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| Below Deck Season 13: What James Bishop Is Doing After Joining the Azul V Crew. |
James Bishop has taken his love of adventure well beyond the decks of luxury yachts. The Below Deck Season 13 deckhand has continued exploring destinations around the world, sharing outdoor adventures and travel experiences with his followers. After joining the crew of the Azul V in Phuket, Thailand, Bishop brought his yachting experience to Bravo’s reality series. Away from the cameras, however, his lifestyle remains firmly focused on discovering new places, spending time with friends and finding fresh ways to enjoy the great outdoors. If anyone thought working aboard a luxury yacht would satisfy his appetite for adventure, his latest travels suggest otherwise.
Bishop joined the crew of the Azul V in Below Deck Season 13, bringing around two years of experience in the yachting industry to the job. As a deckhand, his responsibilities included maintaining the vessel’s exterior, assisting with water activities and helping ensure guests had an enjoyable experience.
It is a role that requires physical stamina, attention to detail and the ability to stay composed when the day refuses to follow the plan. And, naturally, working in close quarters with a group of colleagues adds another challenge. A beautiful yacht and spectacular scenery might sound like the perfect working environment, but even paradise comes with a job description.
Since his time on the show, Bishop has continued building his identity as a travel and lifestyle content creator, documenting his experiences across different destinations. His adventures have taken him to places such as Yosemite National Park and Saguaro National Park, while camping trips around San Diego in May 2026 offered more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. He has also explored Utah and San Francisco, demonstrating that his interests extend well beyond beaches, cocktails and the sort of expensive holiday most people can only admire through someone else’s social media account.
His appetite for exploration also reaches beneath the surface. In February 2026, Bishop shared an experience involving cave diving in Thailand, adding another adventurous activity to his collection. His previous travels included Greece in September 2025, London in July 2025 and a skiing trip to Switzerland in 2024. From underwater excursions to snowy mountains, he appears comfortable swapping one environment for another, provided there is something new to discover. Plenty of people say they want to travel more; Bishop seems determined to make that ambition a full-time project.
His experience on the road stretches back considerably further than his television appearance. Bishop has reportedly spent around 11 years travelling and covered approximately 25,000 nautical miles, giving him a substantial collection of experiences to draw on. Those miles also put his two years in the yachting industry into perspective: working at sea was one chapter in a much broader interest in exploring the world.
His social media presence reflects that outlook, with outdoor activities, unfamiliar landscapes and trips with friends featuring prominently. For Bishop, the journey seems to matter as much as the destination, which is fortunate when travelling inevitably involves delayed plans, questionable packing decisions and the occasional realisation that the nearest comfortable bed is nowhere nearby.
Friends also play an important part in his life away from the yacht. In May 2026, Bishop and his circle spent time together in Las Vegas, including a pool party and some well-earned downtime. It was a different sort of escape from his outdoor pursuits, proving that adventure does not always require hiking boots, diving equipment or a complicated itinerary. Sometimes, apparently, all that is needed is a swimming pool, good company and a city where doing absolutely nothing can still become an event worth documenting.
Among the people who appear particularly close to Bishop is Michelle da Gama, who has featured in discussions surrounding his personal life. There have been indications that the pair could be dating, but their relationship status has not been confirmed.
It would therefore be premature to label her his girlfriend based on speculation alone. For now, the available details offer a glimpse into their connection without establishing exactly where things stand. In the age of social media, a photograph together can inspire an entire detective investigation, but not every friendship needs an official relationship announcement.
Bishop’s experiences also suggest that he values having people around him who share his enthusiasm for discovering new places. Travelling with friends can turn an ordinary trip into a memorable experience, whether that means exploring a new country, spending a weekend outdoors or simply catching up after time apart. His Las Vegas gathering offered a glimpse of that social side, balancing the more adventurous activities that dominate his travel content. It is an appealing contrast to the demanding environment of yacht work, where personal space can be limited and the next task is rarely far away.
There is something particularly interesting about Bishop’s life after Below Deck because his story does not appear to revolve entirely around the reality television spotlight. His continued travels suggest that the show introduced viewers to a lifestyle he was already pursuing rather than creating an entirely new direction for him.
with years of experience exploring different environments, he has plenty of material for his content, and his background in yachting adds another dimension to his adventures. He can offer glimpses of the world from the perspective of someone who has spent considerable time travelling by sea, not just someone collecting passport stamps for the sake of a photograph.
In my view, Bishop is an interesting example of a reality television personality whose appeal extends beyond the programme itself. His strongest selling point is his lifestyle, not simply his appearance on Below Deck. The combination of international travel, outdoor activities and time with friends gives his content a recognisable identity. There is also a slightly amusing contradiction in watching someone leave the demands of luxury yacht work only to seek out cave diving, camping and other activities that require considerably more effort than lying beside a pool. Apparently, a relaxing holiday is not always relaxing enough.
That adventurous approach could also help Bishop maintain an audience after his season finishes airing. Reality television can introduce viewers to someone, but keeping their attention usually requires more than relying on old episodes and occasional references to the show.
His travel content provides a natural way to stay connected with followers while continuing to pursue interests that existed before his Bravo debut. Of course, documenting every adventure can make even a spontaneous trip look suspiciously organised, but that is part of the modern travel-content business. Even getting lost probably needs a decent camera angle these days.
Still, there is a difference between looking adventurous online and having years of experience travelling, and Bishop’s reported time on the road gives his interests some context. His travels across the United States and overseas suggest a genuine enthusiasm for unfamiliar places, while his time aboard the Azul V introduced him to the demanding routines of working on a luxury yacht. Whether he eventually returns to yachting, pursues more television opportunities or focuses further on content creation remains unclear. For now, he appears happy to keep exploring rather than settle into a predictable routine.
James Bishop’s life after Below Deck Season 13 therefore looks like a continuation of his established interests, with travel, outdoor pursuits and friendships remaining central to his world. His possible connection with Michelle da Gama has attracted curiosity, although no confirmed relationship update establishes their status.
beyond that speculation, his adventures provide the clearest picture of what he is doing now. Do you think Bishop has the makings of a returning Below Deck personality, or is he better suited to travelling the world away from reality television? Share your thoughts on his post-show life and which of his adventures you would most like to experience yourself.