Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso: history, depth and how to see it
The bronze statue on the seabed at San Fruttuoso: its story, depth, how to see it on a dive or from the surface, and how to get there by ferry.
San Fruttuoso bay with the abbey and ferry boat
Where
San Fruttuoso bayin the municipality of Camogli, in front of the abbey
Depth
15 to 18 metres depending on the source17 m according to the official portal italia.it
Statue
bronzeabout 2.5 metres tall, arms raised towards the surface
How to see it
a dive with a centre authorised by the Marine Protected Areaor from the surface when the sea is flat
Getting there
ferry from CamogliRecco, Portofino, Santa Margherita or Rapallo, or on foot along the park trails
Ceremony
an evening tribute in summerwhen a wreath is laid on the seabed
The Christ of the Abyss (Cristo degli Abissi) is a bronze statue by Guido Galletti, lowered in 1954 onto the seabed of San Fruttuoso bay, between Camogli and Portofino, inside the Portofino Marine Protected Area. To see it up close you need a dive with an authorised dive centre; on calm days with clear water you can also make it out from the surface with a mask and snorkel. There is no road to San Fruttuoso: you arrive on foot or by boat.
By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on ·5 min read
The story of the Christ of the Abyss
The idea came from Duilio Marcante, a pioneer of Italian diving. In 1947 his friend Dario Gonzatti, one of the first to try the oxygen rebreather, died during a dive in these waters. Marcante wanted a statue on the seabed in his memory and in memory of everyone lost at sea.
The sculptor Guido Galletti made it: a Christ with open arms, about 2.5 metres tall. The bronze was cast from melted-down medals, bells, ship parts and propellers. The statue was placed on 29 August 1954 with the help of the Italian Navy.
In 2003 it was lifted out for a major restoration, which included reattaching a hand broken off by an anchor. It went back down in 2004 on a new, slightly shallower base. Since then the regional heritage office has organised regular cleaning with state divers, most recently in July 2026: a pressure washer removes the encrustations without touching the bronze.
Copies around the world
Other statues were cast from Galletti’s mould. The best known is the “Christ of the Deep” off Key Largo, Florida, placed in 1965 in about 7–8 metres of water. Another cast stands on the Carenage waterfront in St. George’s, Grenada, a gift from the Costa line to thank the island for rescuing the passengers of the Bianca C, which caught fire in the harbour in 1961. The original, though, is the one at San Fruttuoso.
How to see the Christ of the Abyss
On a dive
The statue lies in zone B of the Portofino Marine Protected Area. Its small cove is closed off by a line of moorings that marks the area divers may visit, next to the channel used by the ferries. The easiest option is a guided dive with an authorised centre: the current list is on the Marine Protected Area website, with centres in Camogli, Recco, Santa Margherita, Lavagna and Genoa. If you dive independently, freediving included, zone B requires an annual pass and a daily authorisation from the Marine Protected Area.
From the surface
With a flat sea and clear water you can make out the outline of the statue with a mask and snorkel, or from a boat or kayak. Stay inside the marked swimming areas, keep away from the ferry channel and never touch the statue or the seabed.
The annual tribute
Every summer the Centro Subacqueo Mediterraneo Duilio Marcante holds an evening ceremony in the bay. The lights go out, a candlelit procession walks from the abbey to the beach and a diver lays a blessed wreath on the seabed. The date changes every year: in 2026 it was set for Saturday 29 August, the anniversary of the placing, but it was cancelled because of rough seas and replaced by a mass in Camogli. Check the programme in summer.
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From Camogli, Golfo Paradiso ferries run to San Fruttuoso all year round, more often in summer and only a few times a day in winter; they sail only when the sea allows. In 2026 a Camogli–San Fruttuoso ticket costs €11 one way and €17 return. From Recco the line runs from April to September. Current timetables are on the Golfo Paradiso website.
From Portofino, the trail marked with two red dots reaches the bay in a good two hours: see our step-by-step guide to the Portofino–San Fruttuoso trail. From Camogli, via San Rocco, allow about two and a half hours. The coastal Batterie section is closed: check trail conditions on the park website before you set off.
The Abbey of San Fruttuoso
On the beach, facing the statue, stands the Abbey of San Fruttuoso: a Benedictine monastery rebuilt in the 10th century on an older church, with the 14th-century tombs of the Doria family and a tower built in the mid-16th century against pirates. It has belonged to FAI, the Italian National Trust, since 1983. Opening times and tickets change with the seasons: check them on the FAI website.
When to go and nearby beaches
To see the statue from the surface and swim, go between June and September, when the sea averages over 21 °C. Pick a windless day, ideally in the morning before the busiest ferries arrive. In rough seas sailings can be cancelled, so check the Camogli weather forecast before you go. San Fruttuoso beach is pebbly, mostly free, and holds a Blue Flag for 2026. For other beaches and rocks nearby, see our guide to the beaches of Camogli.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How deep is the Christ of the Abyss?
Sources give different figures, between 15 and 18 metres: the official portal italia.it says 17 metres, reports on the latest maintenance say 18. Since 2004 the statue has stood on a new, slightly shallower base.
Can you see the Christ of the Abyss without diving?
Yes: on calm days with clear water you can make it out from the surface with a mask and snorkel, or from a boat. For a proper look you need a dive with an authorised centre.
Do you need a permit to dive at the Christ of the Abyss?
With an authorised dive centre, the centre handles it. Diving independently, freediving included, requires an annual pass and a daily authorisation from the Portofino Marine Protected Area.
How do you get to San Fruttuoso?
Only by boat or on foot. Ferries leave from Camogli all year, from Recco in season and from Rapallo, Santa Margherita and Portofino; on foot it takes about two hours from Portofino and two and a half from Camogli.
When is the Christ of the Abyss ceremony?
In summer, in the evening, when a wreath is laid on the seabed; the date changes every year. In 2026 it was planned for Saturday 29 August but was cancelled because of rough seas.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Camogli
All places to stay in Camogli on Booking: compare prices and availability.
