‘Below Deck’s’ Captain Sandy Launches Kids’ Maritime Charity

She’s the fearless leader aboard Bravo’s “Below Deck Mediterranean,” but even Captain Sandy Yawn has her limits—especially when it comes to sharks. In a new interview, she opened up about her lifelong fear of what’s under the water and revealed a major new initiative aimed at giving kids a chance to explore the maritime world.

Captain Sandy Yawn Starts Charity to Bring Maritime Education to U.S. Schools

Captain Sandy Yawn, the no-nonsense leader on Bravo’s hit series “Below Deck Mediterranean,” is charting a new course with her latest endeavor— Steering Towards Success through Captain Sandy’s Charities, a nonprofit organization aiming to introduce students to the maritime industry through STEM-based curriculum.

The program, already approved across Florida, brings ocean education and industry awareness into elementary schools with plans to expand nationwide and internationally. “It’s a fully accredited education program to kind of introduce children in schools to the maritime industry,” Yawn explained in a new interview on the Behind the Velvet Rope podcast.

The curriculum teaches not just sea-based careers like captaining or diving, but also land-based marine jobs like welding, carpentry, and electrical work. “Welders make 20 percent more in a shipyard than they do land-based,” Yawn said. “A lot of Americans don’t even know these jobs exist because they’re not taught in school.”

With over one million registered boats in Florida—the most of any state—Yawn is also leading a campaign to sell newly minted charity license plates that help fund the initiative. “We are powering through selling this license plate to benefit education for the charity in the maritime sector,” she said.

Yawn hopes Captain Sandy’s Charities will demystify the yachting world for kids who might not live near water or come from wealth. “This industry is already glamorized—it has the best parties,” she said. “But it’s also hard work. Every one of us started scrubbing toilets or decks.”

That includes Yawn herself, who says she’ll still clean a toilet today if it helps her crew. “I don’t care what anyone says—every business we’re in, we all serve,” she emphasized. “You have to have the mental state to go out and serve.”

Yes, the Captain of ‘Below Deck Med’ Is Still a Bit Afraid of Sharks

Despite building a decades-long career at sea, Yawn admits she still has a healthy fear of the deep. “I love the water. The water does scare me a little bit,” she confessed. “With all the shark attacks, I’m a little concerned about going in.”

Her wariness dates back to childhood. Like many Gen Xers, Yawn was traumatized by Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws,” which turns 50 this year. “I was 10 years old when I saw it,” she said. “I remember being scared of the water—and I loved the water.”

Even now, she jokes about sticking to drone surveillance before swimming: “If there’s no sharks, then swim. Otherwise, stay out of the shark’s house.”

But don’t confuse caution with hesitation. Yawn is still a certified diver and insists that the ocean is far less dangerous than people think. “Sharks really don’t eat people. They love fish,” she said. “We have a very different flavor.”

Captain Sandy has already finished production on “Below Deck Mediterranean” season 10 which should premiere in 2025.