Since its debut in 2013, Below Deck has captivated fans through various attention-grabbing elements, ranging from enthralling drama to compelling cast members.
For context, the series, which airs on Bravo, showcases yacht employees as they work and live on the luxurious boat during charter season. Over the years, throughout Below Deck‘s ten seasons, there have been more than thirty cast members, including Raquel “Rocky” Dakota.
Dakota, who was a third-ranking stewardess on Eros, was introduced in the third season of Below Deck in 2015 and instantly became an unforgettable cast member due to her various antics at work. The list included Dakota complaining about her assigned tasks, criticizing her boss Kate Chastain, and trying to get on another boat after jumping off the yacht in her undergarments, to name a few.
Despite Dakota’s memorable stunts, she would ultimately leave the show that same year after getting into an argument with Captain Lee Rosbach. Since then, Dakota has stayed away from the public eye and moved out of the country to start a new life. So what happened to Dakota after leaving Below Deck?Â
What has Raquel Dakota been up to after her exit?
According to Distractify, following her departure, Dakota traveled the world and worked freelance stewardess jobs before moving to Hawaii full-time in December 2016. The outlet also states that Dakota had moved to Honolulu, a city she lived in while attending college.
In regards to her love life, it is reported that Dakota was romantically linked to a man named Mark that same year. However, as of July 2023, it is unclear if the pair are still an item because she has yet to post any recent photos with him.
Raquel Dakota’s family tragedy
Tragedy would strike Dakota’s life shortly after leaving Below Deck. In January 2017, the former reality star announced on Instagram that her younger sister Sophia Bartlow, a paddle surfer champion, had tragically passed away at 25 following a car accident.
At the time, the Daily Mail reported that the accident occurred after Bartlow’s boyfriend, Sage Candelaria, who was allegedly under the influence, lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a mango truck. Candelaria was ultimately arrested for “suspicion of negligent homicide, DUI, and driving without a license.” No additional details have been released regarding Candelaria and his charges.
Still, in honor of Bartlow’s short life, Dakota and their loved ones held a public memorial for the surfer, which consisted of the group surfing and paddling out. Over the years, Dakota keeps her sister’s memory alive by sharing throwback images and tributes.
In 2019, on the second anniversary of her sister’s passing, Dakota expressed that despite losing Bartlow and the difficult journey of grief, the entire experience has taught her to become a stronger person. She wrote in a now-removed post:
“2 years ago, I woke up to the worst phone call of my life… 2 years ago today, was unbearable… Hearing that news was unbelievable … It’s true what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.”
Raquel Dakota’s return to television
A year later, in 2020, Dakota would briefly return to television after reuniting with some of the cast members from Below Deck, including her ex-boss Kate Chastain for their 100th episode special on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
All appeared to be going well, until Dakota was asked to name her favorite moment on the show, to which Chastain responded by sarcastically praising her swimming abilities as she recalled the star jumping off of the boat in her underwear:
“You’re not the best yachtie, but you’re so entertaining and so talented. I could never dive like you. I could never swim like you…you’re so talented.”
When Dakota inquired why she wasn’t considered the “best yachtie” Chastain claimed it was because, during her time on the show, it appeared that she hated her job and went to great lengths to sabotage it, especially jumping off the boat in her undergarments.
Following the remarks, Dakota explained that she did the infamous stunt because she wanted to quit the job due to her not landing her ideal role:
“Well, I went to culinary school, and I thought I was gonna be the sous chef, and then I was the third-ranking stew, the lowest-ranking cleaning lady. I never cleaned a yacht in my life, so why would I like cleaning a yacht if I was planning on being a sous chef?”
Although the drama between Dakota and Chastain made other cast mates uncomfortable, it did become another viral moment in the Below Deck saga. Since then, Dakota has retreated to Hawaii, taking up hobbies such as yoga and massage therapy.
All seasons of Below Deck are available to stream on Bravo, Peacock, FuboTV, and others.
