Fast Fact: Christ of the Abyss (Italian: Il Cristo degli Abissi) is a submerged bronze statue of Jesus Christ, the original of which is located in the Mediterranean Sea, which was placed there on August 22, 1954 and is approximately 17 metres depth, and stands c. 2.5 metres tall. It was sculpted by Guido Galletti, based on an idea of Italian diver Duilio Marcante. The statue was placed near the spot where Dario Gonzatti, the first Italian to use SCUBA gear, died in 1947. It depicts Christ offering a benediction of peace, with his head and hands raised skyward. Various other casts of the statue are located in other places worldwide, both underwater and in churches and museums.
