Beneath the sun-drenched skies of the Seychelles, the third season of Bravo's Below Deck Down Under dove headfirst with the introduction of exciting new crew members and unexpected challenges. Premiering on February 3, the show not only showcases the enchanting beauty of the Seychelles but also presents the largest vessel ever featured in the franchise, the luxurious motor yacht Katina.
At the helm of this maiden voyage is Captain Jason Chambers, who boasts over two decades of experience in the yachting industry. For Chambers, the chance to navigate the waters around the Seychelles—a region rich with marine conservation zones—was unparalleled. “For me, it was a bucket list thing. I love scuba,” he shared with TV Insider. "There are so many marine conservation zones around the Seychelles, it’s fantastic."
The season kicks off with both returning favorites and fresh faces aboard the Katina. Returning chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph, who faced significant challenges last season, is back—this time, hoping to leverage her skills within the larger vessel. Meanwhile, Harry Van Vliet returns as well, eager to step up as deckhand.
Joining them are the new crew members including bosun Wihan Du Toit, whose extensive experience brings depth to the deck department, chief stew Lara Rigby, and deckhands Adair Werley and Johnny Arvanitis. Each newcomer brings their unique background and character to the crew dynamics, setting the stage for what promises to be another dramatic installment of the reality series.
Unfortunately, the excitement quickly turned to chaos when crew members Tzarina and her sous-chef Anthony Bird discovered something alarming during their preparation for the first charter—an infestation of weevils and maggots lurking within the galley. “S---. Oh no. You’ve got to be kidding me. Oh god, that's horrible!” Tzarina exclaimed during her frantic check of the pantry, realizing the gravity of the situation.
"This is gross," remarked Tzarina, as Anthony voiced his disappointment, stating, "There’s no excuse for this /.../ oh, there’s f---ing loads of them.” With guests expected to arrive within hours, Tzarina quickly flagged the issue to Captain Jason, who ordered the immediate disposal of all infested food items.
“I need to bleach everything,” Tzarina stressed, highlighting the importance of maintaining the super yacht standard. “The yacht standard means charter guests won’t get a little bug in their pasta salad.” The entire galley had to be dismantled and sanitized, adding pressure as time was running short.
While the crew rushed to address the sanitation emergency, tensions began to reveal themselves among the team. Jason emphasized the need for respect during one of their first meetings, especially following the chaotic events of Season 2.
The camaraderie soon faced its first test when Wihan, the newly-appointed bosun, tried to establish authority among his deckhands, particularly with the defiant Johnny who suggested his own plan. Wihan, displaying maturity and team spirit, countered, “I’m all about team mentality... if your ego is just about making a name for yourself, that's not gonna work for me.” His leadership skills will likely be tested as the season progresses.
Meanwhile, the culinary side of the yacht was also facing difficulties. Despite Tzarina's adaptable menu, disagreements with the new chief stew Lara added to the brewing tensions. During breakfast service, Tzarina became overwhelmed when Lara deviated from their plans to appease the guests, leading to chaos amid the meal preparations.
“This is what I was worried about with Lara,” Tzarina lamented. “You don’t just go up and do your own thing. I need it to be my way to get the flow going.” Anthony, feeling sidelined, voiced concerns to Tzarina, observing, “I’m just finding it a little bit chaotic and I normally work more organized.”
Despite the initial turmoil, Captain Jason is optimistic about his crew’s ability to rise to the occasion. Speaking to Us Weekly, he reflected on the challenges posed by the previous crew’s negligence. “We have inspections every month. There’s no reason why there should be [infestation], especially when we’ve had a good handover from the previous crew,” he stated before the premiere.
The first episode concluded on hopeful notes. Tzarina and Anthony worked hard to sanitize the kitchen, with her acknowledging him as “a legend with capital L,” reflecting on how teamwork can brighten even the darkest of situations. But will they be able to maintain their composure and cohesiveness as the season moves forward?
Tune in to Below Deck Down Under every Monday at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo to follow the latest adventures aboard Katina and see how the crew manages their unique challenges.