Italian Police Divers Clean Iconic ‘Christ of the Abyss’ Statue in Mediterranean Waters
- Victor Nwoko
- Aug 25
- 2 min read
Italian police divers have carried out an annual deep-sea cleaning of the world-famous “Christ of the Abyss” statue, one of the Mediterranean’s most iconic underwater attractions. Using pressurized water hoses, teams carefully removed bacteria and crustaceans from the 2.5-meter (8-foot) bronze figure of Christ, which has stood on the seabed off Italy’s Ligurian coast since 1954.
The statue, with Christ raising his hands in blessing, was created from melted-down medals of fallen Italian soldiers, along with canons and ship materials, and serves as a memorial to those who died at sea. It was designed by Italian artist Guido Galletti in honor of a diver who lost his life in the area. Similar statues exist off Key Largo, Florida, and Grenada.
Situated about 300 meters off the coast between Portofino and Camogli, at a depth of 18 meters (59 feet), the statue rests in the bay of San Fruttuoso. Due to its proximity to the shore and shallow depth, it is considered the most visited dive site in the Mediterranean and is also visible to kayakers and paddleboarders from the water’s surface.
The latest cleaning, conducted on August 19, involved Italian police, the coast guard, and four other forces. The water-blasting technique, in use since 2004, uses seawater to gently clear away buildup without harming the bronze or surrounding marine ecosystem. Art historian Alessandra Cabella of the Ligurian archaeology superintendent’s office praised the process, noting that marine life gathers to watch the procedure.
The cleaning method replaced earlier practices where divers scraped the statue with metal brushes, a technique that damaged its surface by creating crevices that accelerated marine buildup. The statue is particularly fragile because it was originally filled with cement and reinforced with iron rods, which have contributed to internal corrosion of the bronze.
The “Christ of the Abyss” remains a powerful symbol of sacrifice, remembrance, and maritime heritage, attracting thousands of divers and visitors each year.
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