About Sea Worthy State.
In response to the current problem of mental distress in the maritime industry, Leigh Stalker founded Sea Worthy State —a proactive, human-centred program that equips each crew member with resilience skills, develops stronger leadership and culture onboard, and aligns training with compliance requirements.
With over a decade as a Captain and performance coach, working with world champions, everyday people, and mentoring mariners into successful careers, Leigh has designed Sea Worthy State to blend seamanship with performance science to build resilience, clarity, and success under pressure.
This unique perspective ensures that Seaworthy State speaks the language of the sea while addressing the human factors that underpin operational success.
When people are supported, safety improves, turnover drops, and performance thrives. Through Sea Worthy State, Leigh and the SWS team help maritime organisations build cultures where crew members don’t just endure—but truly excel.
From the Helm to health and high performance, The SWS team brings a unique voice to personal performance and wellness at sea.
Testimonials
-
Blake C. - Owner Director TDP
The environments can be vulnerable unpredictable and constantly evolving good or bad. When dealing with complex trauma, behaviours, diagnosis and developing mental health. It can be a reactive volatile energy.
Leigh has opened our eyes in the ability, to ground within self and self awareness of self in changing environments. The power of presence and visualisation. A skill to expand to look within. This is the essence as a team and individuals at TDP we have gained from Leigh's workshops.
In Leigh I find a man true of word and full of heart. Rich in experience and his own self awareness. A man who understands himself. I would recommend Leigh to any individual or team who is curious in growth and discovery.
-
GUIL S. - Operations Manager - MV Catalina
Leigh's knowledge in performance and his enthusiasm for self-improvement was motivating in the workshop he led. The breathwork training combined with the ice bath was not just educational but also a deep dive into self-awareness, self-balance and control. I learned a completely new perspective into some techniques that have become popularised, however I have yet to see someone teach with his level of comprehension.
Listening to Leigh's approach and personal experiences by itself was igniting and motivating.
Being someone enthusiastic about a lot of the topics he approached, his perspective has shed new light into my pathway of self-improvement, and I left each session with a feeling of purpose, composed, resilient and ready to embrace bigger challenges
-
Froya H.N. - SY Kokomo Captain
I had the pleasure of working with Captain Leigh Stalker in 2013/2014 when I joined the industry onboard M/V Seastar. 5 years later, I still hold him in high regard as the most inspirational captain I’ve worked with. He was a key motivator to further my education and help build my confidence to commit to a career at sea.
Seastar operates with 5 crew as a day cruise from Cairns, Australia. Taking 35 Guests on Dive and Snorkel tours around Michaelmas Cay and Hastings Reef, with educational reef presentations and a glass bottom boat tour. Amongst the crew was a sense of pride; working on a ‘tight ship’ and striving to maintain our reputation as ‘the best on the reef’ in terms of guest satisfaction.
Leigh possesses the qualities of a natural leader; compassion, warmth, ambition and integrity. He guided crew through the ranks and gave one on one coaching when needed. Safety was always top priority and drills encouraged continuous improvement through the input and feedback of all crew. His respect and awe of the ocean is infectious and should you be lucky enough to work with Leigh, I am sure you will not be disappointed.
