A release apparatus for a load on a device, in particular on an underwater device, includes a hook device, with which a hook is mounted on a hook-holding device such that it can rotate about a rotational axis and can be displaced between a closed and a released position by rotation about the rotational axis with the aid of a hook actuation mechanism. The apparatus includes a load rest, which is formed on the hook and in which a holding element of the load rests when in the non-released state, and a restricted guidance device, which is configured to guide the load in an ejection direction when released, wherein, when the holding element of the load rests on the load rest, the hook in the closed position is torque-free with respect to a torque exerted by the load on the hook in relation to the rotation about the rotational axis.