Cristo degli Abissi

Site Overview

The Cristo degli Abissi is a bronze statue of Christ with outstretched arms placed at about 17 m in the sheltered bay of San Fruttuoso, inside the Portofino Marine Protected Area. Cast from a mould blessed by the church, it was sunk in 1954 as a memorial to divers and remains one of the most atmospheric dives in the Mediterranean. Groupers, morays and red gorgonians surround the statue, and the shallow, calm setting makes it accessible to open-water divers. It is a quiet, almost spiritual experience and a rite of passage for anyone visiting the Ligurian coast. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers.