What Happened To Max Salvador After Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8?

Summary Max Salvador left the yachting industry to pursue a career in hypnotherapy.

He is now a hypnotherapist aiming to help others struggling with mental health.

Max has moved on from Below Deck Mediterranean and is in a new relationship.

Max Salvador starred as a deckhand in Below Deck Mediterranean season 8, and it's time to give an update on what he's been up to after his appearance on the show. The yachtie made his debut in Genoa, Italy, completing the Mustique crew. The French deckhand joined fellow team members Lara Du Preez, Haleigh Gorman, and Bosun Luka Brunton, quickly realizing that this yachting experience was vastly different from his previous ones due to the language barrier.

Despite four years of yachting experience, Max found the transition to using English challenging. His crewmates, particularly Haleigh, encouraged his progress and made him feel appreciated and included in the charter. Before appearing in Below Deck Med, he worked as a captain and officer from 2018 to 2022; he also worked as a community manager and co-director at B.seen.agency, a digital communications agency specializing in real estate marketing. While he may not return to Below Deck Med season 9, there's still interest in the season 8 deckhand.

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Max No Longer Works In Yachting

He Is A Hypnotherapist

Max shocked Luka by his want to leave Below Deck Med season 8, but he explained his choices on his Instagram. The former deckhand transitioned from working in yachting to hypnotherapy after appearing on the hit Bravo show. While this seems like a wild career shift, Max explained his reasoning in a reel. After the season ended, Max alleged in the video that he went to Bali, where he spent months depressed. However, hypnotherapy is popular in France, and Max used the resource to lift himself out of depression.

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that uses hypnosis to become focused and increase one's suggestibility as a form of psychological treatment.

Max was so inspired by the treatment he decided to become a hypnotherapist so he could help others who were struggling with mental health. He shared with his followers why he wanted to trade in $6,000 monthly on the yacht to help others with hypnotherapy. While he enjoyed the money, Max didn't like providing 24/7 service for wealthy guests and sought his freedom. Hopefully, Max is finding the inner peace and independence he desires through his hypnotherapy business.

Max Has Been Dating Someone Since 2023

He Is Happy With A New Girlfriend

According to his Instagram, Max has been dating someone since 2023. In a reel from November 2023, Max showcased his adventures with a beautiful mystery brunette. While her identity hasn't been revealed, Max is clearly happy with his new romance. "Ma chérie, you don’t need me, I don’t need you," he captioned, continuing, "But we love each other and that’s what makes our couple wonderful," followed by the Statue of Liberty, dove, and fiery heart emojis. "We back," he concluded.

"But we love each other and that’s what makes our couple wonderful."

Fans were happy for Max in the comments, saying, "I’m so happy for you both!" and, "Love this." Max didn't get much genuine romance on the show, aside from serving as a pawn for Jessika Asai in her pursuit of Luka. Natalya Scudder rekindled her flirtation with Luka, which Jessika witnessed. In a play to make Luka jealous, she kissed Max. Luckily, Max's entanglement with Luka's relationship drama didn't go further than Jessika's kiss.

Max's Journey On Below Deck Mediterranean

Season 8 Was Rocky For Max

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Initially, Max's integration into the team was rocky. His heavy French accent made communication difficult, and his slower work pace clashed with the more fast-paced American style of yachting. His struggle to meet the work standards caused issues with his fellow yachties, particularly Lara, who called Max lazy. His work ethic especially came into question when he complained about being tired while preparing lunch at Santa Margherita Ligure Castle.

Despite some professional setbacks, Max was a likable and entertaining cast member on Below Deck Mediterranean season 8.

Despite a difficult transition, Max's situation began to improve after Luka and Lara adjusted their management approach, opting for positive reinforcement rather than criticism. However, the ongoing turmoil among the crew continued to impact Max's mental health. Tensions peaked when Kyle Viljoen confronted Max over a misunderstanding related to the LGBTQIA+ community, which spiraled into a conflict involving Natalya.

Max confided in Captain Sandy Yawn about his desire to quit due to the negative atmosphere affecting his well-being. Captain Sandy refused to let him go, but his departure from the industry after the show wasn't shocking. After such a tumultuous season, it's no wonder Max decided to leave yachting behind.

Will Max Ever Return To Below Deck Mediterranean?

He Left The Yachting Industry Behind

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Given his career change, it's highly unlikely that Max will return to Below Deck Med or the yachting world in general. He seemed to prefer the French style of professional yachting, but regardless of where the deckhand found himself, the life of waiting on others no longer served him. Max has found a new career in hypnotherapy and isn't looking back. He has a new relationship, and while he's grateful for his time on Below Deck Mediterranean, Max has moved on.

Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 premieres Monday, June 3 at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo.

Source: Max Salvador/Instagram, Max Salvador/Instagram