Gael Cameron Opens Up About Surviving the Below Deck Season That Changed Everything

A Season Filmed in the Shadow of What Was to Come

When *Below Deck Mediterranean* Season 11 wrapped filming in Croatia, Gael Cameron was a new mother navigating an unfamiliar country, far from her support system, with an infant in tow. Cameras captured some of it — but not nearly enough. Now, days after the finale aired, Cameron is telling the fuller story herself.

Cameron described the challenges of raising her infant son while filming *Below Deck Mediterranean* in Croatia, reflecting publicly on the experience three days after the show's Season 11 finale aired on October 5. In a first for *Below Deck* history, a crew member's family traveled to the filming destination to stay nearby while the crew member filmed aboard the boat. Cameron and her baby, Kayden, were stationed in a rental home close to the yacht's port, a logistical arrangement that was as emotionally complex as it sounds.

Honest Words From a Difficult Chapter

In an Instagram post, Cameron wrote: "And there goes the close of another season of Med… and another chapter of life." She added, "You didn't get to see much of my time in Croatia. It wasn't the easiest chapter of my life, and there's still so much left to be said about that time." The words were measured but unmistakably raw — a rare moment of candor from a reality TV personality whose private life had become very public, very fast.

She shared that she had "moved away with a new baby" and was "still living in survival mode." She noted that for almost three of the six weeks they were in Croatia, her best friend flew over to be with them, and that "with an extra set of hands and a bit of care," she stopped just surviving and began to feel like herself again. She wrote that Croatia showed her "the strength I have as a mother and as a woman: no matter how challenging the circumstances, I will survive."

The Nathan Gallagher Backdrop

Cameron's reflections carry additional weight given what unfolded after filming ended. The season was filmed before Gallagher was arrested in December 2025 in an alleged domestic violence incident in Australia. In September, he was convicted on charges of assault and choking. Gallagher was arrested in Sydney on December 27, 2025, and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentionally choking a person without consent, and common assault.

He was granted conditional bail but failed to attend a court hearing on September 1, 2026. He was convicted of all three charges and an arrest warrant was issued. Court records show Cameron filed an Apprehended Violence Application seeking protection from him. A Bravo spokesperson confirmed in a statement that the network "does not plan on working with Nathan in the future."

Support Pours In as Cameron Looks Forward

Cameron is receiving an outpouring of support from fans and fellow crew members. Although she did not directly address Gallagher or his legal case, she acknowledged that viewers did not see everything she experienced during the season. Castmate Aesha Scott told her she'll "never stop being in awe of her." Crew member Kat called her "the strongest woman I know," while Kaylee said, "You are so incredible Gael. I feel honoured to know you."

What makes Cameron's post resonate beyond the reality TV bubble is its honesty about what new motherhood under pressure actually looks like — unglamorous, isolating, and still somehow survivable. She wrote: "Leaving my support system at home wasn't the plan, but I'm so grateful for the experience. Croatia showed me the strength I have as a mother and as a woman." She closed with: "I'll always find the pockets of joy, cause life is a beautiful thing and there is always light as long as you keep looking for it." With Gallagher's legal situation still unresolved and a warrant out for his arrest, the road ahead for Cameron and her son remains uncertain — but her voice, at least, is clear.