What happened to Max Salvador on Below Deck Mediterranean?

Below Deck Mediterranean's Max Salvador learned the hard way that not every ocean moment belongs on a postcard. During Below Deck Mediterranean Season 10, Episode 2, the French deckhand spotted a school of jellyfish floating gracefully beside the yacht and decided to get up close, because what could possibly go wrong? Mesmerized by their glowing blue shimmer, he ignored Aesha Scott’s well-timed warning and reached right in. Seconds later, while casually wiping his face, reality hit, and it burned.

The sting was instant, and so was the panic. As Max clutched his face, the crew leapt into crisis mode, with Captain Sandy swooping in to take charge and figure out how a quick peek at marine life had turned into a full-blown emergency. Between deck malfunctions and rookie slip-ups, the last thing the team needed was a jellyfish ambush. Luckily, Max bounced back fast, a little red-eyed, a lot wiser, and now the proud owner of a story that proves one thing: the sea might sparkle, but it still bites back.

Below Deck Mediterranean: Max Salvador’s injury and how it happened

While on deck, Bosun Nathan Gallagher noticed a swarm of jellyfish bobbing near the boat and pointed them out as if he had unearthed riches on Below Deck Mediterranean. Max's eyes brightened up; he couldn't get over how magnificent they were, sparkling blue and purple like underwater chandeliers. In his confessional, he subsequently revealed that he was utterly captivated, calling them among the greatest creatures he'd ever seen.

But fascination turned into foolishness fast. Swept up in the moment, Max leaned over the swim platform and decided to give one a friendly poke. Aesha, watching this unfold, tried to warn him about danger and stingers, but Max, brimming with confidence, waved her off.

A few seconds later, karma struck. He rubbed his face after touching the jellyfish, and suddenly, it felt like his skin was on fire. Panic kicked in as the sting spread, and Max started scrambling for help from Aesha and Tessa. Turns out, jellyfish aren’t as gentle as they look; lesson learned the hard way.

Aesha initially thought he might be joking, responding,

"No, you're f—king joking."

When she realized the severity, she commanded him to "go to the captain." The crew mobilized quickly once they understood the situation. Aesha called Nathan frantically over the radio as Max rushed inside. Aesha explained the emergency over the radio:

"He touched a jellyfish and he touched his eyes, and now his eyes are on fire."

Max described his condition, saying that it was burning him quite a bit. Max encountered Captain Sandy as he made his way through the yacht. She asked how the injury felt, and he compared it to "tabasco in the eyes." The pain clearly overwhelmed him. Sandy seemed baffled by the entire situation.

"Why'd you touch the fish?" she questioned.

Max could only offer a sheepish "I don't know" as an explanation. The captain suggested rinsing with fresh water as immediate treatment. Cameras showed Max leaning over a sink with his face submerged. By the third day of the charter, Sandy checked on his condition and found significant improvement.

The jellyfish incident compounded existing issues plaguing the deck crew. Deckhand Tessa complained about operational standards during her confessional, noting that her grandfather was a captain and "this just feels wrong."

Charter guests on Below Deck Mediterranean waited an hour and a half for water toys to be deployed. Primary guest Carl and his friends witnessed what one described as "intense" struggles with wave runner launches. Nathan called the performance an "absolute disgrace" and "embarrassing."

Additional failures included a jet ski drifting away and Nathan accidentally destroying two light fixtures while operating the mechanical lift on Below Deck Mediterranean. He vented his frustrations to Aesha, expressing a wish for his previous team members, Gael Cameron and Joe Bradley.

"They took initiative," he said.

How has Max transformed since Season 8?

In a recent chat with The Daily Dish, Captain Sandy reflected on how much Max has grown since his earlier seasons. She described him as a passionate and fiery personality who’s made a complete turnaround since fans last saw him struggling with motivation. Back in Season 8, Max’s work ethic had been a sore spot, and he even considered quitting early.

But heading into Below Deck Mediterranean Season 10, he came in determined to prove himself, telling Sandy he was ready to give his absolute best. He credits that shift to a hypnosis retreat in Bali, where he says everything just clicked, helping him find a sense of calm and confidence he’d never felt before.

To see if this “new Max” was for real, Sandy put him to the test by having him lead the deck team on Below Deck Mediterranean when Nathan got sick right before their first charter. The gamble paid off. Max handled the challenge smoothly, showing he’d truly grown into the leader Sandy hoped he could become.

---

Below Deck Mediterranean airs Mondays at 8/7c on Bravo.