Average rating: 7 September 2024

    What a great place! It was my second STCW renewal at Seahaven Maritime Academy and it was just as good, if not better than the last time. The staff make learning a serious subject fun, with all the students both working hard and laughing hard and still learning in a safe environment. I really highly recommend this place, the trainers and staff for their patience, professionalism and the way they give you confidence and support if you need it.
    I would never go anywhere else!

    Thank you so much

    David and Dawn

  • Edward Jackson

    Edward Jackson

    Average rating: 15 August 2024

    I got my motorboat level two license here. My instructor Adrian was absolutely brilliant. Myself and two friends did this course in two days. I would highly recommend it as it is highly insightful but also great fun! I learned so much that I would not think about when onboarding a boat.

  • Tasha Roby

    Tasha Roby

    Average rating: 16 July 2024

    Fantastic training provider. I completed my STCW here and all the instructors were incredibly knowledgeable, passionate and friendly. I had such a fun, interesting and exciting week. Would 100% recommend. They also provided CV support and this support was invaluable in helping me land my first role. Many thanks to the team and I will be back for my refresher when it is due!

  • Lily Armstrong

    Lily Armstrong

    Average rating: 12 July 2024

    Huge thanks to the whole team at Seahaven Maritime Academy who provided exceptional training for my STCW qualification this week. All of the instructors are highly knowledgable, the facilities are excellent and the overall experience was outstanding. Our group felt safe, supported and heard at all times. Thanks to them, I now feel well-equipped for my new adventure on a cruise ship. I highly recommend Seahaven for anyone looking to pursue a career at sea! :)

  • Tasos Tasios

    Tasos Tasios

    Average rating: 16 June 2024

    I have just completed my STCW training with Seahaven and it was a great experience.

    The instructors are highly knowledgeable and analysed all the topics in depth ,answering any questions and combining professionalism with a sense of humour they made these days of training educational and pleasant at the same time. Overall it is good value for money.

    I have no hesitation in recommending this facility to anyone who wants to complete the STCW training. You will learn a lot of new things and have a great time.

  • Jayden Waller

    Jayden Waller

    Average rating: 11 May 2024

    Had an awesome week doing my STCW course with the Seahaven family! Each instructor made it a great learning experience. They were thorough, kind, and all had a great sense of humour getting us through the content in an enjoyable way. Would recommend any course at this facility and can confidently say you’re in great hands. Thank you for the week!

  • Paolo

    Paolo

    Average rating: 20 April 2024

    I can’t express how happy I am about choosing to get my qualifications from seahaven. The staff are experts with knowledge from experience rather than textbooks. They created a comfortable environment that made learning enjoyable. The connections I’ve made and experience I had was priceless

  • The Little Massage Co.

    The Little Massage Co.

    Average rating: 5 April 2024

    Thank you to the amazing trainers / fire fighters and staff at the academy for all your knowledge. Very detailed and intense course but boy did we have fun along the way. The whole team created a great bond and excited to see what the next chapter brings. Will definitely be back.

  • Leah George

    Leah George

    Average rating: 16 March 2024

    i cannot recommend Seahaven Maritime Academy enough!! i honestly had the most amazing week on the STCW and Crowd Management course. the team at Seahaven are so friendly, funny, knowledgable and just brilliant!! they make you feel at ease straight away and the way they teach is so engaging. i learnt so much and i’m so thankful for the week i have had! you also learn so much from your fellow group and form great friendships. thank you so much!!

  • Martin Walls

    Martin Walls

    Average rating: 16 February 2024

    A very friendly and supportive place to do your maritime training! I felt welcome from just my first email with them all the way until I finished the course. Extremely good quality and down to earth teaching. Couldn’t do enough for you. Great fun and exciting with super facilities. It really is like a big family and they welcome you into it! I highly recommend!

  • willsidsmith

    willsidsmith

    Average rating: 21 January 2024

    Had an amazing time doing my STCW! Everyone made me feel so at ease and was just such a fun experience! Thanks to Juliette, Sam, Stinky Pete, Frosty, Kelly, Spencer, Mike and Steve!

  • Morrisons Enroute

    Morrisons Enroute

    Average rating: 8 December 2023

    Just finished the STCW and after spending 5 days in class, in the pool and in the fire tower I will definitely say this was one of the best courses I have done, with one of the best schools and instructors.

    Everything from the first email flows smoothly, there is a liveliness to the class that makes it easy to learn the dry parts and even more fun in the practical parts

    Thank you, truly enjoyed it.

    The crew house is definitely a great option to stay at.

  • Milly Stevens

    Milly Stevens

    Average rating: 15 September 2023

    Could not recommend this amazing school more - STCW training was a week I will never forget, if only every course could be this enjoyable! Such knowledgable, kind, patient and wonderful staff - I couldn’t feel more prepared for life at sea. The Academy is a perfect learning environment with engaging theory, plenty of hands on practical work, always accompanied by just the right amount of good humour. Genuinely couldn’t have hoped for a more successful week and wish I didn’t have to wait 5 years to come back again!

    Thank you thank you THANK YOU to the amazing team here

  • Bruno Soares

    Bruno Soares

    Average rating: 18 August 2023

    This Basic STCW course was superb - the instructors were professional, friendly and helpful. The course was well run and organised with instructions being sent out well in advance of what to bring and how to prepare. They really care about your experience and will tailor to work around the needs and requirements of your group - very happy to have spent the week with this amazing group of people.

  • Andrew Woods

    Andrew Woods

    Average rating: 8 August 2023

    I completed a one day survival at sea course at Seahaven. It was such a good course and so well taught by Spencer. He packed in so much detail as well some good humour. The practical session in the pool was very well managed. Everything was so professional and well structured. I would definitely recommend Seahaven to my colleagues.

  • Amy Harvey

    Amy Harvey

    Average rating: 25 July 2023

    Just finished the 5 day STCW course and it was very extremely enjoyable! We had a lot of fun while learning plenty! Instructors were informed, experienced, serious when needed but also a lot of fun! Such an encouraging and professional course! Highly recommend!

  • Stuart “stu” Barnes

    Stuart “stu” Barnes

    Average rating: 3 June 2023

    Professional staff with a fun and friendly touch. Put everyone at ease and made it all a pleasure and a positive experience throughout the week. Some great inputs by all involved from the Seahaven team. Thank you

  • Russ Pullen

    Russ Pullen

    Average rating: 27 May 2023

    Just finished my 5 day STCW Boasting Safety course with these guys and have nothing but good things to say about the Academy. Top notch teaching and instruction, clearly delivered in a relaxed and entertaining environment. They'll push you and keep you focused - you'll learn what you need to know and enjoy doing it. Special shout outs must go to Stinky Pete, Spencer, Juliette and Sam. Pricing is excellent and there's even a really nice crew-house available at modest cost. Now I know them, wouldn't go anywhere else.

  • Danylo Markiv

    Danylo Markiv

    Average rating: 26 May 2023

    Great week! Great instructors! I learned a lot of interesting and useful things in the course! Thank you so much to everyone who works there!

  • Clara White

    Clara White

    Average rating: 2 May 2023

    An absolutely fantastic week with seahaven. Would really recommend their training courses. A great bunch, really friendly and welcoming staff as well as good quality, thorough training! Thanks very much

  • G Mac

    G Mac

    Average rating: 24 March 2023

    Having spent over 30years within the emergency services and taken part in countless training sessions relating to dealing with Emergency Situations, the training I received from Seahaven Maritime Academy was second to none. The team are consummate professionals who have a wealth of experience and knowledge. The course delivery was presented in a factual, accurate and sprinkled with a little appropriate humour. For anyone looking for training towards the maritime industry, look no further than Seahaven Maritime Academy.

  • isabella sagnella

    isabella sagnella

    Average rating: 17 January 2023

    I completed the STCW course in November 2022, we had a great group and the staff are incredible, they are experienced down to earth people and the course was taught brilliantly. It was so much more interesting than I imagined, the hands on fire safety training was awesome, everyone was so nice and patient with each other, I got a little nervous around assessments but the staff were excellent and helped me through! & for the price, fantastic.

  • zpie 7

    zpie 7

    Average rating: 1 July 2022

    I felt like a family when I did my STCW corse here.

  • Garry Willis

    Garry Willis

    Average rating: 13 April 2022

    Completed a short range radio Certificate with them in 2022. Good trainers with a lot of knowledge and support to help you though assessment. I would recommend them.

  • Joe Ashton

    Joe Ashton

    Average rating: 4 February 2022

    Amazing course, thorough tuition and very knowledgeable professional instructors. There's a great vibe around the place which makes for a really enjoyable experience.

  • Rowan

    Rowan

    Average rating: 26 January 2022

    Completed this course and it was so much fun! Lovely teachers you learn everything you need to know, and have a great time too! Thanks to all the teachers!! :)

  • Robert hutch

    Robert hutch

    Average rating: 16 November 2021

    STCW course Had a fantastic time, the staff have very good background knowledge, I will definitely come back when my tickets expire.

  • Kirill Osipenko

    Kirill Osipenko

    Average rating: 14 November 2021

    Had a great training and time doing STCW course with Seahaven Maritime Academy, very great and professional team, good facilities and amazing vibe!

  • Hannah Shaw

    Hannah Shaw

    Average rating: 12 August 2021

    Wow!!! I had such an incredible week at Seahaven Maritime academy on the STCW course. Couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Exceptionally good value for money. You can tell that everyone who works there loves their job which made a mandatory obligation a brilliant experience.

    From the moment of arrival you are greeted with a warm upbeat welcome from Sam and Juliette who are both delightful! The days in the classroom were interesting and filled with fascinating anecdotes. The first aid ended with a practical exercise where we role played realistic emergency situations which resonated with all the students unlike standard first aid courses.

    The fire fighting was top class with a very realistic scenario. Although serious the fire fighters made it a lot of fun and made us feel safe and secure in a high pressure situation. We all left feeling confident and accomplished. A massive thank you to Kevin, Tim, Henry and of course Joe :)

    The final day rounded off the week well with the very cheeky Spencer teaching personal survival techniques which was filled with more fun and laughter.

    I had such great time meeting the wonderful staff of Seahaven and the people on the course who where from all different maritime backgrounds honestly couldn’t have met a better bunch of people. It was fantastic to see how we had all bonded over the course of the week.

    Highly recommend staying at the Seahaven crew house which is just a short walk away and great value for money.
    Thank you Steve

  • Simon Chatterton

    Simon Chatterton

    Average rating: 6 August 2021

    Came here to do my STCW and could not recommend it enough.
    Course was great, staff were fantastic.
    When and if I have to do my STCW again this is where I would go.

  • Jessica Broekman

    Jessica Broekman

    Average rating: 13 July 2021

    Brilliant week, with amazing staff and teaching! Thank you so much Juliet, Spencer, Sam & Pete!! Would highly recommend and great value for money!

  • Sergio Magas

    Sergio Magas

    Average rating: 25 June 2021

    Highly recommend Academy. The instructors do a great job and you enjoy your time in there. Gratings to Spencer, Julia, Sam and Pete. Outstanding

  • Antoine De Joybert

    Antoine De Joybert

    Average rating: 23 April 2021

    I just passed my STCW at Seahaven, and would definitely recommend this place. The teachers are amazing and we had such a great time. Thank you so much

  • Kim Woods

    Kim Woods

    Average rating: 13 February 2021

    I've just completed my STCW and Superyacht Interior Course here at Seahaven Maritime Academy. Great courses, facilities and absolutley fantastic staff. Great value for money!!
    I would 100% reccomend doing any training here.

  • Mike Thorpe

    Mike Thorpe

    Average rating: 17 January 2021

    Just completed and passed

  • Marieke van de Braak

    Marieke van de Braak

    Average rating: 9 January 2021

    Thank you to all the staff at Seahaven for making my STCW so memorable. To combine professional training into such a fun and active environment where you're still learning is absolutely stellar. We bonded so much as a group and couldn't have done that without Juliette, Spencer, Pete, Adam and Tim putting up with our many questions and stories.
    I'd like to give a special shout out to Spence for being a legend and being so patient with us all when we had questions that often had little to do with course content. He kept us laughing even when swimming in minus degree temperatures and kept us on our toes while we were fighting fires and saving casualties.
    I haven't had this much fun since before all the Corona stuff happened - I feel like I have learned a huge amount about safety and first aid and fire, and I'm fully prepped to step on board my new superyacht on Monday. Thank you Seahaven!

  • Charlotte Hounsome

    Charlotte Hounsome

    Average rating: 16 October 2020

    I did the basic sctw. Low on cost but not on quality, everyone is very friendly and care about your learning.

  • Max

    Max

    Average rating: 5 October 2020

    I recently completed my STCW here and had a great time. The teaching was engaging, there were many practical activities included and I would recommend to anyone, great value for money too.

  • René Wiggill

    René Wiggill

    Average rating: 28 September 2020

    I had the best time and so much fun doing my STCW! Great people and truly knowledgeable. Thank you so much for everything!!!

  • Yssa

    Yssa

    Average rating: 24 July 2020

    The most hands on and realistic training i've ever had. It was such a wonderful week with lots of laughter and lessons learned!! The instructors really do know what they are doing.

  • Thomas Souter

    Thomas Souter

    Average rating: 25 June 2020

    I cannot speak highly enough about my experience at Seahaven. Never, after completing 3 STCW's now, have I experienced such wonderful, helpful, reassuring staff. Every instructor was so friendly and knowledgeable, and made the course not just interesting, but really fun. For the first time I actually really enjoyed the STCW course. I will certainly be returning for any refreshers or other courses I need, and I'll be 100% recommending Seahaven to everyone! Thank you all again!

  • Brigit Gunton

    Brigit Gunton

    Average rating: 23 June 2020

    Had a fabulous week here doing the STCW and Crowd Management course. All the staff were very knowledgeable and professional whilst also making sure we all had fun. We laughed a lot and we learnt a lot! I would whole heartedly recommend Seahaven Maritime Academy to anybody. They really looked after us all and made sure we all got the most out of our time there.

  • Taylor

    Taylor

    Average rating: 10 March 2020

    Been back for multiple courses, all the staff are honestly the most kind and hilarious tutors I've had!
    See you again soon!

  • Amanda Murray

    Amanda Murray

    Average rating: 11 December 2019

    Just did my STCW and Crowd Management a few weeks ago, and although learning to deal with situations that hopefully never arise I thoroughly enjoyed it! Instructors are amazing, serious but also make it fun and have a wealth of experience to share. Great learning environment. Was with such a great group on the course too. Thanks guys!

  • Kasparas Vickunas

    Kasparas Vickunas

    Average rating: 1 December 2019

    Amazing and extremely knowledgeable instructors with a hands on approach and fully set on making sure you can do what you've learnt.

  • Dan Grover

    Dan Grover

    Average rating: 4 October 2019

    Just completed STCW Course.

    Only positive feedback. Loved Mark what a legend!

    Brilliant I recommend them to anyone considering.

  • David Loftus

    David Loftus

    Average rating: 16 September 2019

    Excellent training provider from start to finish. Very personable, helpful and relevant in their approach to all students. They ensured that all skills were delivered relevant to the needs and working environments from those attending. They were more than accommodating to my own specific requirements. The STCW instructors were nothing short of excellent. I was very impressed with the quality of the Fire & Rescue and Medical training. The training simulators were something to be experienced and provided real world experience of fighting fires.

    The First Aid segment was delivered by Juliet. There was a very experienced Nurse on my course and I am a frontline Paramedic. This would probably be very intimidating for most instructors but Juliet was solid in her knowledge, delivery and techniques. I could also see that she had additional knowledge which she held back on as to not overwhelm students.... very impressive method of instruction and she should be very proud of herself.

    All students were thought, had knowledge reinforced and were then put through their paces with very systematic real to life assessments. These assessments challenged most students and a few overcame their fears of fire, confined space and water. Essentially, students were condition in a way that would enable them to respond safely to real life emergencies.
    The instructors were very hands on and helpful to everyone. They mentored, reassured and helped every individual on the course. The course was attended by people who travelled from wide and far, which is a testament to the availability and price of the course. The owner brought everyone for a drink post training and clearly wishes to see others progress in a fair and professional way. Very good ethics, training and facilities. I couldn’t recommend Newhaven enough to any and all, that are seeking maritime training. I undertook the STCW and the RYA VHF Radio License Certificate

  • Jason Evans

    Jason Evans

    Average rating: 8 August 2019

    Took the five day STCW basic set of courses with them. Top notch training by great instructors. The price was cheaper than most but I would bet the training was better than most !! I will be back to take more courses in the future.

  • Nadir Gallani

    Nadir Gallani

    Average rating: 29 April 2019

    Done my STCW last week all the staff and instructor very friendly and professional!!! Well done !! From 0 to hero !!! Very thanks to Steve, Mark, Sam, Juliette, Chris, Mark, Spencer and Kevin, thank you everithing you teach me.

  • bohemianbythesea

    bohemianbythesea

    Average rating: 28 April 2019

    I recently completed the STCW10 course & cannot recommend this centre enough! I learnt so much in such a fun, yet efficient way and feel very confident walking away from Seahaven Maritime Academy. Some of it was very intense, but everyone helped us along the way and made us feel confident in the scarier elements such as Firefighting, etc.
    What really stood out for me was the people who worked there- every single staff member and teacher was so friendly and helpful, even the ones that didn't teach me personally.
    I'd like to thank the owner, Steve, for creating such a wonderful school, at an amazing price that I couldn't find elsewhere. You can tell he values his school and even took us out for a beer before we finished the course.
    I came from Australia to complete this course before heading to Europe to work on the Yachts, and I still saved money even after paying for accomodation in Brighton. I will do any future courses or refreshers here.
    Thanks everyone,
    Georgia

  • Joe Fry

    Joe Fry

    Average rating: 27 April 2019

    Just completed the 5 day STCW course with Seahaven and I can honestly say it was the best course I have ever done. The staff were incredible, very knowledgeable, welcoming, professional and fun. The first aid scenarios were very real and the firefighting was even more so! Highly recommended, will definitely be returning here when my update is due in 5 years!

  • Tom Darnell

    Tom Darnell

    Average rating: 26 September 2018

    The STCW10 course was well run and very enjoyable! The staff at the academy are very welcoming and incredibly knowledgeable. The premises are well kitted out with everything you'll need to practice fire fighting, sea survival and first aid scenarios; the Firefighting is an especially realistic experience where you will be taught to use full protective gear and breathing apparatus to tackle multiple real fires within their containers, set up to look and feel like the interior of a ship. I loved the adrenaline rush from it so much that they let me go twice!

    You will come out of this course at the academy having developed a genuinely useful skill set as well as fond memories.

  • Alexandra Buczkowski

    Alexandra Buczkowski

    Average rating: 24 August 2018

    Couldn’t rate this place highly enough. Fun, educational and an awesome experience

  • AJM Campbell

    AJM Campbell

    Average rating: 2 May 2018

    Had a great time completing my STCW10 basic training at Seahaven Maritime Academy; the instruction was very clear and useful, and the course fees are a bargain compared to some other providers I could mention! The free pint on the penultimate day was the icing on the cake, and I had a brilliant week, thank-you very much guys.

  • Alan McHale

    Alan McHale

    Average rating: 29 March 2018

    22Years offshore
    I have never Ever experienced such a great training centre.
    Why ? From the down to earth approach of the instructors with real
    work knowledge and hands on experience . To the lay mans explanation and teaching methods and not talking down to students but taking everyone to one level of understanding and explanation .
    Everyone on my course was either 20 years experience or non experienced , yet we all gelled as a team we worked as a team and won as a team, under the guidance of our instructors. We learnt from one another and were incouraged to share our knowledge with those of less experience..
    This training centre is not for self gain, It is for Us People it is selfless , and honest.
    The price is the best out there , because they do not bull -s***
    It's straight its honest and I'd even work for them my self.
    I've come from Sth Ireland and I will again to refresh in a heart beat
    Can't praise you enough.
    SPOT ON THANK YOU
    ALAN MCHALE

  • John Everest

    John Everest

    Average rating: 25 October 2017

    Took part in a VHF radio course here as is very local to our site, the guys are really professional and course is made interesting with a thorough test at the end. Would definitely recommend Seahaven.

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