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Dive Site – Christ of the Abyss
Christ of the Abyss is an impressive bronze statue, created by Italian artist Guido Galletti and submerged in several places around the world. The original statue was sunk in Aug of 1954, just off of San Fruttuoso on the Italian Riviera.
The statue since then has be recast and placed in 2 other locations – St. George’s, Grenada (1961) and Key Largo, Florida (1962).
Since then all statues have served as popular dive sites among divers, who enjoy the dramatic pose of Christ with his hands lifted upwards and his face looking up towards the heavens (or the water surface in this case).
Significance
The sculpture was originally created as a memorial for all those who have perished underneath the waves throughout the years and a monument for those who continue to dive and enjoy the wonders of the ocean.
The Grenada sculpture was given as a gift from Italy in gratitude for the Italian crew that was saved earlier that year, when a passenger ship – M.V. Bianca C, went under just off of St. George.
In 1962 the sculpture was given as a gift from dive gear manufacturer Edigio Cressi to The Underwater Society of America. Only in 1965 was it lowered to it’s final resting position at The John Pennekamp Park in Key Largo, Florida.
Dive Site
Naturally, the Christ of the Abyss has become one of the top dive sites in Key Largo. Resting at 25 feet with the top of the statue at 8 to 10 feet of water, it is also visible to snorkelers who flock from all over the world to catch a glimpse of it.
Scuba Divers and freedivers love capturing surreal images next to this colossal statue and if they are lucky, they might even get a passing Barracuda or Ray in the shot swimming alongside them.
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