The story of the Christ of the Abyss<\/h2>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Copies around the world<\/h2>\n
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\u20138 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.<\/p>\n
How to see the Christ of the Abyss<\/h2>\n![\"Diver](\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/diving-cristo-degli-abissi-1024x580.webp\")
<\/figure>\nOn a dive<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\nFrom the surface<\/h3>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The annual tribute<\/h3>\n
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.<\/p>\n
All places to stay in Camogli on Booking: compare prices and availability.<\/p>
See hotels and prices<\/a>Discover Camogli<\/a><\/div><\/div>\nGetting to San Fruttuoso<\/h2>\n![\"San](\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/San-Fruttuoso-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\nBy ferry<\/h3>\n
From Camogli<\/a>, 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\u2013San Fruttuoso ticket costs \u20ac11 one way and \u20ac17 return. From Recco<\/a> the line runs from April to September. Current timetables are on the Golfo Paradiso website<\/a>.<\/p>\nFrom the Tigullio side, the Servizio Marittimo del Tigullio runs the Rapallo<\/a>\u2013Santa Margherita Ligure<\/a>\u2013Portofino<\/a>\u2013San Fruttuoso line all year, with seasonal timetables and always subject to the weather. Timetables are on the ferry company’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\nOn foot<\/h3>\n
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\u2013San Fruttuoso trail<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\nThe Abbey of San Fruttuoso<\/h2>\n![\"Abbey](\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/san-fruttuoso.webp\")
<\/figure>\nOn the beach, facing the statue, stands the Abbey of San Fruttuoso<\/a>: 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<\/a>.<\/p>\nWhen to go and nearby beaches<\/h2>\n
To see the statue from the surface and swim, go between June and September, when the sea averages over 21 \u00b0C. 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<\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/p>\nFrequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\nHow deep is the Christ of the Abyss?<\/summary>\nSources 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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\nCan you see the Christ of the Abyss without diving?<\/summary>\nYes: 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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\nDo you need a permit to dive at the Christ of the Abyss?<\/summary>\nWith 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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\nHow do you get to San Fruttuoso?<\/summary>\nOnly 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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\nWhen is the Christ of the Abyss ceremony?<\/summary>\nIn 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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":30331,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-60959","approfondimento","type-approfondimento","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Christ of the Abyss, San Fruttuoso: depth and how to see it<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso: the 1954 statue's story, its depth, dives with authorised centres, snorkelling, the ceremony and ferries.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-levante\/camogli\/christ-of-the-abyss\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Christ of the Abyss, San Fruttuoso: depth and how to see it\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso: the 1954 statue's story, its depth, dives with authorised centres, snorkelling, the ceremony and ferries.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-levante\/camogli\/christ-of-the-abyss\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Italian Riviera\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/San-Fruttuoso-1.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/riviera-di-levante\\\/camogli\\\/christ-of-the-abyss\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/riviera-di-levante\\\/camogli\\\/christ-of-the-abyss\\\/\",\"name\":\"Christ of the Abyss, San Fruttuoso: depth and how to see it\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/riviera-di-levante\\\/camogli\\\/christ-of-the-abyss\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/riviera-di-levante\\\/camogli\\\/christ-of-the-abyss\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/San-Fruttuoso-1.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-10T16:06:42+00:00\",\"description\":\"The Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso: the 1954 statue's story, its depth, dives with authorised centres, snorkelling, the ceremony and ferries.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/riviera-di-levante\\\/camogli\\\/christ-of-the-abyss\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/riviera-di-levante\\\/camogli\\\/christ-of-the-abyss\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/riviera-di-levante\\\/camogli\\\/christ-of-the-abyss\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/San-Fruttuoso-1.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/San-Fruttuoso-1.webp\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":683,\"caption\":\"San Fruttuoso bay with the abbey and ferry boat\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/riviera-di-levante\\\/camogli\\\/christ-of-the-abyss\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/italian-riviera-the-travel-guide-to-liguria\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso: history, depth and how to see it\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Italian Riviera\",\"description\":\"La guida turistica completa sulla Liguria\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Italian Riviera\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/logo-new.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/logo-new.webp\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":210,\"caption\":\"Italian Riviera\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/italian-riviera.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Christ of the Abyss, San Fruttuoso: depth and how to see it","description":"The Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso: the 1954 statue's story, its depth, dives with authorised centres, snorkelling, the ceremony and ferries.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-levante\/camogli\/christ-of-the-abyss\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Christ of the Abyss, San Fruttuoso: depth and how to see it","og_description":"The Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso: the 1954 statue's story, its depth, dives with authorised centres, snorkelling, the ceremony and ferries.","og_url":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-levante\/camogli\/christ-of-the-abyss\/","og_site_name":"Italian Riviera","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":683,"url":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/San-Fruttuoso-1.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-levante\/camogli\/christ-of-the-abyss\/","url":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-levante\/camogli\/christ-of-the-abyss\/","name":"Christ of the Abyss, San Fruttuoso: depth and how to see it","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-levante\/camogli\/christ-of-the-abyss\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-levante\/camogli\/christ-of-the-abyss\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/San-Fruttuoso-1.webp","datePublished":"2026-10-10T16:06:42+00:00","description":"The Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso: the 1954 statue's story, its depth, dives with authorised centres, snorkelling, the ceremony and ferries.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-levante\/camogli\/christ-of-the-abyss\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-levante\/camogli\/christ-of-the-abyss\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-levante\/camogli\/christ-of-the-abyss\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/San-Fruttuoso-1.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/San-Fruttuoso-1.webp","width":1024,"height":683,"caption":"San Fruttuoso bay with the abbey and ferry boat"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-levante\/camogli\/christ-of-the-abyss\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/italian-riviera-the-travel-guide-to-liguria\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso: history, depth and how to see it"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/","name":"Italian Riviera","description":"La guida turistica completa sulla Liguria","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/#organization","name":"Italian Riviera","url":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/logo-new.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/logo-new.webp","width":2000,"height":210,"caption":"Italian Riviera"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/approfondimento\/60959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/approfondimento"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/approfondimento"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/approfondimento\/60959\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\nOn a dive<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n All places to stay in Camogli on Booking: compare prices and availability.<\/p> From Camogli<\/a>, 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\u2013San Fruttuoso ticket costs \u20ac11 one way and \u20ac17 return. From Recco<\/a> the line runs from April to September. Current timetables are on the Golfo Paradiso website<\/a>.<\/p>\n From the Tigullio side, the Servizio Marittimo del Tigullio runs the Rapallo<\/a>\u2013Santa Margherita Ligure<\/a>\u2013Portofino<\/a>\u2013San Fruttuoso line all year, with seasonal timetables and always subject to the weather. Timetables are on the ferry company’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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\u2013San Fruttuoso trail<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n On the beach, facing the statue, stands the Abbey of San Fruttuoso<\/a>: 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n To see the statue from the surface and swim, go between June and September, when the sea averages over 21 \u00b0C. 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<\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":30331,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-60959","approfondimento","type-approfondimento","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFrom the surface<\/h3>\n
The annual tribute<\/h3>\n
Getting to San Fruttuoso<\/h2>\n
<\/figure>\nBy ferry<\/h3>\n
On foot<\/h3>\n
The Abbey of San Fruttuoso<\/h2>\n
<\/figure>\nWhen to go and nearby beaches<\/h2>\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
How deep is the Christ of the Abyss?<\/summary>\n
Can you see the Christ of the Abyss without diving?<\/summary>\n
Do you need a permit to dive at the Christ of the Abyss?<\/summary>\n
How do you get to San Fruttuoso?<\/summary>\n
When is the Christ of the Abyss ceremony?<\/summary>\n