Below Deck Down Under Season 4 Episode 4 delivered pure chaos on the water in “The Chef’s Assistant,” but nothing ramped up the tension like the snorkeling excursion gone wrong.

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These “elite” polo-loving guests—led by primaries Christian and Annette Perry, including Liz—headed out for what should have been a relaxing dip among turtles, stingrays, and fish. Instead, strong currents turned it into a heart-pounding nightmare, spotlighting deck team cracks and sparking a post-rescue blame game.

As the group snorkeled, the current proved fiercer than expected, making swimming a real struggle for some. Bosun João Franco sprang into action, pulling guests back toward the tender one by one. But when counting heads, panic set in: Liz was missing.

“Several tense moments” followed as the crew searched frantically. João located her quickly—she was thankfully wearing her life jacket, which kept her afloat and calm(ish).

Liz later admitted she would’ve been “a little panicked” without it. João himself was on the verge of a heart attack from the stress, per recaps of the episode.

The incident didn’t end with the rescue. João immediately pointed fingers at deckhand Mike Durrant, blaming him for not keeping a closer eye on the guests.

Mike, who’s been vocal about wanting more deck time (earlier complaining about being “stuck in interior” and fantasizing about chilling with “the lads”), felt attacked. In his confessional, he pushed back with a defensive “give us a break,” arguing the team was doing their best amid the episode’s nonstop mishaps.

João called a quick deck team meeting to reset: today’s scare was too close for comfort, and everyone needed to “get their heads in the game.” The near-miss amplified existing frustrations—deck/interior role overlaps (Mike’s hybrid position), guest-watching lapses, and the pressure of a charter already plagued by bad first impressions, late service, and decor disasters.

Fans are buzzing: Was Mike truly distracted chatting with guests about sea life, or is João being too hard on a newbie? Either way, it exposed how quickly things can escalate when focus slips on deck.

This wild snorkel fail stands out as one of BDDU’s scariest water moments yet, reminding viewers why safety protocols (and sharp eyes) are non-negotiable. With João’s leadership under the microscope and Mike defensive, expect more tension in the exterior department as the season heats up.

Below Deck Down Under Season 4 airs Mondays at 8/7c on Bravo, streaming next day on Peacock. Was João right to call out Mike, or was the current just too unpredictable? Sound off in the comments—we’re still recovering from those tense moments!