On 28 July 1977, two oil tankers ran aground in front of what is now The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa. These two derelict tankers were under tow by the small Japanese tug the Kiyo Maru 2, on their way from Greece to the scrapyards in the Far East. The tug made an unscheduled stop in Abijan ( North Africa ) because of some minor engine trouble, but all then went well untill the convoy approached Table Bay in the teeth of a North Westerly gale. The Port Captain at Cape Town advised them not to enter Table Bay as he thought the weather was worsening and he was worried that the two tankers would not have enough sea room. During the afternoon, as the tug approached Robben Island with the gale now blowing harder than ever, the rope between the Antipolis and the tug snagged on the sea bed. All attempts to free it failed, and whilst the crew was busy with that task, the Romelia surged ahead of the tug taking its tow rope underneath the tugs hull. Fearing for his props, the Tug Master could only watch in horror as the Antipolis finally broke her tow rope and became cast adrift. Meanwhile the tug was still firmly anchored to the bottom and the Captain had to order the crew to cut through the towing hawser with a gas torch so as to release his tug. Whilst all this was going on, the Romelia then parted her tow rope and happily sped towards the waiting shore. The Antipolis ended up driven ashore by fifty knot winds at Oudekraal on the Cape Peninsula, and the Romelia was cast ashore on Sunset Rocks, in the pretty Llandudno Bay a few hundred yards away. She finally broke her back and sunk in two halves.

Today the skeleton of the Antipolis can still be clearly seen at low tide and has become a very popular shore dive.The Romelia broke up quite a bit more ,but even now you can see her rusting stern section silhouetted against the skyline still held fast on Sunset Rocks.

Today the wreck of the Antipolis is a fantastic dive and an ideal shore entry as it is not far from the shore. The superstructure has long been salvaged but the hull beneath the waves is still a great wreck dive. The best time to dive it is in summer between November and March when the Atlantic is calm and crystal blue. After the dive you can sit on the deck of the Azure restaurant where you can see the remains of the wreck quite clearly, its bow ribs are almost on the shore, and a bit further out, a boiler shows at low tide.

30TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

A Shipwreck gala dinner was held at the hotel’s enchanting Azure Restaurant on 29 July 2007 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the sinking of the Antipolis and the Romelia. Executive Chef Roberto de Carvalho is set to prepare a feast fit for luxury cruise liner passengers and land-lubbers alike!

Guest speaker for the evening and editor today of Hotel & Restaurant magazine, Andrew Moth will recount his memories of the historic sinking which he covered for the Cape Times newspaper all those years ago, and songstress Jenie Oliver will entertain with ballads from her latest album featuring pop divas like Norah Jones, Kate Bush and Eva Cassidy.
In keeping with The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa traditional charm and innovation, we have created a unique historical cum nautical themed dinner to tantalise guests this winter, including a Shipwreck gala dinner, and screenings of old seafaring classic movies in the hotels very own private cinema.