If you've snorkeled the Antilla, you've probably heard the story of how her captain deliberately sank the German freighter rather than surrender it during World War II.
But after hearing that story so many times, I realized there was one question I'd never really asked: What was a German freighter doing off the coast of Malmok in the first place?
Curious to learn more, I did a little research and discovered the story begins thousands of miles away in Galveston, Texas.
After loading a cargo of sulfur in Galveston, the SS Antilla was trying to return to Germany when World War II broke out. With the Atlantic becoming increasingly dangerous, Captain Ferdinand Schmidt steered toward neutral Dutch Aruba, hoping to ride out the war.
Instead, the Antilla and her crew became stranded off the coast of Malmok, living aboard the freighter for more than eight months while they waited for the war to change.
When Dutch authorities finally moved to seize the ship, Captain Schmidt opened the sea valves rather than surrender her, sending the Antilla to the bottom of the Caribbean Sea.
Today, the nearly 400-foot shipwreck is one of the Caribbean's largest wreck sites and a thriving underwater world of coral, tropical fish, sea turtles and countless other marine creatures. Jolly Pirates has been introducing guests to the Antilla for nearly 30 years, and morning is usually the best time to visit, when calmer conditions and the overhead sun reveal the wreck at its most spectacular.
Ready to experience the Antilla for yourself? Join a Jolly Pirates Morning Snorkel Sail and discover Aruba's most famous shipwreck for yourself.
Book your Jolly Pirates Morning Snorkel Sail: https://www.jolly-pirates.com/cruise/sail-snorkel-swim-and-swing/
About the Author
Carla Cavallaro Brand Manager, Jolly Pirates & Kukoo Kunuku Carla has called Aruba home for nearly 40 years and has spent more than 30 years helping build Jolly Pirates into one of the island's best-known tour companies. She enjoys researching and sharing Aruba's history, culture and the fascinating stories behind the places that make Aruba so unforgettable.
