9-Foot-Tall Bronze Statue of Jesus Sits on Florida’s Seabed. Here’s How It Got There

Jesus Christ has been reimagined in several places of worship, all across the world. However, only some reimaginings have captivated the world's attention like 'Christ of the Abyss,' stated Atlas Obscura. The tale of the bronze statue began back in 1954.

An Italian mold was used to cast three statues. All three of them were submerged beneath the waters. The first 'Christ of the Abyss' or Cristo degli Abissi was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea on August 22, 1954. The place was just off San Fruttuoso on the Italian Riviera. The statue was made by Guido Galletti, who took inspiration from Italian diver Duilio Marcante. The objective was to represent Jesus Christ beneath the waves, honoring all the people who had lost their lives in this 'new world.' It also served as a monument for those who continue to dive into the waters. 

The second sculpture was sunk off the coast of St. George's, Grenada, in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. This happened on October 22, 1961, and was organized by Italian authorities. It was a gift for the crew that managed to survive the drowning of M.V. Bianca C, a passenger ship, which sank the same year in the region.

The third statue was massive, measuring nine feet tall, made out of bronze, and was put beneath 25 feet of water off the coast of Key Largo, Florida, on August 25, 1965. The sculpture was sunk near the first underwater park in the United States. This version of the 'Christ of the Abyss' was donated by Italian dive equipment manufacturer Egidio Cressi to the Underwater Society of America. Before the sinking, a large concrete base was put in place at the site to keep the sculpture steady. Experts estimate that the whole ensemble is standing in 25 feet of water. Today, it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Key Largo.

The Key Largo statue is visited by many divers every year, according to Sea Dwellers. Despite the crowd, the ecosystem appears to be in good condition. The Christ in the statue is shown offering peace. The deity's hands and head are raised towards the surface, the hands being possibly 11 feet underwater. The statue's weight is around 400 pounds, and the base adds a whopping 20,000 pounds to the whole structure. There is a plaque on the base which reads- "If I take the wings of the morning; And swell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there your hand will lead me and your right hand hold me fast. 1927 In Memoriam 1988 Michael M Kevorian."

The message is dedicated to Michael Kervorian, an influential dive shop owner in Miami. St. Justin’s Martyr Catholic Church in Key Largo has come up with a way to give non-divers an experience of this statue. In 1991, they commissioned a bronze replica of the 'Christ of the Abyss' from Ido Demetz of Italy. After it was made, the replica was placed in US 1 at mile marker 105.5 in Key Largo.