If you were watching Below Deck back in 2015, you definitely remember the tall, blonde South African deckhand who seemed to have stepped straight off a beach-themed romance novel cover. Emile Kotze was the breakout heartthrob of Season 3, but his journey on the motor yacht Eros was anything but smooth sailing. Between the grueling demands of Captain Lee Rosbach and a chaotic "situationship" with Rocky Dakota, Emile became one of the most talked-about crew members in the franchise's early years.
Honestly, it’s been a decade since that season aired, and the way people talk about him has changed. At the time, fans were divided. Some saw him as a sweet, slightly naive guy looking for love, while others found his persistence with Rocky a bit cringey. But looking back now? He was basically just a 23-year-old trying to navigate international television while working a high-pressure job.
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The Rocky Dakota Saga: Why It Still Matters
You can't talk about Emile Kotze on Below Deck without mentioning the train wreck that was his pursuit of 3rd Stew Rocky Dakota. It was the definition of "mixed signals." One minute they were sharing a romantic-ish dinner on a Ferris wheel, and the next, Rocky was literally diving off the boat in her underwear to escape the drama.
Emile was smitten. He even talked about moving to California to meet her family, which—let’s be real—was way too much, way too fast. He later admitted in interviews that watching the season back was "painful." He felt led on, and honestly, the footage kinda backs him up. Rocky would flirt, then pull away, then flirt again. It was a classic case of reality TV personalities clashing in a confined space.
But here is the thing: they actually stayed friends. In an industry known for burning bridges, Emile and Rocky managed to keep things civil after the cameras stopped rolling. He even defended her during the reunion, which showed a level of maturity most of us didn't expect from the "pretty boy" deckhand.
Life After the Eros: From Yachtie to Entrepreneur
So, what happened when the cameras went dark? Most people assume reality stars just fade away or keep doing the same show forever. Not Emile. He didn't stay in the Bravo bubble.
After filming, he actually crashed with Chef Ben Robinson for a while. Imagine that roommate situation. Ben called him a "legend" and "hysterical," proving that Emile was well-liked by the crew members who actually mattered. But he didn't just lounge around Florida. He went on a massive trek through South America—Argentina, Brazil, Peru—the whole deal. He even had his passport stolen at one point, which is basically a rite of passage for a true traveler.
The Rise of AfricanTravelKid
Emile eventually took his love for the ocean and his South African roots and turned them into a business. He founded AfricanTravelKid, a tour agency focused on authentic, eco-friendly adventures. He wasn’t just a deckhand anymore; he was a businessman.
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- Certification: He didn't just quit yachting, either. He went and got his 200gt RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certification.
- The Pivot: He moved into the world of travel tech and business development with a company called TRN Global.
- The Look: If you check his social media today, he’s still got the model looks, but the vibe is much more "successful entrepreneur" than "confused deckhand."
Why Emile Kotze Was Different
Most Below Deck cast members fall into two categories: the career yachtie who hates the drama, or the "clout chaser" who just wants to be an influencer. Emile felt like a hybrid. He actually knew his stuff on deck—Captain Lee might have been tough on him, but Lee is tough on everyone.
He represented a specific era of the show before it became a massive global machine. It felt more raw. When Emile got his heart broken or messed up a line on deck, it felt like a real person making a mistake, not a scripted plot point.
What most people get wrong
A lot of fans remember him as "the guy who liked Rocky," but that’s a narrow view. He was a kid from Stellenbosch, South Africa, who left home at 20 with nothing but a skipper's license and a dream to see the world. That takes guts. Whether he was acting (he’s dabbled in that too) or running a business, he’s always been about the hustle.
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Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're still following the lives of the Season 3 crew, here is what you should actually know about where things stand today:
- Don't expect a comeback: Emile seems very happy with his life as a "nomad" and entrepreneur. He hasn't expressed much interest in returning to the high-stress environment of a televised charter season.
- Follow the journey: His Instagram (often under the handle @emile2real) is a goldmine for travel photography. It’s less about "behind the scenes" of Bravo and more about high-end travel and business growth.
- Support the biz: If you're looking for an authentic South African experience, checking out his ventures like AfricanTravelKid is the best way to see the "real" Emile's passion.
Ultimately, Emile Kotze managed to do what very few reality stars achieve: he used the platform to launch a real career and then stepped away before the industry changed him. He’s no longer just a deckhand on the Eros; he’s a captain of his own life.