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Divers Restore Iconic "Christ of the Abyss" Statue in Italy
21 Aug
Summary
- Police divers clean "Christ of the Abyss" statue in Italy
- Statue made from melted-down medals of fallen soldiers
- Statue is a popular dive site, seen from the surface
On August 19, 2025, police divers in Italy have undertaken their annual cleaning of the iconic "Christ of the Abyss" statue, a 2.5-meter bronze sculpture located about 300 meters off the coast between the resort towns of Portofino and Camogli. The statue, which was placed on the seabed in 1954 as a memorial to those who have died at sea, is made from the melted-down medals of Italy's fallen soldiers, canons, and ships, making it a potent symbol of sacrifice from World War II.
The statue, which sits at a depth of around 18 meters, is the most frequented dive spot in the Mediterranean due to its proximity to the coast and relatively shallow depth. In addition to divers, the site also attracts kayakers and paddleboarders who can see the statue from the surface.
Every year, police divers carefully use pressurized water hoses to remove the bacteria and corrosive crustaceans that have accumulated on the statue. This water-blasting technique, which was adopted in 2004 after previous scraping methods caused damage, ensures the bronze and marine ecosystem remain unharmed as the microorganisms are dislodged and released back into the sea.
